THE GHOST TRAIN (1941) Arthur Askey, Richard Murdoch & Kathleen Harrison | Horror, Comedy | B&W

The Ghost Train is a 1941 British thriller mystery film directed by Walter Forde and starring Arthur Askey and Richard Murdoch. It is based on the 1923 play The Ghost Train by Arnold Ridley.

Synopsis

Tommy Gander, a music hall comedian, pulls the communication cord on a GWR express train, bringing it to a stop so he can retrieve his hat. Returning to the train, he escapes an angry conductor by ducking into a compartment occupied by attractive blonde Jackie Winthrop, with whom Gander flirts. Another passenger, Teddy, has his eye on Jackie as well, but her companion Richard Winthrop ejects both of them from the compartment.

When the train stops at Fal Vale Junction, Cornwall, these four get off to change trains, as do Herbert and his fiancée Edna, spinster Miss Bourne, and the tippling Dr Sterling. However, the stationmaster, Saul Hodgkin tells them the last Truro-bound train has gone, and that they cannot remain at the station, as he is locking up for the night. The passengers insist on staying, as it is raining heavily and the nearest village is 4 mi (6.4 km) away.

Hodgkin warns them the station is haunted. A branch line once crossed the river on a swing bridge close to the station. One night 43 years ago, then stationmaster Ted Holmes had a fatal heart attack while attempting to close the bridge, causing a train to plunge into the river. Ever since, a phantom train has been heard periodically on the abandoned track. It is said to kill anyone who looks upon it.

With that, he reluctantly leaves them. As the passengers make themselves as comfortable as they can, they hear footsteps outside. Richard opens the door, and Hodgkin collapses into the room. Dr Sterling pronounces him dead. Later, a terrified young woman in black appears. She, Julia, pleads for help, saying that someone is pursuing her. A car spins off the road and crashes into a tree. The driver is unhurt, but his car is damaged. Back in the waiting room, he introduces himself as John Price and explains that he is searching for his sister Julia, who he says suffers from delusions. Julia protests that he is lying. Price further explains that she thought she had seen the ghost train, and became obsessed with it ever since. The passengers tell him that Hodgkin has died. When Price insists on seeing the body, they discover it has mysteriously vanished.

Price leaves to arrange transportation. Then an approaching train is heard. As it thunders past, Julia smashes a window to look at it, then screams and faints. They hear singing from the nearby railway tunnel mouth. Julia claims that Ben Isaacs, the sole survivor of the accident, is coming back. Teddy shoots at the "ghost", causing it to flee back into the tunnel, leaving behind a bloodstained cloth.

Teddy shows the others the cloth and orders the others, at gunpoint, to stay put until the police arrive, but Richard punches him, knocking him out. The passengers carry him to the bus Price has obtained. When Teddy comes to, he is furious with Richard, as now there will be no one to intercept the train on its return journey. When Gander remarks that he had returned the bridge to the open position, Dr. Sterling suddenly orders the bus driver to stop, while his confederate, Price, produces his own gun. Sterling orders the driver to turn back so they can warn the train.

Meanwhile, guns are being loaded aboard the "ghost train"; a very much alive Hodgkin flags the train off and climbs aboard. Teddy explains that the train is really being used by Nazi fifth columnists to secretly transport arms. While Price heads down the embankment with Julia and the driver to try to stop the train, Teddy knocks Sterling out and gains control of the situation. The train plunges into the river.

Cast & Crew

Arthur Askey as Tommy Gander
Richard Murdoch as Teddy Deakin
Kathleen Harrison as Miss Bourne
Peter Murray-Hill as R. G. Winthrop
Carole Lynne as Jackie Winthrop
Morland Graham as Dr. Sterling
Betty Jardine as Edna
Stuart Latham as Herbert
Herbert Lomas as Saul Hodgkin
Raymond Huntley as John Price
Linden Travers as Julia Price
D. J. Williams as Ben Isaacs
George Merritt as inspector
Sidney Monckton as train guard
Wallace Bosco as Ted Holmes
William Thomas Jones as chauffeur

Directed by: Walter Forde
Written by: Marriott Edgar (dialogue), Val Guest (dialogue), J. O. C. Orton (writer)
Based on: The Ghost Train by Arnold Ridley
Produced by: Edward Black
Starring: Arthur Askey, Richard Murdoch
Cinematography: Jack E. Cox
Edited by: R. E. Dearing
Music by: Walter Goehr
Production company: Gainsborough Pictures
Distributed by: General Film Distributors
Release date: 3 May 1941 (UK)
Running time: 85 minutes
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English