Blue Pullman
Blue Pullman
| 01 January 1960 (USA)
Blue Pullman Trailers

Blue Pullman is a 1960 short documentary film directed by James Ritchie, which follows the development, preparation and a journey from Manchester to London on new British Railways Blue Pullman units. As with earlier British Transport Films, many of the personnel, scientists, engineers, crew and passengers were featured in the 20 minute film. It won several awards, including the Technical & Industrial Information section of the Festival for Films for Television in 1961. The film is also particularly noted for its score, by Clifton Parker, which, unlike the earlier Elizabethan Express is uninterrupted by any commentary.

Reviews
jimm-8

The BFI should be congratulated for restoring this previously unavailable little masterpiece, arguably the best train documentary ever made. The story of Blue Pullman's "maiden voyage" from Manchester to London is presented in vivid colour with stylish editing. After a short preamble showing the boffins at work on final trials and checks, the train gets under way with many beautifully photographed sequences shot from the air and from the driver's cab.The master stroke, however, is the decision to dispense with the usual commentary, thus enabling the viewer to hear every note of Clifton Parker's joyous score, (why aren't CD producers fighting amongst themselves to release it?).Perhaps the only fault with the film is that Blue Pullman, with its luxury fittings and heavenly dining car, comes over as looking a bit too beautiful -- nobody remembers dingy old British Railways looking anything like this! That apart, this is a highly enjoyable way to spend 26 minutes, so much so that one is quite sad when the journey comes to an end.

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