GB 1976 1hr 46mins Dir: Richard Fleischer Starring: Glenda Jackson and Daniel Massey
A film about the life of the tempestuous French actress Sarah Bernhardt
In this drama ‘London’ station, unusual in that no particular station is specified, is in fact the main engine shed at the Didcot Railway Centre with wooden platforms and a station ‘frontage’ added by the film company. Victorian GWR four-wheel Dean Third No.975 and GWR Dean Third Clerestory No.1941 were provided as stock and there are some very good shots of GWR ‘Manor’ Class 4-6-0 No.7808 Cookham Manor. Both the loco and carriages had additional LC&DR lettering applied and although this is a largely successful and somewhat atmospheric attempt at a recreation of a Victorian railway scene, the only real problem is that the loco was not built until 1938, fifteen years after Sarah’s death! GWR four-wheel non-vent Riding Van No.56 and GWR four-wheel non-vent Tool Van No.135 are also visible in the background of one shot. There are some additional scenes filmed onboard Victorian coaches and some indistinct views of trains at night, one crossing a viaduct, but it is not clear where these were filmed or what they depict.