The Runaway Bus (1954)

THE RUNAWAY BUS is a lightweight British comedy feature with some nice mystery and thriller aspects in the mix. The story is set on a foggy night of the year, the location an airport transport bus which is taking the usual diverse group of passengers to a remote location but struggling to find a route through the obscured country roads. There's a bit of a light Agatha Christie feel as it becomes apparent that at least one of the passengers is merely masquerading and actually a robber involved in the theft of some gold bullion. This is a notable feature for the always likeable Frankie Howerd, playing the replacement bus driver involved in all manner of pratfalls and goofy humour; his brand of comedy acting is well established even by this stage of his career. The film is low budget but has lots of humour and a very good supporting cast. Margaret Rutherford is the loudmouth, Terence Alexander a shady rival. Petula Clark is very young, unrecognisable in fact as the friendly but pushy stewardess. George Coulouris is another shady character, and there are bit parts for film regulars Marianne Stone and Sam Kydd.

British comedian Frankie Howerd, best known to TV fans as the star of the historical satire Up Pompeii, makes his feature film debut alongside Margaret Rutherford, George Coulouris, Belinda Lee and English songstress Petula Clark. Howerd plays Percy Lamb, a novice bus driver, who, as London is submerged in thick fog, is assigned to drive the number "13" coach from London airport to another a couple of hours away. With his half dozen or so passengers along for company, Percy promptly gets lost! But that's not the worst of their worries. For in the boot is a load of stolen gold bullion and the master criminal known as "The Banker" is amongst them and will do anything to get their hands on the loot. But just who is "The Banker?". It's written and directed by Val Guest whose writing work for the likes of Will Hay, Arthur Askey and The Crazy Gang puts him firmly on the list of classic British comedy writers.Safe and inoffensive fun is The Runaway Bus, very much along the lines of Walter Forde's The Ghost Train (Guest writing there too), it zips along apace and is awash with gags both visually and orally. Maybe somewhat surprising, considering all those involved with it, it's probably with its "who is it" core where the film is at its best. Blending comedy with mystery thriller elements can often be a tricky task for some film makers, but thankfully here Guest and his team play it right. There's no obvious hints to who the "baddie" is, thus the element of surprise is high, and the staging of the second half of the movie at a fog enveloped army training range makes for a nice atmospheric feel. There's no great shakes in the acting, but they all are safe and doing what is required. Rutherford of course is the standout performer, while Howerd is only hinting at the ability that would in the years to come make him a much loved comedian in the United Kingdom.Widely available on DVD now, it will be annoying to some that the transfer is rough and not afforded a clean up. Full of snap, crackle and pop, it does carry a bit of old fashioned value in that respect. But those interested in the DVD should stay away if scratchy old transfers are to be an issue. 7/10

If the sight of MARGARET RUTHERFORD poking everyone around with her umbrella and making an overbearing nuisance of herself is your idea of a fun comedy, THE RUNAWAY BUS is your ticket.A British comedian by the name of FRANKIE HOWARD mugs his way through most of the broad comedy which involves a group of passengers stuck in the London fog at an airport where nothing is functioning. He's the bus driver who gets them away from the airport in heavy fog. The plot gets thicker when some gold bullion is stowed aboard the bus along with a bunch of odd passengers. PETULA CLARK, in a non-singing role is a perky airlines clerk. GEORGE COULOURIS adds a bit of menace as a mysterious man.The absurd ending is completely incredible. Typical British misfire with its humor only engaging enough in uneven stretches of comedy.An easy one to skip, even if you're a Margaret Rutherford fan. Definitely not a comedy for all tastes.

This is a great comedy film,with a large number of British stars on their way up including later pop star Petula Clarke who these days lives in france. The whole set up hinges on the fact that a fog covers the south east England and a Gold bullion robeery has been waiting for this very thing to happen. Master mind the Banker a most deadly crook who is not disccoved till the end of the last reel, and who the players hold a sweep stake on who it is. Frankie Howard is just great and when he climbs a post to find the way only to discover the words 'wet paint', its a laugh a minute. A film to watch over and over as you discover some thing new each time. Pity we can not have fims like this these days simple entertaining fun.