Comedy

The Titfield Thunderbolt

When British Railways announce the closure of the Titfield to Mallingford branch line a group of local 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. Unfortunately the local bus company starts to use methods that can hardly be seen as fair competition.

Release Date : 1953-03-04

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Michael Balcon ProductionsEaling Studios

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Walter Valentine

Original Name : Stanley Holloway

Gender : Male

Character Name : Vicar Sam Weech

Original Name : George Relph

Gender : Male

Character Name : George Blakeworth

Original Name : Naunton Wayne

Gender : Male

Character Name : Squire Gordon Chesterford

Original Name : John Gregson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ollie Matthews (The Bishop)

Original Name : Godfrey Tearle

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dan

Original Name : Hugh Griffith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Joan Hampton

Original Name : Gabrielle Brune

Gender : Female

Character Name : Harry Hawkins

Original Name : Sid James

Gender : Male

Character Name : Coggett

Original Name : Reginald Beckwith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Emily

Original Name : Edie Martin

Gender : Female

Character Name : Ruddock

Original Name : Michael Trubshawe

Gender : Male

Character Name : Vernon Crump

Original Name : Jack MacGowran

Gender : Male

Character Name : Alec Pearce

Original Name : Ewan Roberts

Gender : Male

Character Name : Seth

Original Name : Herbert C. Walton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Clegg

Original Name : John Rudling

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Blakeworth

Original Name : Nancy O'Neil

Gender : Female

Character Name : Police Sergeant

Original Name : Campbell Singer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Station Sergeant

Original Name : Frank Atkinson

Gender : Male

Character Name : A Policeman

Original Name : Wensley Pithey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Guard

Original Name : Harold Alford

Gender : Male

Character Name : Engine Driver

Original Name : Ted Burbidge

Gender : Male

Character Name : Fireman

Original Name : Frank Green

Gender : Male

Character Name : Vernon Crump (as Jack McGowran)

Original Name : Jack MacGowran

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Yes, yes, she'll run. She's as good as she ever was. I'll stake my living on it! It's almost impossible for me to write a review of substance for The Titfield Thunderbolt, such is the love and unadulterated joy I have had with it for nigh on 40 years now. It was one of those magical moments in childhood when me, an obvious train set owner, caught this colourful {it was Ealing Studios first colour film} picture and took it all in like it was magic in a box. Of course back then I had no idea about the thematics of the picture, I just loved the train and the quirky characters that were making me laugh. But now here in a more modern age the film holds up better than most of its Ealing contemporaries, those themes back in the day are a reality. Villages are desperately clinging onto their identities, money mad conglomerates think nothing of heritage and the voice of the common man. And worst of all, the community spirit, the "tho shall not pass us" mentality has gone and in its place is fear and sadness. Aye, I wonder if T.E.B. Clarke had any idea when he sat down to write The Titfield Thunderbolt, that he was not just writing a quaint story about villagers rising up to save their own Branch Line Railway. But that it would also be a freeze frame of a golden age in Britain, a snap-shot of a transport industry that was still 10 years away from being torn apart. I love The Titfield Thunderbolt like a family member, I really do. I can watch it now and it takes me away from this big old world that has gotten itself in one big hurry and strife. I laugh, I even weep tears of joy and I even get angry at the villains in the piece. It's the power of cinema in its truest form when a little village, a small train and some plucky courage in the rolling countryside can instill such emotions in a human being. 10/10