Stars: Stanley Holloway, George Relph, John Gregson, Naunton Wayne, Hugh Griffith, Sid James, Godfrey Tearle, Reginald Beckwith, Jack MacGowran

Director: Charles Crichton

Summary: A comedy from the Ealing Studios. When an antiquated railway line is threatened with closure, the village community decide to run it themselves, entering into a frenzied comic competition with the local bus route.

The railroad between Mallingford and Titfield is losing money, and British Rail decides to close it. Clergyman Sam Weech (George Relph) and Squire Gordon (John Gregson) try to save the railroad by buying it and running it themselves. They enlist wealthy publican Valentine (Stanley Holloway), promising him that since the railway will be private, he'll be able to prop up the bar all day. They run into opposition however from the owners of the rival bus line, who would like to remove the competition. Battle lines are drawn--sometimes even across couples: Joan the barmaid (Gabrielle Brune) helps them while her fiance, steamroller driver Hawkins (Sidney James), joins the opposition. Railway enthusiasts Sam and Gordon have a month to show the authorities that they can run the railroad efficiently while coping with their opponent's campaign of sabotage.
Written by Ealing comedy regular T.E.B. Clarke and directed with impeccable timing by Charles Crichton, THE TITFIELD THUNDERBOLT is a Technicolor celebration of English rural teamwork and determination. It features exuberant performances from Holloway as the publican, James as the disgruntled steamroller driver, Hugh Griffith as a disreputable poacher who happens to be an ex-engine driver, and Godfrey Tearle as the surprisingly hands-on bishop.

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Reviewed by: davybozal24-7
Posted on May 3, 2006 12:26 PM

This hugely appealing film from 1952 and directed by Charles Crichton is a must see movie . What could be better for lovers of steam trains and the English countryside than this quirky tale of a group of villagers , including the vicar , who decide to run their local railway line when it is closed by the powers that be ? They face a fight to the finish with the local bus company , in this nostalgic , funny and inspiring comedy , starring John Gregson , Stanley Holloway , Naunton Wayne and George Relph . This is another fine film from the iconic Ealing Studios .

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Aspect Ratio:	1.33 Full Screen
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Year:	1952
Release Date:	June 21, 2004
Runtime:	80 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	D 038126
Keywords:	Comedy, General, Thunderbolt, Titfield
Genre:	Comedy