Mr. Conductor's Movie is the sixteenth episode in the third season and overall the fifty-seventh episode of Shining Time Station.
Plot
When a movie director, Barry Prince, arrives at the station, everyone, including Felix, Midge, Schemer, the kids, and even Billy get excited and wants to be part of an upcoming movie. They all go and get costumes, hoping to be part of the movie. The excitement of the potential publicity causes some railroad work to be neglected though.
Everyone's attempts to impress Mr. Prince eventually culminate in an all-out riot. However, it all comes to a halt when Mr. Prince announces his movie was to be nothing more than a reality film about trains, and he will film elsewhere, without the zany wannabe actors he encountered here.
Later on, Mr. Conductor cheers the disappointed kids up by showing them his own movie, which was a filming of the riot from earlier, and essentially stars everyone who wanted to be in Prince's movie.
Cast and Characters
Main Cast
- George Carlin as Mr. Conductor
- Didi Conn as Stacy Jones
- Tom Jackson as Billy Twofeathers
- Erica Luttrell as Kara Cupper
- Ari Magder as Dan Jones
- Danielle Marcot as Becky
- Brian O'Connor as Schemer
The Flexitoon Puppeteers
- Jonathan Freeman as Tito Swing
- Olga Felgemacher-Marin as DiDi
- Craig Marin as Rex
- Peter Baird as Grace Bass
- Kenny Miele as Grace Bass
- Alan Semok as Tex
Guest Starring
- Mart Hulswit as J.B. King
- Bobo Lewis as Midge Smoot
- Aurelio Padrón as Felix Perez
- Sam Malkin as Barry Prince
Mentioned Characters
Thomas Story
Trivia
- Several movies and TV specials were referenced in this episode. Here is a list of them in order:
- Annie - Midge Smoot claims that she once tried out for the part of Miss Hannigan, then quotes, "Why any kid would want to be an orphan is beyond me."
- The Wizard of Oz - Felix delivers a line as the Tin Man. Mr. Conductor also reveals that this is his favorite movie saying his favorite scene is where the Munchkins meet Dorothy. Kara also dresses as Dorothy.
- You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown - When Felix delivers his line as Linus from the 1985 Peanuts special, his cry of "Lucy!" is reminiscent of the way Ricky Ricardo used to call for his wife in the classic "I Love Lucy" TV show. Actor Aurelio Padrón lived in Cuba for a period during his childhood.
- Cinderella - Stacy and the kids rehearse the invitation to the ball. Becky also dresses as the titular princess.
- Flying Down to Rio - Midge Smoot states she wore her costume fifty years earlier in this film as Carmen Con Gusto, although the film featured no such character.
- Superman - Schemer wears a costume similar to that of the DC superhero.
- Sudden Impact - Billy does an impersonation of Dirty Harry saying, "Go ahead, make my day."
- Peter Pan - Felix later returns dressed as Captain Hook.
- Schemer lists a few popular star names: John Wayne, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Big Bird (from Sesame Street) until he mentions his own name.
- A clip from this Shining Time Station episode was used at the "Thomas & Friends Explore the Rails Traveling Exhibit" in 2017 and 2018.
Jukebox Band Segment Song
- There's No Business Like Show Business
| #01 Becky Makes a Wish | #10 Schemer Goes Camping | #19 Mysterious Stranger |
| #02 Schemer's Alone | #11 Mr. Conductor's Evil Twin | #20 Dan's Big Race |
| #03 Bully for Mr. Conductor | #12 Bad Luck Day at Shining Time Station | #21 Mr. Conductor Gets Left Out |
| #04 Stacy Cleans Up | #13 Mr. Conductor's Fourth of July | #22 Mr. Conductor's Big Sleepwalk |
| #05 Schemer's Robot | #14 Stacy Forgets Her Name | #23 The Mayor Runs for Re-Election |
| #06 Billy Saves the Day | #15 Schemer's Special Club | #24 Stacy Says No |
| #07 Billy's Party | #16 Mr. Conductor's Movie | #25 How the Station Got Its Name |
| #08 Fortune Teller Schemer | #17 The Joke's on Schemer | |
| #09 Billy's Runaway Train | #18 Dance Crazy | |