The first Ealing Comedy to be shot in colour which is very fitting as the film is set in the verdant English countryside of the early 50's. A gentle comedy celebrating the spirit of community in a small village, the plot actually anticipates the swingeing cuts by Lord Beeching some ten years later which did indeed see the closure of several small rural stations and rail routes the length of the country to the chagrin of many a train lover not to say train passenger of the day, a case almost of life imitating art.
And so the motley inhabitants of little Titfield, in response to news of the impending closure of their station, determine to convince the inspector of the Railway Board of the importance and profitability of their rail service to the public. Also railed (sorry!) against them is the boss of a local coach firm who stands to benefit if the railway is mothballed and who isn't above pulling some dirty tricks to get his own way.
I found the humour gentle and amusing, the best topical line being when one local cracks "If we make a profit, no doubt they'll nationalise us" although maybe the movie, like the train, was a little stop-start on its narrative journey plus I didn't like every village eccentric on show, especially Hugh Griffiths in another boozy turn, but it was lifted by the likes of Stanley Holloway, John Gregson and the young Sid James in an early role and, directed brightly and briskly by studio regular Charles Crichton, it came in on time and was on the whole a pleasurable trip to the country.
And so the motley inhabitants of little Titfield, in response to news of the impending closure of their station, determine to convince the inspector of the Railway Board of the importance and profitability of their rail service to the public. Also railed (sorry!) against them is the boss of a local coach firm who stands to benefit if the railway is mothballed and who isn't above pulling some dirty tricks to get his own way.
I found the humour gentle and amusing, the best topical line being when one local cracks "If we make a profit, no doubt they'll nationalise us" although maybe the movie, like the train, was a little stop-start on its narrative journey plus I didn't like every village eccentric on show, especially Hugh Griffiths in another boozy turn, but it was lifted by the likes of Stanley Holloway, John Gregson and the young Sid James in an early role and, directed brightly and briskly by studio regular Charles Crichton, it came in on time and was on the whole a pleasurable trip to the country.