GB 1943 1hr 44mins Dir: Karel Lamac Starring: James Mason and Joyce Howard
A cashiered Royal Naval officer and a young woman join forces to solve a murder and hunt down a German spy ring
This thriller was based on the 1941 novel The Vanishing Corpse by Anthony Gilbert and includes some good railway scenes filmed on the Midland Main Line. Passing trains can be seen hauled by LMS Class 5MT ‘Black Five’ 4-6-0’s, and there are several unusual footplate shots from a 2-6-4T on the approach to Elstree Tunnels (1058 yards). There are also scenes filmed in Liverpool which include some shots of the old Liverpool Exchange station, one of the station frontage with a tram passing, and one from the platforms with a train arriving behind yet another ‘Black Five’. In later street scenes there are brief and distant glimpses of more Liverpool trams, though one can be identified as No.660 working Route 6A, Bowring Park to Pier Head via Broadgreen Road. These scenes were filmed close to the Cunard Building and the Royal Liver Building at the Pier Head. The train interior scenes use detailed studio sets.
A train approaches the camera hauled by a ‘Black Five’. A much cropped version of this image appeared in Theatre Royal, also released in 1943.
Whilst this view shows a train approaching Elstree Tunnels hauled by a 2-6-4 tank of some description. The following year a similar view appeared in the film On Approval (qv), which showed the view on the approach to Luton. These shots then are clearly taken from a sequence but when they were filmed, and what for, remains a mystery.
Another ‘Black Five’ passes the camera in closeup. This image also appeared in Theatre Royal.
Here we are treated to a rather rare view of the frontage to Liverpool Exchange station, with a tram passing the entrance from right to left
Now on the platforms of Liverpool Exchange and a train is arriving hauled by yet another ‘Black Five’
In this view outside the Liver Building in Liverpool, tram No.660 is just passing out of shot working a service on route 6A
This shot is looking from Mann Island Liverpool Pier Head towards the old White Star Shipping Line building. Another Liverpool Corporation tram is on the right whilst the steel girder bridge carried the Liverpool Overhead Railway.
