Word: titfield
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Dates: during 1953-1953
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When Tight Little Island set audiences chuckling here and abroad, British film producer sealized that the antics of provincial communities were an untapped reservoir of humor. The latest in the stream of hinterland hilarity, Titfield Thunderbolt, should send the cinema men back into the drawing room. For although the film has a relatively well-known cast and Technicolor scenery resembling British Railways posters, it has very few funny lines and its slapstick is unimaginative...
Like Tight Little Island, Titfield Thunderbolt catches the efforts of a small village trying to thwart the stuffiness of legal procedure. Faced with losing their venerated by uneconomical railroad service, the population decides to buy the line and operate it themselves. Since the train provides a convivial place to drink before the doors to the town pub officially swing, an affluent lush happily furnishes the money for the project. Intrigue follows in the form of nefarious busline operators and a pompous London transportation official. However, a sentimental cleric, who gets the town behind him by pointing out the local motive...
...enthusiasm of the performers were credible, the drollery of the whole production would succeed. Director Charles Chrishten has spread looks of Zeal over the faces of his cast like make up. Unlike cosmetics, however, Chrichton's technique never comes off. One never believes that the people of Titfield are sincerely ecstatic when talking about their two car Zephyr. And worse, one hardly cares. The most amusing lines and a few way pokes at British socialism and labor union policy...
...Titfield Thunderbolt (Rank; Universal-International) will carry railway enthusiasts on a satisfying junket through the past century of British railroading. When nationalization dooms the unprofitable branch line running from rural Titfield to the market town of Mallingford. the indignant citizens of Titfield take over the archaic rolling stock, with the vicar serving as engineer, the village ne'er-do-well as fireman, and a local squire as brakeman. An alcoholic landowner (Stanley Holloway) supplies the necessary money on being promised that the early-morning train will carry a bar-and-buffet...
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