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The Runaway Bus
The Runaway Bus
The Runaway Bus
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The Runaway Bus
Directed byVal Guest
Written byVal Guest
Produced byVal Guest
StarringFrankie Howerd
Margaret Rutherford
Petula Clark
CinematographyStanley Pavey
Edited byDouglas Myers
Music byRonald Binge
Production
company
Conquest-Guest Productions
Distributed byEros Films
Release date
  • 16 February 1954 (1954-02-16)
Running time
78 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£45,000[1]

The Runaway Bus (also known as Scream in the Night) is a 1954 British comedy film produced, written and directed by Val Guest.[2] It stars Frankie Howerd, Margaret Rutherford and Petula Clark and an ensemble cast of character actors in a story about a bus caught in fog while a gang of crooks tries to carry off a heist.[3] It was the film debut of Belinda Lee.

The film is referenced in an episode of Frankie Howerd's 1970s radio series.[citation needed]

Plot

[edit]

When heavy fog wreaks havoc with the plans of air travellers throughout southern England, outspoken Cynthia Beeston, a forceful proponent of "Positive Thought", insists on being taken from London Airport to Blackbushe Airport, where she might be able to fly to Dublin.

Harassed airline employees find emergency relief coach 13 and reserve driver Percy Lamb to transport her. Lamb is so hapless he cannot find his way around the airport, much less the roads. Beeston is joined by mild-mannered Henry Waterman, pulp-thriller addict Janie Grey and Ernest Schroeder. To satisfy a regulation, stewardess "Nikki" Nicholls is assigned to shepherd them. Rounding out the party is airline first officer Peter Jones, who hitches a ride.

Unbeknownst to most of them, robbers have stolen £200,000 worth of gold bullion from the airport bonded store and hidden the proceeds in the boot of the coach.

Two of the crooks are caught. Under questioning by Inspector Henley, one breaks down and admits the gold was stowed on the coach and that the mysterious and notorious "Banker" is the mastermind. Henley informs Percy by radio, but the fog is so thick, Percy has no idea where he is. In mid-call, Peter pokes what Percy thinks is a gun into his back and tells him to keep driving. They wind up at a deserted, booby-trapped village used by the Army for training.

When Schroeder finds a Sten gun, Peter grabs it. Schroeder then informs him that it does not work, and produces a pistol of his own. After a scuffle, it turns out that Peter is working for airport security, while Schroeder is a police officer. Miss Beeston is revealed to be the Banker and she ends up with the gun, as her henchman Henry tries to start the coach. Percy saves the day: he had removed the rotor arm from the engine beforehand, and knocks the pistol out of Miss Beeston's hand with a stone.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

The huge success of Norman Wisdom in Trouble in Store led to British film companies signing up other comics from TV, radio and variety. The company Eros decided to make a film with Frankie Howerd.[4] Guest says the idea to use Howerd came from Peter Noble.[5]

Val Guest had first met Frankie Howerd backstage in his dressing room at the London Palladium where Howerd was topping the bill in a long-running variety show. The two men became friends. Howerd later said he "wanted to do a comedy thriller. Bob Hope’s first real success was in The Cat and the Canary. I saw it when I was in the army and thought that if I ever get out I’d make a comedy thriller."[6]

Guest said that Howerd was initially reluctant to make a film, "Films? Oho, that's a dangerous game. Get your name up there outside a cinema and if they don't go in it's all your fault! Thank you but no thank you!"[citation needed] Howerd finally agreed, but made three demands. Firstly, Guest had to write a comedy-thriller, so that if the comedy part did not work, the thriller part might. Second, he did not want his name first above the title. And finally, he wanted his favourite comedy actress Margaret Rutherford to be in it.[7]

Howerd's biographer said that The Runaway Bus "was a kind of a cross between a cut-price version of The Cat and the Canary and a very half-hearted reworking of The Ghost Train" which Guest had helped adapt for Arthur Askey.[1] Shooting took five weeks, with a budget of £45,000.[1] It was made at Southall Studios in London with sets designed by the art director Wilfred Arnold.

In September 1953 the New York Times announced that the film would be called Scream in the Night and star Howerd and Belinda Lee, who the paper said had never acted before and was the seventy-seventh girl who auditioned.[8]

Howerd later said Guest "wrote the story but I mostly wrote my own part and we did it. In those days we didn't have much money so in order to make the film ... you set the whole thing in a fog so you wouldn't use much scenery. The great advantage was having Margaret Rutherford in it."[6]

On the last day of filming, Guest realised that the movie was coming in at 72 minutes, three minutes short to qualify as a feature, so Howerd improvised a scene in a phone box.[9]

Reception

[edit]

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This is the first film to star Frankie Howerd. He is unable to bring to the cinema those qualities which have made him so successful on the radio and in the music hall, and relies on mannerisms and grimaces which, though often quite funny, are not sufficient to sustain a film. He is not helped by the script, which is at times so involved as to be almost incomprehensible; with a good "feed" and a script better suited to his own style of fantastic comedy he might be more successful. The supporting cast – notably Margaret Rutherford in one of her familiar characterisations and George Coulouris as the man from Scotland Yard – is so strong as rather to overwhelm than to support the star."[10]

Variety called it "boisterous".[11]

Filmink said "Lee is gorgeous to look at and is quite funny; the film did not turn Howerd into a film star (that came later, off the back of TV success) but it is entertaining."[12]

Guest says the film was "enormously" successful. "Everybody made an enormous amount of money out of that... And it comes back time and time again you know it was re-released in movies, in cinemas again and was a very big hit."[5]

References

[edit]
[edit]
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The Runaway Bus

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from Grokipedia
The Runaway Bus (also known as Scream in the Night) is a 1954 produced, written, and directed by . It stars in his feature film debut as the inept bus driver Percy Lamb, with supporting roles played by as the passenger and master criminal Miss Cynthia Beeston and as an air hostess. The plot follows a group of passengers stranded at London Airport due to thick , who board an airline bus to reach an alternative airport, unaware that the vehicle carries stolen gold bullion and harbors a master criminal among them, leading to a series of mishaps and pursuits by robbers and police. Filmed in black and white with a runtime of 78 minutes, the movie blends elements of , , and mystery, and was released in the on 16 February 1954 and in the United States on 23 October 1954. Set primarily on and around the bus during the fog-shrouded journey, it features a diverse including as police officer Ernest Schroeder and as a . The film marks an early showcase for Howerd's distinctive humor and was shot on a modest of £45,000 primarily at Studios, with the story set in an for added atmospheric tension. Critically, it holds a 69% approval rating on based on contemporary reviews praising its lighthearted caper elements.

Development and Production

Development

The development of The Runaway Bus originated from a suggestion by Peter Noble to director , proposing a film vehicle for comedian to capitalize on his rising popularity from radio broadcasts and stage performances at the London Palladium. Guest, recognizing the potential for a low-budget comedy similar to successful economical British productions of the early , developed the project as a comedy-thriller hybrid, emphasizing thriller elements to align with Howerd's preferences for the narrative structure. The screenplay stemmed from an initial treatment by J.O.C. Orton centered on a pirate bus scheme, which Guest and co-writer George Edgar substantially revised after deeming the original "fucking awful" yet salvageable as a foundation. Guest penned the script himself in 1953, tailoring it specifically for Howerd's comedic style while keeping production costs low at an estimated £45,000 to fit the trend of quick, thrifty British comedies. Produced by Danny Angel and distributed by Hyams Brothers, this budget-conscious approach reflected the era's emphasis on efficient filmmaking to maximize returns on modest investments. Casting decisions focused on leveraging established talents for cost efficiency and debut opportunities. Guest chose Howerd as the lead without initial star billing to exploit his radio fame. joined the cast after insisting on collaborating with Howerd and refusing top billing over him, while secured her first role beyond juvenile parts as the air hostess. The production also marked the film debut of in a supporting role. Pre-production logistics prioritized economy, with interior scenes planned for Southall Studios in London to maintain tight control over expenses and avoid elaborate location shoots. To further stretch the limited budget—allowing funds for key performers like Rutherford—Guest opted to envelop the entire story in fog, minimizing the need for detailed sets or outdoor logistics.

Filming

Principal photography for The Runaway Bus took place at Southall Studios in Middlesex, England, over a short schedule in late 1953. To accommodate the film's low budget constraints, director incorporated pervasive throughout the production, which minimized the need for extensive and accelerated the overall process. effects created a dense, atmospheric pea-souper that confined most action to controlled studio environments simulating a airport and surrounding areas. During the tight shoot, comedian contributed an improvised three-minute scene in a phone box , where his character calls an old army sergeant and receives a tirade; this addition extended the runtime to 78 minutes, helping the film qualify for a full 'A' certificate. Guest's directorial approach leveraged the confined bus setting and to heighten tension within the dynamics, while practical set designs represented the climactic arrival at an abandoned army training camp, complete with mock hazards to evoke wartime booby traps without relying on complex .

Plot and Cast

Plot

The film opens at London Airport during a severe that grounds all flights, stranding a group of passengers who are then transported by airline bus to another airport to continue their journeys. The bus is driven by the bumbling Percy Lamb, portrayed by , accompanied by stewardess Lee "Nikki" Nicholls. Unbeknownst to the group, robbers have stolen £200,000 worth of gold bullion from the airport's bonded store and concealed it in the bus's luggage compartment. Among the passengers are several suspects, including the elderly and irascible Miss Cynthia Beeston, who turns out to be the criminal mastermind known as "." As the bus ventures into the thick fog, navigation becomes impossible, leading to detours, comedic mishaps, and encounters with pursuing police and robbers. The journey culminates in the group becoming stranded in a booby-trapped used by the for training exercises, where tensions rise amid suspicions and a discovered weapon. In the resolution, Percy Lamb uses his unexpected ingenuity to unmask the thief, recover the gold, and ensure the passengers' safety as authorities arrive.

Cast

The Runaway Bus features a led by British comedian in his first starring role as Percy Lamb, the inept and bumbling whose mishaps drive the film's comedic premise. portrays Miss Cynthia Beeston, the eccentric banker passenger who becomes a in the unfolding mystery, delivering one of her signature quirky character performances. Petula Clark plays Lee "Nikki" Nicholls, the stewardess who introduces romantic tension through her interactions aboard the fog-bound bus. makes her film debut as Janie Grey, a glamorous passenger also under suspicion, marking the beginning of her brief but notable career in British cinema. In supporting roles, appears as Ernest Schroeder, a mysterious passenger under suspicion, adding dramatic intrigue to the comedy. plays Henry Waterman, the bus conductor who assists Lamb amid the chaos. Other notable performers include as Peter Jones, John Horsley as Detective Inspector Henley, and as the Duty Officer.

Release and Distribution

Theatrical Release

The Runaway Bus premiered in the on 16 February 1954 in , marking the film's world debut and initial theatrical rollout, with distribution handled by Eros Films. The production company, Conquest-Guest Productions, partnered with Eros to target British cinemas during a period of recovering post-war film exhibition. In select international markets, the was released under the alternative title Scream in the Night and featured a runtime of 78 minutes. Marketing campaigns spotlighted Frankie Howerd's comedic debut in a leading role, alongside the fog-enshrouded , to draw audiences interested in accessible British humor amid the era's travel disruptions and light mysteries. Distribution beyond the remained limited, focusing on territories including a release in in April 1956, while a small U.S. showing occurred on 23 October 1954 in without broader national expansion. This approach reflected the film's modest scale and primary appeal to domestic and imperial markets.

Home Media

The film was first made available on in the 1980s through releases by various labels, such as those distributed by specialists. A DVD edition followed in 2005, issued by Network Distributing, marking the first official digital transfer for the title in the market. As of November 2025, the film is available to rent or buy digitally on platforms like Amazon Video in the and .

Reception and Legacy

Critical Response

Upon its release in 1954, The Runaway Bus garnered mixed , with praise for its energetic comedy tempered by notes on its limited international draw. Variety characterized the film as a "boisterous " that offered lowbrow fun through its ensemble antics, though it observed that the absence of recognizable stars would restrict its U.S. appeal. Critics highlighted the strong chemistry among the cast, particularly the interplay between Frankie Howerd's nervous bus driver and Margaret Rutherford's eccentric passenger, which provided highlights amid the fog-shrouded chaos. The film's use of dense fog as a comedic and suspenseful device was commended for creating memorable set pieces in and rural scenes. In retrospective analyses from the and , the film has been appraised as a quintessential example of mid-1950s in the vein of ' lighter efforts, capturing the era's blend of and . Howerd's feature debut is often credited with anchoring its enduring , as his ad-libbed timing and awkward persona shine in the ensemble dynamic. Director , in his autobiography, defended the work as an intentionally "lightweight comedy-thriller," emphasizing its unpretentious aim to entertain through character-driven hijinks rather than heavy plotting.

Commercial Performance

The Runaway Bus was produced on a modest budget of £45,000, typical for British films of the era aiming to meet quota requirements under the Films Act. Director stated that the film was "enormously" commercially successful, recouping its costs through domestic theatrical runs in the UK and generating significant profits for the production team, including his own percentage share. Released in by distributor Eros Films, the comedy benefited from strong post-war demand for light-hearted British entertainments, particularly low-budget "quota quickies" that fulfilled cinema mandates for national content. However, its earnings were constrained by limited international appeal, with no major export markets recorded beyond minor releases in territories like and the . In comparison to contemporaries, such as Norman Wisdom's breakout hit (1953), which ranked as the second most popular film at the British box office that year and spawned a lucrative series, The Runaway Bus achieved more modest profitability suited to its quickie status. While precise gross figures for the film remain unavailable in historical records, its performance as a profitable venture in the quota market paved the way for similar low-budget comedy productions by Guest and others in the mid-1950s British industry.

Cultural Impact

The Runaway Bus marked the screen debut of comedian , who played the lead role of the hapless bus driver Percy Lamb, a part specifically written to showcase his unique comedic style of awkward asides and self-deprecating humor. This performance served as a breakthrough for Howerd, transitioning him from radio and stage success to cinema and paving the way for subsequent film roles in projects like The Ladykillers (1955). The film's use of dense artificial fog not only concealed its low budget but also evoked the real-life in December 1952, a deadly that killed thousands and influenced a series of fog-themed British productions in the mid-1950s, reflecting post-war anxieties about urban pollution and isolation. The movie also represented a pivotal early role for actress as Janie Grey, marking her film debut after being spotted by director during a theater production. This appearance was a milestone in Lee's brief career, which saw her rise as a starlet in titles like The Feminine Touch (1956) before her tragic death in a car accident in 1958 at age 25. Through these performances, The Runaway Bus contributed to the ensemble-driven comedies typical of British cinema, blending mystery and light-hearted amid the era's rationing-era resourcefulness.

References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047434/
  2. https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/88771/the-runaway-bus
  3. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/runaway_bus
  4. https://historyproject.org.uk/interview/val-guest
  5. https://www.reelstreets.com/films/runaway-bus-the/
  6. https://archive.org/details/the-runaway-bus-1954
  7. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047434/trivia/
  8. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047434/plotsummary/
  9. https://dennisschwartzreviews.com/runawaybus/
  10. https://www.nytimes.com/1954/10/25/archives/runaway-bus-halts-at-the-normandie.html
  11. https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-runaway-bus/cast/2030284316/
  12. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/runaway_bus/cast-and-crew
  13. http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/1223118/index.html
  14. https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/obituary-phil-hyams-1279182.html
  15. https://www.avid.wiki/Eros_Films
  16. https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/val-guest-478294.html
  17. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047434/releaseinfo/
  18. https://www.comedy.co.uk/film/the_runaway_bus/
  19. https://www.ebay.com/itm/274512619152
  20. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Runaway-Bus-DVD-Frankie-Howerd/dp/B000IYV1SI
  21. https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-runaway-bus
  22. https://archive.org/stream/variety193-1954-03/variety193-1954-03_djvu.txt
  23. https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/37643/british-cinema-volume-2-comedy-collection-disc-one-our-girl-friday-dentist-in-the-chair-disc-two-runaway-bus-carry-on-ad/
  24. https://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=9443
  25. https://londononlocation.co.uk/films/runaway-bus-the/
  26. https://www.comedy.co.uk/film/the_runaway_bus/trivia/
  27. https://www.saltypopcorn.co.uk/movies/the-runaway-bus
  28. https://frankiehowerdobetrust.org/frankie-howerd/
  29. http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/874448/index.html
  30. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9067942/
  31. https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp17589/belinda-lee
  32. https://www.glamourgirlsofthesilverscreen.com/show/159/Belinda%2BLee/index.html
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