The Flying Scotsman [DVD] [1929]

Product Information

The full-size locomotive is in the collections of the Science Museum Group, but many more have enjoyed ownership of their own Flying Scotsman locomotives thanks to the beautifully scaled models made by toy manufacturer Hornby, like this example in our collection. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre • My Girl Tisa • They Made Me a Fugitive • April Showers • Winter Meeting • To the Victor • The Woman in White • Silver River • Wallflower • The Big Punch • Romance on the High Seas • Key Largo • Embraceable You • Rope • Two Guys from Texas • Johnny Belinda • Smart Girls Don't Talk • June Bride • Fighter Squadron • Adventures of Don Juan • The Decision of Christopher Blake • Whiplash This movie used the correct loco, 4472 Flying Scotsman as well as the train of the same name. I believe some of the stars did their own stunts, including walking down the side of the coaches when it was at speed. The Flying Scotsman is something of a historical artifact, being the first full-length British film to feature sound. It was made by British International Pictures, though distributed by Warner Bros, who had of course made and released 1927’s The Jazz Singer, which was the first talkie to make its way onto the big screen. In truth the film is something of a hybrid, consisting of a first half that one might call a good old fashioned silent film, with musical score, inter-titles and an affected, artificial-feeling acting style, before the second half gives us scenes loaded with dialogue and sound effects.

The film is notable for being the first lead role of Welsh actor Ray Milland, who went on to stardom in Hollywood during the 1940s. [1] Milland, then appearing under his birth name of Alfred Jones, was spotted by director Castleton Knight while he was working as an extra on The Informer which was being shot on a neighbouring stage. Pauline Johnson was a leading British silent actress of her age, although appeared in few films after 1930. Moore Marriott was only 43 when he appeared in the film, but is already portrayed playing a retiring engine driver. Ice Palace • Cash McCall • Guns of the Timberland • The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond • The Bramble Bush • The Threat • This Rebel Breed • The Cranes Are Flying • Tall Story • Sergeant Rutledge • Hannibal • Hercules Unchained • Ocean's 11 • The Crowded Sky • Sunrise at Campobello • The Dark at the Top of the Stairs • Girl of the Night • The Sundowners Your Best Friend • Rags to Riches • A Dangerous Adventure • The Beautiful and Damned • Heroes of the Street A Fever in the Blood • Gold of the Seven Saints • The Sins of Rachel Cade • Portrait of a Mobster • Parrish • Fanny • The Fabulous World of Jules Verne • The Steel Claw • Claudelle Inglish • Splendor in the Grass • The Mask • Susan Slade • A Majority of One • The Roman Spring of Mrs. StoneFollowing the successful tour of Australia, Flying Scotsman ran special trains around Britain, including regular runs over the famous Settle to Carlisle Railway and trips hauling the prestigious Orient Express Pullman train. It’s interesting seeing Ray Milland in his very first performance. He would go on to Dial M For Murder, The Lost Weekend and Love Story and he has plenty of sly, confident charisma here. Neither Jean nor Crow come across as especially convincing, though Marriott acquits himself as the aging driver (though only in his mid-forties, he deftly conveys the character’s 60-odd years). In a film that is over inside of an hour, pacing is not really a problem and given that the climax involves a runaway train, events become suitably energetic, tense and eventful as the finale approaches. Racing Stripes • The Phantom of the Opera • Constantine • Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous • House of Wax • Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist • The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants • Batman Begins • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory • The Island • Must Love Dogs • The Dukes of Hazzard • A Sound of Thunder • Corpse Bride • The Little Polar Bear 2: The Mysterious Island • Duma • Kiss Kiss Bang Bang • North Country • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire • White Snake • The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part • Isn't It Romantic • The Golden Glove • Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase • Shazam! • The Curse of La Llorona • The Wonderland • Detective Pikachu • The Sun Is Also a Star • Godzilla: King of the Monsters • Shaft • Annabelle Comes Home • The Kitchen • Blinded by the Light • The Informer • It Chapter Two • The Goldfinch • The Battle of Jangsari • Joker • Western Stars • Motherless Brooklyn • Doctor Sleep • My Zoe • The Good Liar • Richard Jewell • Just Mercy • When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit While the plot is a bit thin and predictable, it is very well made, particularly the sequences on and of the train, the famous Flying Scotsman that runs from Edinburgh to London.

The talking scenes, introduced halfway through, weigh down the story but sound effects enhance the thrilling train action that was shot with Gresley's co-operation. The name was first associated with the Special Scotch Express train journey from London King’s Cross Station to Edinburgh which ran every day from 1852. It was the fastest day express service on the east coast mainline, and before long became popularly – but unofficially – known as the Flying Scotsman. Sir William McAlpine, pictured here in 2016, saved Flying Scotsman in 1973 by putting together a rescue plan and paying off creditors. The first half of this obscure movie is silent and we don't see any railway action. This starts in the second half, as does the sound. The engine's fireman sets out on his last trip before retirement. The previous day, he reported his driver for being drunk and gets suspended for this. He is on the train to get his revenge. The driver's daughter is also aboard. The suspended driver gets out of his carriage and goes to the engine by walking along the roof of the train, followed by the fireman's daughter. A fight breaks out when he arrives and the loco is uncoupled from the rest of the train, a points change just avoids a collision. After things have calmed down, the train continues its journey and arrives in Edinburgh on time, despite the delay. Operation Pacific • Storm Warning • Sugarfoot • The Enforcer • Lullaby of Broadway • Raton Pass • Lightning Strikes Twice • Only the Valiant • I Was a Communist for the FBI • Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison • Goodbye, My Fancy • Along the Great Divide • Strangers on a Train • Fort Worth • On Moonlight Bay • Force of Arms • Jim Thorpe – All-American • Captain Horatio Hornblower • A Streetcar Named Desire • Tomorrow Is Another Day • Painting the Clouds with Sunshine • Come Fill the Cup • The Tanks Are Coming • Close to My Heart • I'll See You in My Dreams • Starlift • Distant Drums

See also

Köstebekgiller 2: Gölgenin Tılsımı • Her Şey Aşktan • How to Be Single • Osman Pazarlama • Midnight Special • Seytan Tüyü • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice • Julieta • The Man Who Knew Infinity • Barbershop: The Next Cut • At the End of the Tunnel • Keanu • Terra Formars • The Nice Guys • Me Before You • The Conjuring 2 • Central Intelligence • The Legend of Tarzan • Lights Out • Suicide Squad • War Dogs • The Age of Shadows • Sully • SMS für Dich • Storks • The Girl with All the Gifts • Canım Kardeşim Benim • The Accountant • Within • May God Save Us • Rus'un Oyunu • Museum • Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them • Villaviciosa de al lado • Monster Strike The Movie • Collateral Beauty • Live by Night • Vier gegen die Bank Pauline Johnson was a leading British silent actress of her age, although appeared in few films after 1930. Moore Marriott was only 41 when he appeared in the film, but is already portrayed playing a retiring engine driver. A campaign spearheaded by the National Railway Museum to save the locomotive for the nation amassed the support of thousands, confirming its status as a national treasure. The Vengeance of Fu Manchu • Firecreek • Flaming Frontier • Countdown • The Fox • Sweet November • The Shuttered Room • Bye Bye Braverman • The Young Girls of Rochefort • Kona Coast • The Double Man • Chubasco • Petulia • The Devil in Love • The Green Berets • The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter • Rachel, Rachel • Hugo and Josephine • Finian's Rainbow • Bullitt • I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! • Assignment to Kill • The Sea Gull • The Sergeant

Murder in the First • Boys on the Side • Just Cause • Outbreak • Born to Be Wild • The Pebble and the Penguin • A Little Princess • The Bridges of Madison County • Batman Forever • Under Siege 2: Dark Territory • Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home • Something to Talk About • The Amazing Panda Adventure • The Stars Fell on Henrietta • Assassins • Empire Records • Copycat • Les Misérables • Fair Game • Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls • It Takes Two • The Snow Queen • Heat • Grumpier Old Men 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. [7] 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". [8] Film historian John Huntley claimed that Gresley subsequently forbade any further filming on the LNER. [9] The day before his retirement an old engine-driver reports his stoker for being drunk. The stoker is fired and warns that he will make trouble for the driver and crew. On the day of the last run, the driver’s daughter is on the train and notices that the ex-stoker is also aboard, unaware that he intends to separate it from its carriages – with disastrous consequences. One Sunday Afternoon • John Loves Mary • Flaxy Martin • South of St. Louis • A Kiss in the Dark • Burma Victory • Homicide • My Dream Is Yours • The Younger Brothers • Flamingo Road • Night Unto Night • Colorado Territory • One Last Fling • The Fountainhead • The Girl from Jones Beach • Look for the Silver Lining • It's a Great Feeling • White Heat • The House Across the Street • Golden Madonna • Task Force • Under Capricorn • Beyond the Forest • The Story of Seabiscuit • Always Leave Them Laughing • The Hasty Heart • The Lady Takes a Sailor • The Inspector GeneralMoore Marriott, best known as Will Hay’s ancient foil in the railway classic Oh, Mr Porter! (1937) and other Hay comedies, plays Old Bob, a 30-year veteran driver of the express service (which started in 1862). The day before retiring, he shops his stoker Crow (Alec Hurley) for drinking on duty. His place is taken by jeering rookie footplateman Jim (24-year-old Ray Milland in his debut), who the night before Bob’s final run is rescued from a dancehall fracas by the driver’s daughter, Joan (Pauline Johnson), though neither knows the other’s identity; kisses ensue. That this refined beauty was sitting alone in what looks suspiciously like a clip joint adds unintended frisson. My Reputation • Three Strangers • Cinderella Jones • Saratoga Trunk • Devotion • Her Kind of Man • One More Tomorrow • Janie Gets Married • A Stolen Life • Of Human Bondage • Two Guys from Milwaukee • Night and Day • The Big Sleep • Shadow of a Woman • Cloak and Dagger • Deception – Nobody Lives Forever • Never Say Goodbye • The Verdict • The Beast with Five Fingers • Humoresque • The Time, the Place and the Girl Conductor 1492 • George Washington Jr. • Daddies • The Marriage Circle • Beau Brummel • How to Educate a Wife • Broadway After Dark • Babbitt • Being Respectable • Her Marriage Vow • Cornered • Lover's Lane • The Tenth Woman • Find Your Man • Three Women • This Woman • The Age of Innocence • The Lover of Camille • The Dark Swan • The Lighthouse by the Sea • A Lost Lady