The Flying Scot [DVD]

Product Information

However, his victory is short-lived as his record is broken by Chris Boardman (Adrian Grove, credited as Adrian Smith) a week later. The Union Cycliste Internationale hold a meeting where they devise rules to discourage Obree from using his experimental bicycle in future. Obree is severely depressed the night following his record-making ride. This is exacerbated when Boardman breaks the record. When Obree is confronted in a pub by the four bullies who had victimised him years earlier at school, he becomes completely withdrawn and rarely leaves his house. Baxter attempts to counsel him, but Obree feels betrayed when he discovers that Baxter is the pastor of a local church and the younger Obree is agnostic towards religion.

Director Compton Bennett had a major hit with "The Seventh Veil" (1945) but by the mid 1950s he was ensconced in programmers. Shot in just 3 weeks on a budget of 18,000 pounds - shows what a imaginative and proficient director can do when given a chance. Graeme tells everyone he intends to go again as he has the velodrome booked for 24 hours. Due to the grueling nature of the 1 hour challenge, everyone cautions him against making a second attempt. Graeme devises a cunning way to prevent his body from seizing up and cramping and exercises throughout the night. The next morning he and Anne sleep in and rush to find Malky, who unknown to Graeme has rebuilt the bike using Old Faithful's parts. Graeme embarks on his attempts and this time is successful in beating the record. THE FLYING SCOT is an engagingly low budget little heist movie set on board a train, where a gang of criminals are planning to steal money from the Royal Mail carriage by accessing it from an adjoining compartment. The film has a clever little set-up which sees the plan played out as the thieves would wish before it moves to the real world, where unsurprisingly things are far more unexpected and complex. In the 1950's , all the studios were churning out 'B' movies, or as their publicity offices preferred to call them, Supporting Features. Most are now just memories or entries in catalogues, but in their day they were 65 minutes of taut thriller and proved to be the training ground for actors, writers, directors and technicians, as well as the twilight zone for former top stars.

Your Opinions and Comments

Now forgive the obvious did this little film perhaps provide some inspiration for the actual Great Train Robbery a few years later in 1963? Even the lead is called Ronnie, get it? I was surprised and delighted to find out that this is a fast-paced and snappy little thriller that wrings maximum tension out of the premise. B-movie director Compton Bennett's direction is assured and CARRY ON scriptwriter Norman Hudis delivers a story that's full of engaging characters and unpredictable sub-plots.

Review of The Flying Scotsman". TotalFilm.com. Future Publishing. 29 June 2007 . Retrieved 1 March 2009. The gang then flies to a tropical location. So far no words have been spoken. Finally the gangs talk about their six previous heists and a plan to rob the Flying Scotsman train of half a million pounds. The robberies are planned meticulously.. One local said: “The Flying Scotsman apparently reversed into the carriages of the Royal Scotsman. It was all low speed and they both had buffers. But it is hard to tell the scale of the damage.” As the film progresses the adult Obree is now married to Anne with a child. In between competing in local races, he runs a failing bicycle shop and has to supplement his income as a bicycle courier. Graeme encounters Malky McGovern (Boyd), a fellow bike courier, who recognises who Graeme is and they become fast friends. While working in his shop an older gentleman called Baxter (Cox), asks Graeme to repair his old bike. Graeme agrees after roping Baxter into being the judge over a race with a local van driver. Graeme narrowly beats the driver but the van steers into him. Baxter takes an immediate liking to Graeme but recognises a darkness in the younger man.

Written by

Bradshaw, Peter (15 August 2006). "The Flying Scotsman". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 August 2006 . Retrieved 28 June 2007. One of the three thieves Phil (Alan Gifford) spends most of the film in pain from a stomach ulcer and would be more of a hindrance than help? Graeme decides to try and beat the hour record. However, he has neither the funding nor the quality of bicycle required. Determined to succeed, he asks Malky to take over his management and fundraising from his wife Anne who is overwhelmed with work and raising their child. Cox turns out to be a boatyard owner and offers Graeme and Malky his yard to build a fitting bike. Graeme sets himself 8 weeks to build a bike, raise funds for the challenge and pay for access to a fitting velodrome. The driving force for such a tight deadline is because Chris Boardsman's attempt for breaking the record is the 9th week.