An anonymous and impassive young girl (Patricia Healey) leaves her suicidal London life and returns by train to her home in Manchester – although parts of the film were actually filmed in Birmingham.
She stands at a desolate bus stop in the middle of demolished terraces and along comes a white bus. It’s a guided tour bus on its maiden voyage.
The girl rides along with the Lord Mayor (Arthur Lowe) and other dignitaries on a tour of factories, libraries, a natural history museum and even a Civil Defence demonstration.
At the end of the tour, the girl winds up in a chip shop watching a couple. Their love mesmerises and charms the girl, reminding her what life’s all about.
This bizarre 46-minute film was directed by Lindsay Anderson and based on the book Red, White and Zero by Shelagh Delaney. It was originally intended as part of a three-part series of Delaney’s stories, with each segment directed by a different director. The other films never really succeeded, even though they had fairly big British New Wave directors attached.
Watch out for Anthony Hopkins’ film debut.
The Girl
Patricia Healey
The Mayor
Arthur Lowe
Macebearer
John Sharp
Conductress
Julie Perry
Young Man
Stephen Moore
Transistorite
Victor Henry
Brechtian
Anthony Hopkins
Supporters
John Savident
Fanny Carby
Malcolm Taylor
Allan O’Keefe
Fish Shop Couple
Jeanne Watts
Eddie King
Boy
Barry Evans
Girl
Penny Ryder
Mr. Wombe
Dennis Alaba
Passengers
Abdul Rahman Akim
Margaret Barron
Jay Birge-Patil
Cecil H. Gibbons
Dolores Judson
Dorothy Judson
Michael Marty
Francis McGrath
Mr. Piatkowski
Bill Pilkington
Charles Sankey
George Stanford
Lilian Redfern
Eric Thornber
Elizabeth Walker
Derek Williams
Mrs. Yamamoto
Director
Lindsay Anderson