The Flying Scot [DVD]

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The Flying Scotsman is a 2006 British drama film, based on the life and career of Scottish amateur cyclist Graeme Obree. The film covers the period of Obree's life that saw him take, lose, and then retake the world one-hour distance record. The film stars Jonny Lee Miller as Obree, Laura Fraser, Billy Boyd, and Brian Cox. I knew British Railways was a bit flakey after WW2, but I never imagined they'd have to change engines five or six times on a single run... Billy Boyd as Malky McGovern: Obree's manager. When approached to have a role in the film, Boyd knew only the "basic elements" of Obree's story. [6] Boyd, being Scottish, felt it important to have the right script and further promote Scottish film. A spokesman for SFRS said: “We were alerted at 7.10pm on Friday to reports of a collision involving two trains at Aviemore Railway Station. THE FLYING SCOT is an engagingly low budget little heist movie set on board a train, where a gang of criminals are planning to steal money from the Royal Mail carriage by accessing it from an adjoining compartment. The film has a clever little set-up which sees the plan played out as the thieves would wish before it moves to the real world, where unsurprisingly things are far more unexpected and complex.

a b Kemp, Stuart (8 August 2006). "Film spotlight: "The Flying Scotsman" ". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007 . Retrieved 28 June 2007. As the film progresses the adult Obree is now married to Anne with a child. In between competing in local races, he runs a failing bicycle shop and has to supplement his income as a bicycle courier. Graeme encounters Malky McGovern (Boyd), a fellow bike courier, who recognises who Graeme is and they become fast friends. While working in his shop an older gentleman called Baxter (Cox), asks Graeme to repair his old bike. Graeme agrees after roping Baxter into being the judge over a race with a local van driver. Graeme narrowly beats the driver but the van steers into him. Baxter takes an immediate liking to Graeme but recognises a darkness in the younger man. This is a film I recall seeing a few times as a 'B' movie in the cinema. It concerns an attempt to rob a train of cash. It's a pretty poor movie to be honest. but quite good fun... so when it came up in the listings for the 'Talking Pictures' channel .. I recorded it. I've just watched it and noticed that the train pulls out being hauled by what looks a bit like a 'Scot' or similar engine.. though not seen too clearly. A little later the same train is being hauled by a fully streamlined 'Coronation' class and yet later by a rather indistinct thing which might be a B1.. Later still another loco, this time with smoke deflectors. And when the train finally pulls into the station for the last scenes, it is very clearly being hauled by a Great Western engine.. possibly a Hall or a Castle.. I'm not 'up' on such things. a b "Capone With THE FLYING SCOTSMAN's Jonny Lee Miller!!". Ain't It Cool News. 30 April 2007 . Retrieved 28 June 2007.a b c d e Dawtrey, Adam (23 July 2006). " 'Flying Scotsman' defies gravity". Variety . Retrieved 28 June 2007.

Selected items are only available for delivery via the Royal Mail 48® service and other items are available for delivery using this service for a charge. Bradshaw, Peter (15 August 2006). "The Flying Scotsman". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 August 2006 . Retrieved 28 June 2007. The Flying Scot is a compact, claustrophobic British B-movie gem directed by Compton Bennett ( The Seventh Veil, Man-Eater) and written by Norman Hudis ( Carry on Nurse, The Duke Wore Jeans) and Ralph Smart ( Always a Bride, Bush Christmas). The Flying Scot' is a justifiably good example of the genre. Well crafted and cheap to make! The story is quite simple. Ronnie, a young impetuous American crook, played by Lee Patterson, is looking for 'the big one', and proposes to rob the Mail Train by drilling through the compartment walls whilst the train travels from Glascow to London.a b Booth, Samantha (27 October 2002). "OBREE FILM HITS CRISIS AS COUNCIL SAYS NO". Daily Record (Scotland) . Retrieved 28 June 2007. Graeme tells everyone he intends to go again as he has the velodrome booked for 24 hours. Due to the grueling nature of the 1 hour challenge, everyone cautions him against making a second attempt. Graeme devises a cunning way to prevent his body from seizing up and cramping and exercises throughout the night. The next morning he and Anne sleep in and rush to find Malky, who unknown to Graeme has rebuilt the bike using Old Faithful's parts. Graeme embarks on his attempts and this time is successful in beating the record. Brian Cox as Douglas Baxter: A minister who helps Obree chase his demons and concentrate on his goal. Cox, a seasoned actor, had been working in Europe before returning to Scotland to shoot the film. He commented that the story is one of "perseverance and passion". He said, since seeing the film, "[t]he end result is even better than I hoped – it's a masterpiece." [6] Odd to see Compton Bennett whose previous film was the elaborate "A" costume musical "After the Ball", reduced to working in the "B" league and this film, although it is competently directed within the limits of an exceedingly tight budget, is not likely to improve his status. Apart from the introductory quarter-hour, it's dull repetition all the way. Now forgive the obvious did this little film perhaps provide some inspiration for the actual Great Train Robbery a few years later in 1963? Even the lead is called Ronnie, get it?

The Flying Scotsman is taking part at volunteer-run Strathspey Railway and was due to be running tours on Saturday and Sunday. Representatives of both the Flying Scotsman and the railway have been asked to comment. Wade, Mike (19 October 2002). "Obree's life story gathers momentum with Miller". The Scotsman . Retrieved 28 June 2007. However, his victory is short-lived as his record is broken by Chris Boardman (Adrian Grove, credited as Adrian Smith) a week later. The Union Cycliste Internationale hold a meeting where they devise rules to discourage Obree from using his experimental bicycle in future. Obree is severely depressed the night following his record-making ride. This is exacerbated when Boardman breaks the record. When Obree is confronted in a pub by the four bullies who had victimised him years earlier at school, he becomes completely withdrawn and rarely leaves his house. Baxter attempts to counsel him, but Obree feels betrayed when he discovers that Baxter is the pastor of a local church and the younger Obree is agnostic towards religion. The bonus features are an alternate opening sequence – merely 78 seconds revealing a title card for the American release – and a non-interactive still gallery running to 46-seconds. The main two extras are interviews. First is a near-17-minutes talk with Steve Chibnall, Professor of British Cinema, titled ‘The Flying Scot and the history of the British B-movie’. The second is around 13 minutes with writer and journalist Barry Forshaw, who, we are told, has written about British crime films. These are worth dealing with together, as they are both very standard examples of the talking head interviews seen on such legacy releases, and they cover the same ground without covering the same facts. Both contextualise the B Movie, much as summarised above, talk about the film itself, and look at the career of Compton Bennett (best known for 1950’s King Solomon’s Mines). Despite these errors, a movie worth watching. It is available on video in Britain as part of the Steam Cinema series.In the 1950's , all the studios were churning out 'B' movies, or as their publicity offices preferred to call them, Supporting Features. Most are now just memories or entries in catalogues, but in their day they were 65 minutes of taut thriller and proved to be the training ground for actors, writers, directors and technicians, as well as the twilight zone for former top stars. It has been painted in the traditional early 1960s British Rail green for its first official outing bearing its name plates after the restoration project.