Tag Archives: Ray Milland

The Flying Scotsman 1929

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Warner Brothers

Here I go again with another foreign film. This “British International Picture” came in JUST at the start of talkies and consequently is half silent, half sound (dubbed in post-production). Who’d a thunk the star of the show (London & North Eastern Railway #4472 Flying Scotsman) would still be around and kicking in 2023?

Well it is, and it was an exceptional, historic piece of locomotive pulchritude. Britain’s favorite Class A3 4-6-2 (A1 class as built / Doncaster 1923). She looks simply smashing in that LNER apple green (see below).

LNER #4472 was named after an existing passenger train between London (King’s Cross) and Edinburgh (Waverly). This film has it all. Forbidden romance. A villain bent on revenge. Treachery. Pungent overacting. AND…a thespian I’ve actually heard of, playing the hero. Let’s check out this tasty bit of crumpet!

GO BIG GREEN! LNER #4473 steps smartly away from the platform with another trainload of her fans. Contrast this with a frame from the movie as it approaches the bumper post at King’s Cross. Same locomotive, many decades apart.

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A Woman of Distinction 1950

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Columbia Pictures

As movies go, this one is kinda thin on railroads. I’m pretty sure all train exteriors and interiors were done on studio sets. Although a few heavyweight passenger cars labeled “New Haven” parade up and down the platform at the “Benton, Connecticut” railroad depot – motive power is only heard, not seen. At least they got the branding correct as New Haven Railroad monopolized passenger service between Boston and New York City via New Haven, CT.

Still, I found a complete copy of this picture online, (link at bottom), so cost was $0 and a couple Hollywood Star cameos made it fun to watch. Let’s tune in.

Professor Alexander “Alec” Stevenson (played by Ray Milland) and Ice Queen Professor Susan Manning Middlecott (played by Rosalind Russell) have many questions for the Benton station clerk. For 10 points, which actor is playing the clerk? (cameo #2).

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