The Flying Scotsman (1929 film)
Encyclopedia
The Flying Scotsman is a 1929 black and white film set on the Flying Scotsman
train from London to Edinburgh, also featuring the famous locomotive LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman
. Directed by Castleton Knight, the thriller is chiefly remembered for being the first acting role of Ray Milland
, as well as for its daring stunts performed aboard the moving train.
, a disgruntled fireman, dismissed after being reported for drinking at work, decides to get his revenge on Bob (who reported him to the company) by causing an accident. Meanwhile, the fireman's amorous young replacement has fallen in love with a beautiful girl, whose father, unbeknown to him, happens to be Bob (and who has also boarded the train in an attempt to stop the villain).
The film was shot with co-operation of the London and North Eastern Railway
company, and all of the stunts were filmed on the moving locomotive with the actors. Most dangerously, at one point actress Pauline Johnson walks along the edge of the moving locomotive wearing high heeled shoes, transferring from the coaches to the locomotive while travelling at speed.
Allegedly Sir Nigel Gresley
, chief engineer of the LNER, was so concerned at the unsafe practices shown in the film, such as the decoupling of the locomotive from the train while in motion, he insisted that a disclaimer was placed in the opening credits explaining that such things could not happen on the LNER. The notice stated "For the purposes of the film dramatic licence has been taken in regard to the safety equipment used on The Flying Scotsman". Film historian John Huntley
claimed that Gresley subsequently forbade any further filming on the LNER until after his retirement.
Along with Alfred Hitchcock
's Blackmail
, this was one of the first British sound film
s. Like that film, it was initially intended to be a silent film
, with the decision to switch to speech made during production. As a result, early scenes feature speech captions and music instead of recorded voices, with character dialogue only appearing towards the end of the film. It is unclear whether it was initially released with sound, with some film historians such as John Huntley
claiming it predates Blackmail to be the earliest British sound film. The BFI film database claims that the soundtrack was added in March 1930.
Flying Scotsman (train)
The Flying Scotsman is an express passenger train service that has been running between London and Edinburgh—the capitals of England and Scotland respectively—since 1862...
train from London to Edinburgh, also featuring the famous locomotive LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman
LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman
The LNER Class A3 Pacific locomotive No. 4472 Flying Scotsman was built in 1923 for the London and North Eastern Railway at Doncaster Works to a design of H.N. Gresley...
. Directed by Castleton Knight, the thriller is chiefly remembered for being the first acting role of Ray Milland
Ray Milland
Ray Milland was a Welsh actor and director. His screen career ran from 1929 to 1985, and he is best remembered for his Academy Award–winning portrayal of an alcoholic writer in The Lost Weekend , a sophisticated leading man opposite a corrupt John Wayne in Reap the Wild Wind , the murder-plotting...
, as well as for its daring stunts performed aboard the moving train.
Plot
Engine driver Bob is due to retire from his job after years of distinguished service. On Bob's last day working aboard the famous Flying ScotsmanFlying Scotsman (train)
The Flying Scotsman is an express passenger train service that has been running between London and Edinburgh—the capitals of England and Scotland respectively—since 1862...
, a disgruntled fireman, dismissed after being reported for drinking at work, decides to get his revenge on Bob (who reported him to the company) by causing an accident. Meanwhile, the fireman's amorous young replacement has fallen in love with a beautiful girl, whose father, unbeknown to him, happens to be Bob (and who has also boarded the train in an attempt to stop the villain).
Cast
The film is notable for being the first feature film of British actor Ray Milland, who went on to stardom in Hollywood during the 1940s. Moore Marriott was only 41, but is already portrayed playing a retiring engine driver.- Moore MarriottMoore MarriottMoore Marriott was a British character actor most notable for a series of films he made with Will Hay in the 1930s.-Career:...
- Old Bob White - Pauline JohnsonPauline Johnson (actress)Pauline Johnson was a British film actress.-Selected filmography:* One of the Best * The Flying Scotsman * The Wrecker * Would You Believe It! * Maytime in Mayfair...
- Joan White, his daughter - Ray MillandRay MillandRay Milland was a Welsh actor and director. His screen career ran from 1929 to 1985, and he is best remembered for his Academy Award–winning portrayal of an alcoholic writer in The Lost Weekend , a sophisticated leading man opposite a corrupt John Wayne in Reap the Wild Wind , the murder-plotting...
(as Raymond Milland) - Jim Edwards - Alec Hurley - Crow (the villain)
Production
London and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
company, and all of the stunts were filmed on the moving locomotive with the actors. Most dangerously, at one point actress Pauline Johnson walks along the edge of the moving locomotive wearing high heeled shoes, transferring from the coaches to the locomotive while travelling at speed.
Allegedly Sir Nigel Gresley
Nigel Gresley
Sir Herbert Nigel Gresley was one of Britain's most famous steam locomotive engineers, who rose to become Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and North Eastern Railway . He was the designer of some of the most famous steam locomotives in Britain, including the LNER Class A1 and LNER Class A4...
, chief engineer of the LNER, was so concerned at the unsafe practices shown in the film, such as the decoupling of the locomotive from the train while in motion, he insisted that a disclaimer was placed in the opening credits explaining that such things could not happen on the LNER. The notice stated "For the purposes of the film dramatic licence has been taken in regard to the safety equipment used on The Flying Scotsman". Film historian John Huntley
John Huntley (film historian)
John Frederick Huntley was a British film historian, educator and archivist.Huntley was born in Kew and entered the film industry as a teaboy at Denham Studios around 1938...
claimed that Gresley subsequently forbade any further filming on the LNER until after his retirement.
Along with Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
's Blackmail
Blackmail (1929 film)
Blackmail is a 1929 British thriller drama film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Anny Ondra, John Longden, and Cyril Ritchard, and featuring Donald Calthrop, Sara Allgood and Charles Paton. The film is based on the play Blackmail by Charles Bennett, as adapted by Hitchcock, with dialogue by...
, this was one of the first British sound film
Sound film
A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades would pass before sound motion pictures were made commercially...
s. Like that film, it was initially intended to be a silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
, with the decision to switch to speech made during production. As a result, early scenes feature speech captions and music instead of recorded voices, with character dialogue only appearing towards the end of the film. It is unclear whether it was initially released with sound, with some film historians such as John Huntley
John Huntley (film historian)
John Frederick Huntley was a British film historian, educator and archivist.Huntley was born in Kew and entered the film industry as a teaboy at Denham Studios around 1938...
claiming it predates Blackmail to be the earliest British sound film. The BFI film database claims that the soundtrack was added in March 1930.
External links
- Review of restored 2011 DVD release