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.