Film Dope

The Runaway Bus

1954

Val Guest Director
Eros Films Distributor

Passengers fogbound in London Airport (long before it was Heathrow) take the title vehicle to a different airport to complete their journey. Meanwhile thieves have stashed their haul of gold in the bus' boot.

Enjoyable mix of comedy and crime, especially for Frankie Howerd's performance. Alexander's character is badly written (without giving any plot points away, his character is a fatuous incompetent), but the final plot twist is a satifsying one.
-Dave W.


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The Runaway Bus
16th February 1954
Cinema

74 mins

	Frankie Howerd Percy Lamb
	Margaret Rutherford Miss Cynthia Beeston
	Petula Clark Lee 'Nikki' Nicholls
	George Coulouris Ernest Shroeder
	Toke Townley Henry Waterman
	Terence Alexander Peter Jones
	Belinda Lee Janie Grey
	John Horsley Detective Inspector Henley (as John Horseley in end credits)
	Anthony Oliver Duty Officer
	Stringer Davis 2nd Transport Officer
	Michael Gwynn 1st Transport Officer *(as Michael Gwynne)*
	Reginald Beckwith Telephone Man
	Marianne Stone Travel Girl
	Lionel Murton American Traveller
	Lisa Gastoni Receptionist *(as Liza Gastone)*
	Richard Beynon 3rd Transport Officer
	Sam Kydd Security Officer
	Cyril Conway 1st Crook
	Arthur Lovegrove 2nd Crook
	Alastair Hunter Detective Spencer (as Alistair Hunter)

	William Franklyn Voice of Crook in Prologue
	Frank Phillips BBC Newsreader
	Richard Nellor Father in Airport Terminal
	Ted Chapman 2nd American Traveller
	Cecil Paul Passenger in Airport Terminal
	Richard Duke Passenger in Airport Terminal
	Charles Hammond Passenger in Airport Terminal
	Alan Beaton Passenger in Airport Terminal
	Pat Symons Passenger at Airport Terminal
	Unknown 16364 Passenger in Airport Terminal
	Unknown 16364 Passenger in Airport Terminal
	Unknown 16364 Pilot with Nikki
	Unknown 16364 2nd Security Officer
	Jack Armstrong Passenger in Airport Terminal
	Fred Nicholas Policeman in Airport Terminal
	Unknown 16364 Police Sergeant
	Unknown 16364 George Davis
	Norma Dale Undetermined Role
	Jimmy Young Undetermined Role

History

Dave Wright: Screencaps & Notes
1/2

Dave Wright: 38 Caps

Page Updated: Monday, February 16, 2026 5:32:00 AM

Film Dope

The Runaway Bus

History