Details

Release year: 1988

Storyline

Based on the story of Ronald Christopher "Buster" Edwards (Phil Collins), one of the thieves involved in "The Great Train Robbery" of 1963.

Top credits

Directors

David Green

Writers

Colin Shindler

Cast

Phil Collins — Buster
Julie Walters — June
Larry Lamb — Bruce
Stephanie Lawrence — Franny

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Awards

0 wins & 1 nomination

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Did you know

• The movie was conceived with Bob Hoskins as Ronald Christopher "Buster" Edwards, but the filmmakers decided he'd played that sort of part in The Long Good Friday (1980) and Mona Lisa (1986). Phil Collins was cast instead after director David Green saw his performance in Miami Vice (1984). David Jason was also considered for the role of Buster at one point.

• The movie attracted criticism for romanticizing criminality and glossing over the violent assault of the train driver. BBC movie critic Barry Norman called it "amoral and even deplorable". Through Collins's involvement in the Prince's Trust, King Charles III, then the Prince of Wales, and his wife Princess Diana were invited to attend the premiere. After Evening Standard movie critic Alexander Walker and Conservative Member of Parliament Ivor Stanbrook publicly attacked it and implored them not to attend, Collins wrote to the royal couple and recommended they cancel, which they did.

• The real-life Ronald Christopher "Buster" Edwards committed suicide on November 29, 1994; he was 62.