British filming locations for the movie 'Titfield Thunderbolt (1953)' including maps, screenshots, and other nearby film locations. Written by The scene where a replacement locomotive is 'stolen' was filmed in the Oxfordshire town of Woodstock. The Camerton Branch had in fact been closed by British Railways prior to the film being made and, as can be seen, was generally run down and overgrown. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. While Weech is helped by Chesterford and retired track layer Dan Taylor in running the train, volunteers from the village help to operate the station. In the morning, Pearce and Crump drive to the village to prepare to take passengers, but are shocked to see the train waiting at the station. It is a portrait of a lost world, where people greeted each other in the street, where trains ran (on time) through villages, where cars did not rule every road. The Titfield Thunderbolt’ 1953 60th Anniversary Collectors Edition Blu-ray. Title: The name "Titfield" is an amalgamation of the villages of Limpsfield and Titsey in Surrey, near Clarke's home at Oxted.[4]. The name "Titfield" is an amalgamation of the villages of Limpsfield With Taylor arrested, Weech takes help from Ollie Matthews, a fellow railway devotee and the Bishop of Welchester, in running the Thunderbolt for the inspection run. The Titfield Thunderbolt filming location: the site of the old station: Monkton Combe, Bath, Somerset The village, with its distinctive mill chimney, is still recognisable. They decide to rescue it by running it themselves, in competition with the local bus company. Use the HTML below. A genteel slice of old England—or rather an idyllic England of warm beer, hedgerows and cricket pitches that only exists in the novels of Enid Blyton or in the wistful imaginations of poets, The Titfield Thunderbolt is Ealing Studios first outing in Technicolor and a total joy to watch on a stormy Saturday afternoon with a cup of tea. The screenplay concerns a group of villagers trying to keep their branch line operating after British Railways decided to close it. [6] The branch had closed to all traffic on 15 February 1951, but was reopened for filming. The film was written by T. E. B. Clarke [3] and was inspired by the restoration of the narrow gauge Talyllyn Railway in Wales, the world's first heritage railway run by volunteers. The road down which the commuters march to catch the Thunderbolt is Mill Lane , which has changed only slightly over the years. At the end of the episode, Thomas mentions the events of the twentieth series episode, Henry Gets the Express. A meek bank clerk who oversees the shipment of bullion joins with an eccentric neighbor to steal gold bars and smuggle them out of the country as miniature Eiffel Towers. It is a great little comedy: fast paced, energetically acted, beautifully shot by Douglas Slocombe and directed with brio by Charles Crichton. The Titfield Thunderbolt Studio 4 Tollbridge Studios, Toll Bridge Road, Bath, BA1 7DE Tel. Specialist railway bookshop with extensive stocks of quality railway books from all the quality publishers. (RL) To complete their new train, the villagers use Taylor's home, an old railway carriage body, hastily strapped to a flat wagon. Upon securing Blakeworth's release, he helps them to acquire the locomotive for the branch line. Comedy. The scene featuring Sid James's character's traction engine, and the Squire's attempts to overtake it, was filmed in Carlingcott. The residents of a small English village are about to lose their ancient railroad. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? [10], The film has become compared unfavourably with other Ealing comedies. Blakeworth, the village's solicitor, is mistakenly arrested for this, despite trying to stop the attempt, while the villagers become disheartened that their line will now close without any rolling stock and a working locomotive. 34 of 36 people found this review helpful. [8] Lion is one of the earliest British locomotives, built only nine years after Stephenson's Rocket and running under its own power in the film. T.E.B. Rather hard to find in HD in the wild not living in the UK so you can't exactly buy it digitally off iTunes or pop it in a Blu-ray player if your from any other country. Certificate: Passed This is because the film was made in rural England just before it changed forever. The film was written by T. E. B. Clarke and was inspired by the restoration of the narrow gauge Talyllyn Railway in Wales, the world's first heritage railway run by volunteers. This is a really excellent restoration of this film shot in glorious Technicolor. Volunteers take over their local passenger train service (against bus company resistance) when the government announces its closure. [7] Mallingford railway station in the closing scene was Bristol Temple Meads railway station. The train departs late because the police demand transport to Mallingford for them and the arrested men. All these shots were made using a studio-built model. The Titfield Thunderbolt, of all films, predicted back in 1953 what would happen if we got rid of our railways - and look how tragically it has been proved right. The Titfield Thunderbolt Synopsis: The residents of a small English village are about to lose their ancient railroad. The range will feature a host of highly detailed new models of some of the favourite vehicles from the film alongside the historic liveries they wore outside the film - including the locomotive the film is … It features beautiful locations (around Bath in Somerset) and a stereotypical village of characters which must have seemed very normal in 1953, but which hardly exist today. The screenplay concerns a group of villagers trying to keep their branch line operating after British Railways decided to … The screenplay concerns a group of villagers trying to keep their branch line operating after British Railways decided to close it. The Titfield Thunderbolt tells the story of group of villagers determined to save their branch line after British Railways announces its closure. (Ham & High, London 24) The Titfield - Mallingford Line as depicted in the film 'The Titfield Thunderbolt' brought to you for TS2016.Locations have been modelled as closely as possible to the film scenes with some extra features to keep the driver busy e.g. Upon arriving, Weech learns that the line passed every requirement for the Light Railway Order, but barely. And director Crichton - well, you wouldn't find him taking engine numbers at Paddington Station.' Upon securing financial backing from Walter Valentine, a wealthy man with a fondness for daily drinking, the men learn that the Ministry of Transport will give them a month's trial period, in which they must pass an inspection at the end of this period to make the Order permanent. The Titfield Thunderbolt was largely filmed on the old former Great Western Railway branch line from Limpley Stoke to Camerton, just to the south of Bath. A little piece of old England was restored to the mantelpiece this week as The Titfield Thunderbolt started its run - with hilarious results. [13], CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "The Titfield Thunderbolt and the Camerton Branch", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Titfield_Thunderbolt&oldid=1009369644, Films with screenplays by T. E. B. Clarke, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from March 2018, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 28 February 2021, at 06:00. Taken by Kevin with the kind permission of the land owner. A distant poor relative of the Duke D'Ascoyne plots to inherit the title by murdering the eight other heirs who stand ahead of him in the line of succession. [2] The screenplay concerns a group of villagers trying to keep their branch line operating after British Railways decided to close it. A number of scenes in the film, such as the emergency re-supply of water to the locomotive by buckets from an adjacent stream, or passengers being asked to assist in pushing the carriages, were taken from this book. A classic Ealing comedy, much-loved by film fans and train enthusiasts alike, “The Titfield Thunderbolt” was the first Ealing Comedy to be made in colour, Technicolor in fact, and the fourth to be directed by Charles Crichton. A 1953 comedy film produced by Ealing Studios set on a fictional British branch line between Titfield and Mallingford which has been condemned for closure by British Railways. Out takes from Ealing comedy 'The Titfield Thunderbolt'Somerset countryside. When filming the scene in which the Thunderbolt is "rear-ended" by the uncoupled train, the locomotive's tender sustained some actual damage, which remains visible beneath the buffer beam to this day. Stanley Holloway sings a song that the girls sang in school in "The Lavender Hill Mob." [12] Charles Barr in Ealing Studios felt that the film did not identify with audiences who for instance in Passport to Pimlico were yearning for the end of rationing; 'There is no grasp of a living community, or of the relevance of the train to people's daily needs.' Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Rapido Trains UK is to produce FIVE new 1:76 scale models inspired by The Titfield Thunderbolt. The story line is well known of this classic Ealing Comedy. We found subtitles for the program The Titfield Thunderbolt. Producer Michael Truman can't get out of them fast enough. The Titfield Thunderbolt will delight railroad fans, who are still numerous and just as rabid as ever about their pursuit — enthusiasts have located every actual bridge and crossway seen on the ‘fictional’ line between Titfield and Mallingford. Interestingly Film Collectors generally have no interest in football but love railway films. 'Tibby' Clarke, writer of the script, loathes trains. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. Bus operators Alec Pearce and Vernon Crump, who bitterly oppose the idea and wish to set up a bus line between Titfield and Mallingford, attempt to sabotage the men's plans. Residents of a part of London declare independence when they discover an old treaty. Volunteers take over their local passenger train service (against bus company resistance) when the government announces its closure. Driver Ted Burbidge, fireman Frank Green and guard Harold Alford were not actors, they were British Railways employees from the Westbury depot, provided to operate the train on location. The Titfield Thunderbolt. Titfield railway station was in reality Monkton Combe railway station, whilst Titfield village was nearby Freshford, with other scenes being shot at the disused Dunkerton Colliery. (1953). They decide to rescue it by running it themselves, in competition with the local bus company. The scene where Thunderbolt is removed at night from its museum was filmed in the (now demolished) Imperial Institute building near the Royal Albert Hall in South Kensington, London. Review There was considerable inspiration from the book Railway Adventure by established railway book author L. T. C. Rolt, published in 1952. Meanwhile, Weech is inspired by a picture of the line's first locomotive, the Thunderbolt, which is now housed in the Mallingford's museum. Pole position was easy, thereafter was hard:1) Kind Hearts and Coronets 2) The Lavender Hill Mob 3) Whisky Galore 4) The Titfield Thunderbolt 5) The Man in the White Suit 6) The Ladykillers 7) Passport to Pimlico 8) Hue and Cry. The Titfield Thunderbolt. Despite being both drunk, they manage to acquire one, but accidentally crash it after they're spotted taking it. Charles Crichton spoke with them on location and realised they "looked and sounded the part", so they were given speaking roles and duly credited. Was this review helpful to you? The Titfield Thunderbolt - Full Movie | 1953. A young man finds a very special school. Recommended to all.For what it's worth, here are my top 8 Ealing Comedies. The residents of the village of Titfield are shocked to learn that their railway branch line to the town of Mallingford is to be closed. After Chesterford refuses to accept a merger offer from them, Crump and Pearce hire Hawkins to help them derail the line's steam locomotive and only passenger car, the night before the line's inspection. Check out some the surprise hits of 2021 that caught the attention of IMDb fans and are all available to stream now. View production, box office, & company info. 1401 crashing and getting wrecked as it heads down an embankment used realistic scale models. The Titfield Thunderbolt 1080p HD. Rapido Trains UK to is delighted to announce The Titfield Thunderbolt models. But, quoting a location report by Hugh Samson of Picturegoer, he suggests there was a lack of sympathy for the subject: 'Odd point about this railway location: not a single railway enthusiast to be found in the whole crew. The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. I have seen this film many many times, but I have never got bored by it. Lympley Stoke to Camerton. Despite a mishap with the coupling, the villagers help the train complete its run to Mallingford. Stock footage from said episode is used. The Titfield Thunderbolt The Titfield Thunderbolt is a 1953 British comedy film directed by Charles Crichton and starring Stanley Holloway, Naunton Wayne, George Relph and John Gregson. They decide to rescue it by running it themselves, in competition with the local bus company. The residents of a small English village are about to lose their ancient railroad. 20 were here. [8] The earlier scene of No. The Titfield Thunderbolt. The story line is well known of this classic Ealing Comedy. Valentine visits Taylor, who suggests that they borrow a locomotive from Mallingford's rail yards. Bonus features include Making The Titfield Thunderbolt featurette, Cinematographer Douglas Slocombe Home Movie Footage, The Lion Locomotive featurette, Locations featurette, Douglas Slocombe on Charles Crichton audio interview, The Titfield Thunderbolt original trailer, and a stills gallery. It has taken on a new power over the last twenty years and it has undoubtedly grown in popularity. Ealing comedies-Wikipedia 1 VIDEO | 16 IMAGES. [11] George Perry in his history of the Ealing Studios, Forever Ealing, pointed out that like Whisky Galore and Passport to Pimlico the film 'adopted the theme of the small group pitted against and universally triumphing over the superior odds of a more powerful opponent.' The Titfield Thunderbolt is a 1953 British comedy film directed by Charles Crichton and starring Stanley Holloway, Naunton Wayne, George Relph and John Gregson. The Titfield Thunderbolt’ 1953 60th Anniversary Collectors Edition Blu-ray. The Titfield Thunderbolt is a 1953 British comedy film directed by Charles Crichton and starring Stanley Holloway , Naunton Wayne , George Relph and John Gregson. The Thunderbolt engine with the Rev. Shooting was largely carried out near Bath, Somerset, on the Camerton branch of the Bristol and North Somerset Railway, along the Cam Brook valley between Camerton and Limpley Stoke. • The Titfield Thunderbolt - 60th Anniversary Collector's Edition is out now on DVD and Blu-Ray Source: StudioCanal Tue 15 Jan 2013 11.02 EST First published on Tue 15 Jan 2013 11.02 EST Watch this film as a window on that lost world, but don't forget to laugh! Leigh Day on TCM: From Southern Belle in 'Controversial' Epic to Rape Victim in Code-Buster. From Wings to Parasite, here's a look back at all of the Best Picture Oscar winners in the history of the ceremony. Let's join, fullHD Movies/Season/Episode here! So I went through the trouble of going to dodgy torrent sites to get this great film so you don't have to, Enjoy! Ivan Butler in his Cinema in Britain called it 'A minor Ealing perhaps even a little tired towards the evening of their long comedy day but a very pleasant sunset for all that.' Blair Stannard , This is a comedy with many of the traditional Ealing attributes - whimsy, cheerfulness, small-versus-big storyline - but it has aged far better than many of its sister titles from Ealing. In fact, had they been any faster, their application would have been rejected. Five oddball criminals planning a bank robbery rent rooms on a cul-de-sac from an octogenarian widow under the pretext that they are classical musicians. Sam Weech, the local vicar and a railway enthusiast, and Gordon Chesterford, the village squire, decide to take over the line by setting up a company through a Light Railway Order. Image:Titfield Thunderbolt poster.jpg is being used on this article. Why? It teaches him how to take advantage of people. The 'locomotive' was a wooden mock-up mounted on a lorry chassis: the rubber tyres can (just) be spotted between the locomotive's driving wheels. Rapido Trains announce they have signed the worldwide exclusive rights to manufacture a range of models to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the iconic film ‘The Titfield Thunderbolt’ in 2023. The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953) echoes the theme of Passport to Pimlico, switched to a rural setting, with a small community standing up for their local interests when their branch line is threatened with closure by British Railways in a forerunner of the Beeching cuts a decade later. The opening scene shows Midford Viaduct on the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway, where the branch passed under the viaduct. When a rival bus company sabotages the newly acquired train prior to an official inspection, the villagers resurrect the line’s first locomotive, Thunderbolt , and, against great odds, obtain permission to keep their line open. Michael Truman [5] was the producer. Sound writing and quality acting paid dividends. Bedford OB bus. The Thunderbolt itself was represented by an actual antique museum resident, the Liverpool and Manchester Railway locomotive Lion, built in 1838 and so at the time 114 years old. Both men are promptly arrested by the police as a result. Not Rated | 1h 24min | Comedy | 20 October 1953 (USA) 0:59 | Trailer. This is a really excellent restoration of this film shot in glorious Technicolor. The Titfield Thunderbolt COMEDY When British Railways announce the closure of the Titfield to Mallingford branch line, a group of local village residents make a bid to run it themselves, backed by a monied member of the community who is attracted by the complete lack of licensing hours on trains. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, Westminster, London, England, UK. A transportation war erupts in a small English village when the government decides to shut down the decrepit railway line. In World War II, a failed British Officer is selected by his uncle, a Brigadier with the War Office, to participate in a secret operation to "recover" looted artworks from the Nazis. An American businessman in Scotland is conned into shipping a valuable load of cargo to a Scottish island via a coal powered boat. Scottish islanders try to plunder 50,000 cases of whisky from a stranded ship. Does anyone recognize it? Movie Info. 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