Runaway Railway

Another enjoyable CFF film courtesy of UK's Talking Pictures channel.

As others have commented, this is shades of St. Trinian's with "Oh Mr. Porter" against a backdrop of the Great Train Robbery with Dr. Beeching's Axe looming.

An attractive collection of kids (with the obligatory redundant parents) play with some well-known character actors-of the two rogues Sidney Tafler seems to be enjoying himself whilst Ronnie Barker looks a bit uncomfortable, but maybe he'd had his fill of knocking his head on things and getting thoroughly wet falling in ditches, ponds etc!

The script is quite witty-e.g. (between the kids)-"You trod on my face you fat lump"-with the response "Fat lot of difference that'll make"! The music also is appropriately witty. Nice B&W photography.

Possibly the extended trains' chase sequence at the end goes on a bit too long; but apart from that criticism this is highly recommended and passes a pleasant hour.

Another CFF gem, courtesy of Talking Pictures. They are really spoiling us old codgers! A bit later than my own Saturday morning cinematic attendances, this movie still ticked all of the boxes for me. A scheduled branch line closure and a mail train robbery; what could have been more topical at the time!? And, of course, a gang of kids to foil both schemes. That's what it's all about. Obviously made before Health and Safety was invented, we have children perched on upstairs window sills, kids jumping from moving trains and running alongside racing steam engines. Also, in this type of film, the children can get out of their homes unhindered in the middle of the night and wander about with obvious criminals Sydney Tafler and Ronnie Barker. The final twenty minutes is really exciting with tank engine Matilda (being driven by the kids of course) being chased by the main line express and then, due to points switching, vice-versa. Keep it up TP!

It was only a matter of time before the Children's Film Foundation turned it's attention to locomotives and the emphasis here is on thrills, spills and slapstick (including a presumably unscripted collision between Ronnie Barker's head and a lamp the makers kept in), thus prompting a warning by Talking Pictures about attempting the stunts depicted in this film.

Shot on attractively wintry locations with a harmonica score evoking 'Genevieve' and a climax reenecting that of 'Oh! Mr Porter'. Between battling daleks tousle-haired tyke Roberta Tovey (who Launder & Gilliatt sure missed a trick by never casting her as a St. Trinian's first former) tangles with pompous bowler-hatted railway official Hugh Lloyd wielding Dr Beeching's axe; followed by the usual pair of crooks with Ronnie Barker's McCann to Sidney Tafler's Goldberg.

Well Talking Pictures Ch. 81, this is the best of your Saturday morning pictures' so far. I lived by a railway line outside Barking station and remember the steam trains in the 1950s and 60s. I could smell the smoke watching the film. It's a great chance to play spot the up and coming stars. Blink and you will miss Jon Pertwee near the end. Graeme Stark? How did the train miss him as his sausages burnt to frazzle? Good to watch as a family film. It should provoke memories from all generations. Just 1hr long if you skip the adverts like me and recorded it. TV