GB
1991
1hr 16mins
Dir: Colin Finbow
Starring: Paul Copley and Sara Clee
A young boy is evacuated from London during the Blitz and relocated to the countryside, where he begins a series of schemes to try and accrue sufficient funds to return home
The Children’s Film Unit was a unique British film production unit which offered children from the ages of 10 to 16 the opportunity to learn about all aspects of film-making, and to participate as part of the crew in the making of professional-quality feature films. The children were directly involved from the initial concept of a film right through to the completed product. CFU Films had a theatrical release, as well as being shown on British and overseas television, sometimes being exhibited, and sometimes winning, at international film festivals. Adapted from a book by Alison Prince, this CFU drama was interesting in that it centred around the Second World War, and features railway scenes filmed on the Bluebell Railway. The train seen departing from Horsted Keynes station is hauled by Maunsell U Class 2-6-0 No.1638 but the run-bys use a similar train hauled by Q Class 0-6-0 No.541, another Maunsell design. There is also a short sequence filmed during an air raid at Aldwych Underground station, though little detail can actually be made out.
