Runaway Bus, The

219. THE RUNAWAY BUS (1954-ENGLAND). WITH FRANKIE HOVYEED, MARGARET RUTHERFORD, PETULA CLARK, GEORGE COLOURIS. CAREFREE COMEDY IN THE TRADITION Of THE FINEST BRITISH FORCES-WITH A BIT Of “STAGEÂCOACH” AND AGATHA CHRISTIE-STYLE MYSTERY THROWN IN. A BUS IS CRAWLING ALONG A FOGBOUND TOAD AT NIGHT, CARRYING STRANDED PASSENGERS FROM ONE AIRPORT TO ANOTHER. ON BOARD: A DOTTY, UMBRELLA-WAVING OLD LADY (THE INCOMPARABLE MARGARET RUTHERFORD, LATE/ FAMOUS AS MISS MARPLE); A MOUSY TITTLE MAN SHE HAS DESIGNS ON; A VERY PROPER BUT VAGUELY SINISTER GENTLEMAN; A VOLUPTUOUS YOUNG WOMAN OBSESSED WITH GORY HORROR NOVELS (SAYS SHE TO THE GENTLEMAN: “DID YOU KNOW THE ONLY WAY TO KILL A ZOMBIE IS TO SQUIRT HOT WAX ON HIM?” KEEPING A STIFF UPPER LIP, HE REPLIES, I DIDN’T, BUT IÕLL MAKE A NOTE Of IT.”); A NO-NONSENSE STEWARDESS (PRETTY PETULA CLARK, A DECADE BEFORE HER SINGING SUPERSTARDOM); A HANDSOME PILOT WHO HIDES A GUILTY SECRET; AND THE BUMBLING DRIVER, WHO GOT LOST SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE EVEN BOARDING THE BUS! THERE’S ALSO A FORTUNE IN GOLD BULLION, JUST STOLEN FROM THE AIRPORT, AND CONCEALED IN THE TRUNK BY THE THIEVES. ONE Of THE PASSENGERS IS IN FACT SECRETLY “THE BANKER,” THE MASTERMIND BEHIND THIS DARING THEFT; ANOTHER IS A COP WHO’S TRAILING THAT CRIMINAL GENIUS. WHEN THE BUS BECOMES HOPELESSLY LOST IN THE FOG, OUR TRAVELLERS FIND REFUGE IN A DESERTED VILLAGE-WHICH TURNS OUT TO BE AN ARMY TRAINING AREA, FILLED WITH MINEFIELDS AND OTHER BOOBY TRAPS. EXPLOSIONS SUDDENLY GO OfF, PEOPLE MYSTERIOUSLY VANISH AND REAPPEAR, AND ONE COLORFUL CHARACTER AFTER ANOTHER BECOMES OUR PRIME SUSPECT, AS THIS WITTY COMEDY HEADS TOWARD ITS RAUCOUS (AND ABSOLUTELY SURPRISING) CONCLUSION. CARRY ON! 78 MINUTES. COMEDY-MYSTERY