About Vintage Stuff

The aim of Vintage Stuff is to display some of the ephemera that I have collected, often inadvertently, over the years. I am now deliberately seeking out interesting old adverts, screen shots, leaflets, obscure record covers, picture postcards and illustrations; anything that catches my eye, in fact. They will be mainly, but not exclusively of UK origin (so many vintage blogs appear to be American) and almost always a scan from something that I actually have in my collection, rather than off the net. If you do re-blog, please acknowledge the source. Further stuff, mainly photographs, can be found on my Flickr pages, via the Benny Hill record cover.

Tuesday 6 March 2012

Press For Time

This Norman Wisdom comedy film from 1966 is not his best, but does include a lengthy chase sequence featuring former Bournemouth Leyland TD5 FEL 214. Norman (as Norman Shields) is banished to the seaside town of Tinmouth (actually Teignmouth, in Devon) by his grandfather, the Prime Minister (also played by Norman Wisdom) to train as a local newspaper reporter. In this particular part, Norman thinks that his bicycle has been stolen, and commandeers a bus to pursue the thief. The chase begins through the town, the filming watched by many holidaymakers en route and at one point, the bus manages to overtake the bike. The poor old open-topper ends up in the sea, and of course when Norman does catch up with the man, it turns out to be the wrong bike! The bus was apparently hired for the film, with the conductor being played by actor Gordon Rollings. The stony-faced driver is uncredited, as is one Helen Mirren, who briefly appears in her first film role later on. FEL 214 seems not to have survived, although sister vehicle FEL 215 has been preserved.







2 comments:

  1. What a shame that the lovely Leyland was scuttled! I find myself watching films like this with no idea of the plot; instead I'm taking in the period details and atmosphere...we recently watched Quadrophenia again and I was surprised at how old it seemed...
    Helen Mirren? Now you've got my undivided attention.

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  2. The film is currently on BBC iPlayer, but I couldn't find Helen; I suspect that you may have better luck! She played a suffragette called Penelope Squires, probably towards the end of the fim, during the beauty contest..........

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