THE BUTLER’S DILEMMA

GB
1943
1hr 23mins
Dir: Leslie Hiscott
Starring: Richard Hearne and Hermione Gingold

A man is persuaded to impersonate an old butler in order to provide a jewel thief with an alibi

This terribly tepid comedy features one single shot of an LMS ‘Royal Scot’ 4-6-0 pulling away on an express. The shot is very clear, yet the locomotive has no apparent identity.

Although names were removed from stations during the war for security reasons there was no need for locomotives to lose their identities. However, this ‘Royal Scot’ appears to be anonymous. The nameplate visible on the right is blank and the cabside number is not present. If anyone can explain this anonymity I would be most grateful!!