Yep, it's 774 all right. The film makers needed a steam locomotive for the 1917 sequence and the New York Central (That's the West Shore Line that runs through West Point) had none handy, so the CNJ's 774 was brought in.
Yes, it's a shame 774 missed being preserved. The CNJ had already donated a Camelback to the B&O Museum, and were willing to sell 774 to anyone who wanted it but there were no takers, or at least any takers who had the money to do so. Imagine if "crowd funding" existed back in those days, it might have been a different story.
54light15There is a scene set in 1917 where the troops board a train at the West Point station (it's still there) and the train is pulled by a camelback.
Last night it was John Ford's "The Long Grey Line" set at West Point. There is a scene set in 1917 where the troops board a train at the West Point station (it's still there) and the train is pulled by a camelback. I've never seen one in a movie, much less in real life.
The cable channel COMET has been celebrating Ray Bradbury's 100th birthday with a marathon of Ray Bradbury Theater episodes including this one where Jeff Goldblum rides a VIA RDC to the town of Erehwon (Canadian for the exact opposite of Willoughby): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNhm0Q618gM
(And keep a lookout for Ward Kimball as the stationmaster)
54light15But here's a question- did the Red Car have any underground stations?
At least one: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subway_Terminal_Building
Well, the movie was from RKO studios which obviously didn't have the money that MGM had. This was mostly an indoor movie and the few exterior shots were a set that I've seen in many films and was a kind of generic "city" that could be anyplace.
But here's a question- did the Red Car have any underground stations? I assume it may have been shot in a tunnel with a fake station set up.
Flintlock76Film making budgets are tyrannical things. If you can't afford to film a New York story in New York you do the best you can and hope no-one notices.
This is of a piece with the 'they won't notice' artifacts of the first films shot with true portable cameras and faster film stock 'on location' in actual trains in the '50s. As with many SMPTE wonder technologies this could lead to results like random boxcars moving in randomly opposite directions in the background of sequential frames in two-shots, an instant distraction even for many non-foamers...
Film making budgets are tyrannical things. If you can't afford to film a New York story in New York you do the best you can and hope no-one notices.
One of the best newspaper / New York story films, if not THE best, is "Deadline U.S.A," filmed in 1952 and starring Humphrey Bogart. A lot of the movie was shot at the New York Daily News building and printing plant so it's got a great deal of authenticity to it. A great "Film Noir" worth watching.
I just watched a great film noir, "While The City Sleeps" directed by Fritz Lang from 1956. It's a newspaper movie (and I love those) set in New York and there is a scene where the hero is chasing the bad guy into the subway and whatta you know, no third rail but trolley wires and Los Angeles Red Cars are running on the tracks! In New York! I'm pretty sure one of the 55 Ford police cars had a California plate. Well worth seeing and what a cast; Dana Andrews, Vincent Price, Ida Lupino, Thomas Mitchell, George Sanders and Howard Duff.
Convicted OneSeemed especially relevant, for some reason.
Of course! Times change, human nature doesn't.
Yesterday I watched an episode of Gunsmoke titled "Death train".
Centered upon the quarantine of a rail passenger car containing diseased occupants, and the tug of war hysteria played out through the town residents and their polarized positions.
Seemed especially relevant, for some reason.
Holy smoke, I'd forgotten all about Lee Marvin and the Lionels, it's been that long since i've seen the film!
I see he got right down to track level so he could watch the train coming at him! Just like I do!
Thanks York!
It makes the rounds on this channel: https://moviestvnetwork.com/. I get it as an add-on to a local station that broadcasts free tv over the air. Y'all remember rabbit ears?
Same me, different spelling!
The trouble is that Donovan's Reef is one of those films that is almost never on TV anymore.
I'm not sure if someone owns the rights to it and won't let it get shown, or if networks just don't think anyone cares.
If someone has already posted this, I apologize. I haven't read through all the posts.
Here's Lee Marvin running the train on the bar:
My wife and I love that movie.
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
54light15 Here's a bit of John Ford trivia- his yacht was named the Araner and you see it in his later film, "Donovan's Reef."
Here's a bit of John Ford trivia- his yacht was named the Araner and you see it in his later film, "Donovan's Reef."
Cool! The next time "Donovan's Reef" is on, a VERY funny movie by the way, I'll keep an eye out for it!
County Mayo? Isn't that interesting! My grandfather, that is my mother's father, was born in the Aran Islands but grew up in County Mayo, howver I don't know just where.
Ever hear that old saying from the Aran Islands fishermen about the sea? Goes like this...
"A man who isn't afraid of the sea will soon be drownded, because he'll be going out on a day when he shouldn't. But here we are afraid of the sea! So we only get drownded only now and then."
Flintlock- I had guessed that "The Quiet Man" was set in the 1920s since the only automobile seen in it is a 1920s Morris tourer. A friend of mine has been to the town where it was filmed, at Cong in County Mayo. He said it looks much the same today as it did when the movie was made but is much more of a tourist attraction.
For more mid-fifties Irish railroading may I suggest the "a minute's wait" segment of "The Rising of the Moon"?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMTEOvs8VLQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v-tXIVAUaXEBg
More of a newer classic - but I always liked the Conrail scenes around Baltimore (I believe Consol - been a while since I watched it) in "Enemy of the State".
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
54light15 I just watched the classic John Ford movie, "The Quiet Man." There are scenes set in a rail station with a steam locomotive and you get a good look into the cab and there are short passenger cars with doors down the side. These also look to have a middle axle in the centre of each, similar to what ran in Germany. I think the film is set in the 1920s, but the railway logo on the coaches look a little more modern than from that era. Great flick!
I just watched the classic John Ford movie, "The Quiet Man." There are scenes set in a rail station with a steam locomotive and you get a good look into the cab and there are short passenger cars with doors down the side. These also look to have a middle axle in the centre of each, similar to what ran in Germany. I think the film is set in the 1920s, but the railway logo on the coaches look a little more modern than from that era. Great flick!
"The Quiet Man" is set in contemporary (for the time) Ireland, so you're looking at Irish rail equipment as it was around 1952.
I just love the locomotive though, it looks like a storybook engine! Have a look.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJpoh1uYMYU
"This will put hair on your chest."
"No fair guessing!"
I know it has been mentioned several times, but last night Turner Classic Movies showed "Some Like It Hot" again. It's got great scenes on the train with Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe in a sleeping car. A great Billy Wilder movie from 1959.
54light15 There were various steam powered trains in the Maigret series with Michael Gambon. Filmed in Romania, I think.
There were various steam powered trains in the Maigret series with Michael Gambon. Filmed in Romania, I think.
And in the long-running French Maigret, played by Bruno Cremer, filmed in France and Belgium.
kenny dorham charlie hebdo In the French TV series "Maigret" one episode entitled 'First Class Murder' takes place entirely on a halted train and station (a restored 1940s steam-powered train). What did you think of that series.?My wife has been wondering about it.Thank You
charlie hebdo In the French TV series "Maigret" one episode entitled 'First Class Murder' takes place entirely on a halted train and station (a restored 1940s steam-powered train).
In the French TV series "Maigret" one episode entitled 'First Class Murder' takes place entirely on a halted train and station (a restored 1940s steam-powered train).
What did you think of that series.?My wife has been wondering about it.Thank You
If you are referring to the recent series with Rowan Atkinson as Maigret, I 've found it to be really good (although I haven't seen the episode mentioned).
Peter
ORNHOO When this thread was first started two scenes came to mind, but I avoided posting them because the involvement of trains was tangential at best. Recent posts would make it seem that is not a valid concern, so: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp2UhFQQb_k and: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytRSzrKjYJQ
When this thread was first started two scenes came to mind, but I avoided posting them because the involvement of trains was tangential at best. Recent posts would make it seem that is not a valid concern, so: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp2UhFQQb_k
and: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytRSzrKjYJQ
I thought there was a helicopter scene in Red Shoes following a 141R on The Blue Train along the coast approaching Nice. I haven't seen it in TV versions, and suspect it was cut...
Flintlock76ere's a very good possibility Paul Mantz or Frank Tallman did the "Wings of Eagles" flying,
According to IMDB it was Paul Mantz
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