The Wrecker 1929

[glyn horton]

According to Amazon this is going to be released by Network on October 5th. A rare early Brit thriller with a railway theme, later remade in 1936 as Seven Sinners.

[didi-5]

Is this the one with lots of railway footage which was recycled in later films? Carlyle Blackwell starring? Sounds intriguing, and something of a departure for Network who I don't think have touched on the silent cinema before.

[glyn horton]

Thats the one. They wrecked a real train for a crash scene and the footage cropped up in other films for quite a few years after. Network have released The Pleasure Garden from 1925 - a silent Hitchcock.

[penfold]

But we won't mention the British Hitchcock Silents (poorly done) and rather hope it's more like the Battle Of The Somme (1916) release with the IWM, which was an exceptional release.

I believe the music is from Neil Brand, btw.

[penfold]

Now up on Network's site, a mid-November release , now with more extras than you can shake a stick at, and a superb cover........







Wrecker (The): Network DVD Full release details

[CaptainWaggett]

And for those who can't get enough of the train crash, you can see it again in Seven Sinners, also due in November

[DB7]

name='penfold']

Who are 'Strike Force Entertainment?' Should be shot for such a brand name.

[penfold]

It's Network's Militaria/Planes/Trains imprint....

[Mr Martin]

Looks as though the Network release of the Wrecker will be excellent, especially as it includes so many extras.



For train buffs, another possible idea for a similar type of release with extras, might be Oh! Mr Porter - also filmed on the Basingstoke and Alton line.



Perhaps Network already have plans for a special edition of this, as there are quite a lot of possible items that could be included with a fully restored version of this film - considered by many to be one of the best British Comedy Films of all time.



Another idea may be a special version of the Ghost Train (1941) along with all the surviving bits from the 1931 film - This earlier film used location filming, rather than mainly studio work as in the one made in 1941. There are probably other pre War films with transport as a theme, that do deserve some kind of DVD release. The titles that come to mind are



The Flying Scotsman (1929),

Kate Plus Ten

Gordon Harker in The Lightning Conductor.







.

[dpgmel]

Having seen neither The Wrecker or Seven Sinners , presumably the consensus is they are worth watching ?

[CaptainWaggett]

name='dpgmel']Having seen neither The Wrecker or Seven Sinners , presumably the consensus is they are worth watching ?

Not seen either of them and I probably won't buy The Wrecker but one of rules on which I base my life is that you can't go wrong with Launder and Gilliat train-based mysteries. Or indeed Felix Aylmer. So Seven Sinners is already on order (HMV seemed the cheapest option).

[penfold]

I would say The Wrecker is well worth watching - not in the very first rank of British silents, but a good solid thriller with really good use of railway locations. I have Seven Sinners somewhere, thanks to a kind forum member, but I have yet to play it.....

[Cooper S]

Haven't seen Seven Sinners for many years, but sem to remember it being a fairly witty, pacy film for the period. Looking forward to the releases of both this and The Wrecker.

[wadsy]

name='Cooper S']Haven't seen Seven Sinners for many years, but sem to remember it being a fairly witty, pacy film for the period. Looking forward to the releases of both this and The Wrecker.

Seven Sinners. A most enjoyable film. There's a fine rapport between Edmund



Lowe & Constance Cummings & some great dialogue between them.

[david_dsmedia]

Excerpts from footage of crashes, and interview, now online here:

BBC News - 1920s disaster movie restored

[penfold]

The chap the commentator seems to think is Neil Brand, is actually Bob Geoghan, who has been instrumental in getting this film out on DVD.....