The Runaway Bus. Image shows from L to R: Peter Jones (Terence Alexander), Lee Nicholls (Petula Clark), Percy Lamb (Frankie Howerd). Copyright: Val Guest Productions
The Runaway Bus

The Runaway Bus

  • 1954 film

Comedy crime caper starring Frankie Howerd as the hapless driver of a coach laden with stolen gold bullion and a selection of frustrated passengers. Stars Frankie Howerd, Margaret Rutherford, Petula Clark, George Coulouris, Toke Townley and more.

The Runaway Bus. Image shows from L to R: Peter Jones (Terence Alexander), Lee Nicholls (Petula Clark), Percy Lamb (Frankie Howerd). Copyright: Val Guest Productions

Key details

Genre
Film
Released
1954
Stars
Frankie Howerd, Margaret Rutherford, Petula Clark, George Coulouris, Toke Townley, Terence Alexander, Belinda Lee, John Horsley and more
Writer
Val Guest
Director
Val Guest
Producer
Val Guest
Company

Amidst some of the worst weather in recent memory, Heathrow Airport finds itself at a standstill, with fog reducing visibility to a mere few feet. In all of the confusion and travel chaos a group of passengers insistent on passage to Ireland talk the airline into laying on a bus to take them to an airport in Hampshire, which apparently still has some departures.

It'd be a hard enough journey through the English countryside hidden by thick fog at the best of times, but poor relief driver Percy is frightened out of his wits when he discovers that a gang of master criminals have used the inclement weather and nightfall to relieve Heathrow's bonded store of £200,000 worth of gold bullion - and were planning to make the getaway upon his coach before he was sent out with the passengers!

Additional details

Tagline
Go on - LAUGH - and the best of luck!
UK certificate
U
Duration
77 minutes
UK premiere
Tuesday 16th February 1954
Production
Studio
Picture
Black and white

Website links

Recording details

  • Southall Studios

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