WEBSITE READER Mr Joseph Kutta has written to remind us that Deborah Kerr was not the only 'car' to feature in the 1946 movie I See a Dark Stranger. The other was MER Car 26, which Ms Kerr is seen boarding as the tram is about to leave Laxey Station for Douglas (ABOVE).
IMDB records the film was shot in Dublin & Dundalk (Ireland), Isle of Man, Devon, Somerset and above is a screen shot taken from REEL STREETS
REEL STREETS also records that Douglas prom and Prospect Hill Douglas feature in the film.
Since that time Car 26 has fallen on rather hard times, being out of use minus trucks (?) in Laxey shed for several years. There have been rumours (not confirmed) that conversion into a works car is under consideration. It was repainted by volunteers from the MERS 20 years ago, and was until very recently a quiet and smooth-riding member of the fleet.
The Island's railways have been used in other films and tv series. In 1984, the forecourt of Douglas IMR station doubled as a fictitious UK railway station in the BBC mini-series of Arnold Bennett's Anna of the Five Towns. During filming on the Island the crew and extras were joined by 'continuity horses', as the first part of the titular Anna's journey from her home to her local railway station had been filmed in Dudley. The carriage and horses had to be shipped to the Island to shoot the scene as she arrived at 'Shawport' (Douglas IMR in the show) to continue her journey to Lime Street and thence onwards to the Isle of Man.
The IMR was used again in 1989, this time for the BBC-Sony co-production of The Ginger Tree, in which in 1903, a young Scotswoman goes to join her diplomat fiancé in Manchuria. In the program the interior of the erstwhile Douglas carriage shed was used as Vladivostok station, whilst Santon station (in August) was used to depict Siberia in mid winter with the aid of tons of rock salt and 'foam snow' courtesy of the airport fire brigade. Russian 'soldiers' were depicted warming their hands over bonfires as a black-painted IMR loco and pairs rattled through the station in darkness.
The production was notable for being the first costume drama made by the BBC to be shot on hi-definition video, the co-production having been instigated by Sony to showcase its new technology to would-be customers. Whilst the picture may have been wider and sharper (albeit with considerable 'photoconductive lag' thanks to the early HDVS camera used), the 'Hi-Vision' drama was panned by critics in the UK, one of whom dubbed it 'yawn-o-vision' and the programme has never been repeated.
More recently, Castletown IMR station was featured in the 2000 production of Thomas and the Magic Railroad. Unlike the award-winning TV series based on the timeless and much loved books, the feature film received diabolical reviews both in the UK and America, with Radio Times awarding it the dubious accolade of 'worst film of 2000'.
MERS would like to hear your views. If you have any comments or further information on this story, please email the Manx Electric Railway Society at [email protected]