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Trains in old movies but not necessarily train movies

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Posted by 54light15 on Saturday, October 24, 2020 7:17 PM

Not to get off-topic but time bombs in movies have always made me laugh. Red wire? Blue wire? Yellow wire? And why is there always a digital readout on the bomb? Is that for the convenience of the people standing next to the bomb? That cracks me up! 

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Saturday, October 24, 2020 9:19 PM

54light15
Red wire? Blue wire? Yellow wire?

Well, if you like bomb defusing scenes, you'll love  this one!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjZiOcKMew8  

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Saturday, October 24, 2020 10:04 PM

"After the Thin Man" and "Double Indemnity" have some good train scenes from the 1930s and 40s.

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Posted by ORNHOO on Monday, October 26, 2020 11:04 PM

How about "Sherlock Holmes in Washington"? A New York to Washington train (steam powered. B&O?) after a transatlantic flight on a Boeing 347.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acQGkhTWBmU

 

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, October 27, 2020 8:12 AM

I'll light this up for everyone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acQGkhTWBmU  

From New York To Washington?  Well considering the steam sound effects I'd have to say B&O, but on the other hand the station pictured in the film is Pennsylvania Station, so they should  be traveling on the Pennsy behind a GG1. 

In fact, there is  a head-on shot of a GG1, it's murky, but you can tell it's G. 

Sometimes it's a pain knowing too much.

And weren't those Boeing Pan Am "Clippers" cool!  

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Tuesday, October 27, 2020 10:07 AM

Pan Am's big flying boats (B-314, S-42 and M-130) were pretty impressive but tickets were pretty expensive, not unlike tickets on the Concorde for a more recent period.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, October 27, 2020 10:39 AM

CSSHEGEWISCH

Pan Am's big flying boats (B-314, S-42 and M-130) were pretty impressive but tickets were pretty expensive, not unlike tickets on the Concorde for a more recent period.

 

Certainly.  You needed deep pockets to travel by air back then, or a strong expense account, and even then you only flew if time was of the essence. Or in the case of this film taking place in wartime to get you up and away from the U-Boots, assuming there was much passenger ship travel taking place to begin with, somehow I doubt it.   Air travel didn't get really affordable until jet airliners like the Boeing 707 came along.  

I had an aquaintance who flew on the Concorde once, and even then the only reason he did it was to say he did it.  Once was enough, he didn't like it.

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Posted by ORNHOO on Tuesday, October 27, 2020 4:26 PM

Flintlock76
in the case of this film taking place in wartime to get you up and away from the U-Boots,

While the Clippers couldn't be torpedoed, flying westbound over the Atlantic they would fly at low altitudes to try to get under the strongest of the prevailing westerly winds, below 1000 feet (sometimes as low as 100 feet (With landing lights on so the pilots could judge clearance!). It was not unheard of for a Clipper to fly over a U-boot charging his batteries on the surface and come under machine gun fire.

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, October 27, 2020 4:53 PM

ORNHOO
It was not unheard of for a Clipper to fly over a U-boot charging his batteries on the surface and come under machine gun fire.

That's interesting, I've never heard that before.  Typically civilian airliners were left alone by the combatants, but on the other hand the RAF had the Short "Sunderland" flying boat and used it in anti-submarine operations.  A Sunderland looks very similar to a Boeing 347, especially to untrained eyes.  Most likely those U-boot crews weren't taking any chances.

Here's a quick look at the Sunderland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgY7iQieP_A  

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Posted by NorthBrit on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 7:10 AM

Imagine the scene.  You have seen them.   The hero/heroine running for  a train with a couple of suitcases.  I have to laugh.

Obviously not Mrs NorthBrit's cases.   Run with her luggage and  they would be candidates for the hospital with a hernia.    Whatever the limit is for luggage Mrs NorthBrit hits it everytime.  Travel lite is not an option.

Travel by air on Emirates is her favorite.   30kg limit.   I'd love to see a porter swing them round like 'fresh air'.

David 

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I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 9:13 AM

NorthBrit
Imagine the scene.  You have seen them.   The hero/heroine running for  a train with a couple of suitcases.  I have to laugh.

Absolutely!  Running down the platform like Olympic sprinters, and you just know there's nothing in those prop suitcases!  

Filming those scenes nowadays in addition to prop suitcases they'd be carrying laptop bags AND juggling a SmartPhone as well!  No wonder young actors and actresses have personal trainers!

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Posted by 54light15 on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 9:17 AM

Yeah, people running for the train with suitcases always catch the train. They don't fumble and drop them and they don't come open spilling clothes all over the platform. Just like how people that jump off trains never get hurt. It reminds me of how in movies when someone is driving a car there is no inside rear-view mirror, the gearshift is still in park and they always find a parking space. 

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Posted by York1 on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 9:31 AM

54light15
and they always find a parking space. 

Right in front of the building!

York1 John       

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 10:36 AM

Hey, how about Cary Grant's being chased all over the landscape by the crop-dusting Stearman in "North by Northwest," and after it's all over he should  look like something the cat dragged in, but doesn't!  

No point in bringing up guns in movies that never run out of bullets either.  Whoops, sorry, I just did.  Never mind.

Things in movies that don't make sense?  Here's Uncle Vinny's and Zia Lucia's take on the subject.  WARNING!  Some tough language!  Don't trigger the link if you mind such things.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23yS53YcqXE  

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Posted by NorthBrit on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 11:33 AM

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037558/

It is 75 years ago when 'Brief Encounter'  first hit the screens. Filmed in Carnforth Railway Station just before the end of WW2.  Cinemas in the UK are showing it again.  A great film imho.   

David

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Posted by 54light15 on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 12:31 PM

I've read somewhere how Cary Grant in North By Northwest was the model for Sean in the Bond films. Makes sense to me. 

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 1:16 PM

Flintlock76
  Running down the platform like Olympic sprinters, and you just know there's nothing in those prop suitcases!  

   Wandering off the topic here, but that reminds me of scenes where someone in the military comes home with a duffle bag that must be filled with something like crumpled up newspapers the way he tosses it around.

_____________ 

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 1:16 PM

54light15

I've read somewhere how Cary Grant in North By Northwest was the model for Sean in the Bond films. Makes sense to me. 

 

Maybe, but I'm not so sure.  From what I've read Ian Fleming's idea for James Bond was a proper English gentleman and Fleming didn't like the idea of Sean Connery as Bond at all, thought he was too Scottish "working class."

Until he saw the first rushes, then he agreed wholeheartedly, Sean was the right choice after all.  And anyone who remembers Sean Connery as Bond would agree as well, Sean WAS James Bond!  All who came after were just not the same, although some were better than others.

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Posted by 54light15 on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 1:48 PM

I think we can all agree that "From Russia With Love" well fits the criteria of this thread! That movie is what first turned me on to European railways which I've been into ever since. Sean was the man. Ian Fleming was seconded to the Army staff college here in Toronto during the 2nd world war as part of Camp X in Bowmanville. The college was located on Avenue Road in what used to be the North end of the city and now considered to be midtown. Across the street was a church (now a condo) called St. James-Bond United Church. I understand that he named him after a friend but still. 

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 1:51 PM

I would argue that Daniel Craig comes closer to playing 007 as Fleming wrote the character: hardbitten, cynical and totally loyal to M.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by charlie hebdo on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 1:56 PM

CSSHEGEWISCH

I would argue that Daniel Craig comes closer to playing 007 as Fleming wrote the character: hardbitten, cynical and totally loyal to M.

 

Agreed.  The Craig films were designed to be more realistic.  The Connery films were more about fun. 

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Posted by York1 on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 2:04 PM

charlie hebdo
Agreed.  The Craig films were designed to be more realistic.  The Connery films were more about fun. 

And while some love the more realistic Bond, I'm in the camp that misses the enjoyment of going to the theater to see a "fun" James Bond movie.  The last several Bond movies have been disturbing for me, not fun.

To each his own.

York1 John       

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Posted by 54light15 on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 3:13 PM

The last one I saw was Quantum of Solace- it had the train in the Balkans, the Aston Martin and the thing that got everyone in the theatre was when the iconic Bond theme played at about 20 minutes into the film. I could feel that everyone had the same thought- "Now it's a Bond film!" 

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 3:47 PM

I don't know.  Maybe Daniel Craig was the closest to the "Hard man who has to deal with other hard men, and thank God he's one of the good guys!" ideal but to me DC looked like he was weaned on a pickle.  Maybe that's what made him so hard?

Connery, on the other hand, had the appeal of a very charming man with a great sense of humor who could turn ice-cold and ruthless in a flash, kind of what you'd think Bond would be like considering the circles he had to move in.

You know what I think a real secret agent should look like?  Remember Steven Hill from the "Mission Impossible" TV series?  Good actor, but someone who you wouldn't look at twice and would blend into a crowd easily.  THAT'S what a secret agent would look like!

You know, I think just for fun this weekend I might go play George Carlin's game of "Find The Spy At The Airport!"  As George said:

"You KNOW there's a spy at the airport!  Your job, FIND HIM!"  

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Posted by York1 on Saturday, October 31, 2020 10:16 AM

James Bond.  Trains.

Great fun in Bond movie with Sean Connery, who died today, and the fight on the Orient Express in "From Russia With Love":

 

York1 John       

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Posted by 54light15 on Saturday, October 31, 2020 10:48 AM

Thanks Sean, for all the great movies. 

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Saturday, October 31, 2020 11:03 AM

pibroch  for Sir Sean Connery. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNxCs7g8_vs  

A fine life well lived and a lucky man indeed.  How many actors are fortunate enough to become icons due to the role they played?  The only James Bond.

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Posted by M636C on Monday, November 9, 2020 3:54 AM

York1

James Bond.  Trains.

Great fun in Bond movie with Sean Connery, who died today, and the fight on the Orient Express in "From Russia With Love":

 

 

That's the scene where the villian posing as an MI5 agent reveals his identity by ordering red wine with his fish....

But some good scenes of steam hauled passenger trains in Turkey...

Peter

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Monday, November 9, 2020 8:47 AM

M636C
That's the scene where the villian posing as an MI5 agent reveals his identity by ordering red wine with his fish....

Mamma mia!  You never  order red wine with fish!  I learned that as a child, but then having an Italian background helped a bit.

Maybe  a rose' if your tastes incline that way, but that's as far as you go!

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Posted by M636C on Thursday, November 12, 2020 8:18 PM

I have been scanning some photos from Kuala Lumpur in 1996 and I was reminded of another Sean Connery film "Entrapment" of 1999 with a plot based on the Millennium Bug and stealing money electronically.

The final scenes are on the KL "Star" system, an elevated electric railway (well, elevated in the city).

A good movie and the character is barely disnguishable from James Bond...

Peter

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