No Limit

Taking his motorcycle, the Shuttleworth Snap, George Shuttleworth leaves his Lancashire home to compete in the Isle of Man T.T. Race. Jonathan Horswell in his www.railwaymoviedatabase.com states that this 'stock shot' is of an LMS express rounding a curve in the Lune Gorge, Cumbria, Lancs. This clip has also appeared in 'A Honeymoon Adventure' (1931), 'Quiet Wedding' (1941), 'Next of Kin' (1942), 'The Echo Murders' (1945), and 'The Hangman Waits' (1947), 'The Black Sheep of Whitehall" (1942). This shot is reversed. (RL)

Along with other competitors, George boards the ship bound for the island. Mona's Queen of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, was used in scenes shot at Liverpool Docks.

Dockers prepare for the ship to sail while, on deck, George meets Florrey Dibney after his wallet and ticket are stolen.

George and the other T.T. riders arrive in Douglas. Looking across Douglas, Isle of Man from Douglas Head with the Great Union Camera Obscura to the bottom right.

Lon Pinkerton climbed up Douglas Head for this view over the harbour where the Camera Obscura remains in place.

More sunny scenes as the competitors make their way to their hotels. Looking from the top of the Villa Marina Colonnade with Douglas Bay and the War Memorial to the right.

A rather similar view. (PW)

George Shuttleworth (George Formby) and Florrie Dibney (Florence Desmond) walk along the sea front. Central Promenade in Douglas with the Grosvenor Hotel to the right and buildings on The Esplanade running to the left.

Roadworks along the promenade obstruct the taking of comparisons but this shot shows the entrance to the Grosvenor Hotel nicely. (PW)

Florrie waves at the Rainbow Motorcycle Company's riders. Outside the Empress Hotel on Central Promenade, Douglas.

The Empress Hotel appears to have been extended somewhat. (PW)

Realising that he can't pay his for his room, Florrie persuades George to busk on the beach to raise some cash. Douglas, Isle of Man.

The money collected is given away after George's landlady and members of the Rainbow team appear on the beach.

The island's roads are closed as practice sessions commence. The T.T. Races starting line on the A2 Glencrutchery Road in Douglas.

The home-made Shuttleworth Snap is pushed towards the start line. Nobles Park with Douglas Bay and Douglas Head in the background.

George sets off on his first lap. Looking along Quarter Bridge Road from the junction with Peel Road and Castletown Road at the Quarterbridge in Douglas.

When the back-firing dies down, parts start to fail and fall off the Snap.

Main Road, Union Mills with the now disused Union Mills Methodist Church to the left.

Facing south-east at the junction of the A1 and A3 at Ballacraine.

The Shuttleworth Snap breaks all records as George struggles to keep control. Sulby Bridge crossing the Sulby River at the junction of Main Road and St. Jude's Road.

George speeds on, eventually crashing his bike to avoid a child in the road. May Hill in Ramsey with the corner of Seamount Road to the right.

After being given fifty pounds by Norton and Turner for promising not to ride in the races, George buys new clothes. Villa Marina Arcade off Harris Promenade in Douglas.

The arcade stands the test of time. (PW)

Continuing to splash out, George hails a cab. Villa Marina Colonnade outside the Villa Marina Arcade.

Work continues along Villa Marina Colonnade. (PW)

George gets into the wrong cab after being distracted by Norton and Turner. Facing north on Harris Promenade with the War Memorial to the extreme right. The variously named promenades in Douglas were also seen in 'Holidays with Pay' and 'Blackball'.

We know it's the same location as the War Memorial watches over the complete renovation of Douglas's promenades. (PW)

Believing that he'll change his mind and ride in the race, Turner (Howard Douglas) and Norton (Alf Goddard) persuade George to dump his machine over a cliff.

Star rider Bert Tyldesley (Jack Hobbs) becomes annoyed as Turner and Norton look on when George is given a new Rainbow motorcycle by Mr Higgins, the company General Manager. Possibly a set based on the forecourt of The Empress hotel.

Mr Higgins (Peter Gawthorne) arrives at the hotel to meet George. Across the promenade lies Douglas Bay.

Looking out onto the bay, and a man at a bus stop, from the front of the Empress Hotel. (PW)

After being insulted by Tyldesley and recruited by Higgins, George runs away from the hotel when his Mother and Grandfather turn up. Looking from, what is now, the forecourt of The Empress hotel.

With thanks to the management and staff at the Empress Hotel for allowing access to the property. (PW)

As riders prepare at the start of the 1935 T.T. race, George sits alone on Douglas Head. Overlooking Douglas Harbour and the town from Douglas Head.

After moving over to Turner's team, Bert Tyldesley takes Florrie to find George. Fort Anne Road on Douglas Head.

After Florrie discovers that George had been paid not to ride in the race, Tyldesley approaches and the two begin to fight.

George and Florrie run to the start line after he decides to take part in the race.

Tyldesley picks himself up, returns to his car and speeds past George and Florrie on his way to the start line. Fort Anne Road.

The first competitors set off on the first of seven laps.

Grandfather Shuttleworth finds George and gives him a lift on his tricycle. Fort Anne Road in Douglas.

The tricycle speeds down a hill from Douglas Head. Fort Anne Road from the junction with South Quay.

Hardly any change with every building surviving. (PW)

With the tricycle bell ringing, Grandfather Shuttleworth (Edward Rigby) rides past a Policeman on point duty, causing cars to collide. South Quay alongside the River Douglas with North Quay on the far side.

Taken from the safety of a refuge as rush hour traffic queues to leave town. (PW)

George makes to to the start line just in time and sets out to race on Rainbow's number 14. Facing Peel Road and the junction with Castletown Road from the Quarterbridge over the River Glass.

Vying for position with Tyldesley on number 12 and Norton on 15, George tears round the circuit. Looking in the Douglas direction on the on the A1 at Ballacraine.

The former Highlander Inn at Greeba on the A1 Douglas to Peel Road.

Number 17 crashes at a corner and picks himself up before carrying on. The Ballacraine Hotel at the junction of the A1 and A3 to the east of St. John's, now a private residence.

Another crash, this time between 20 and 29. Glen Helen near St. Johns.

Unhurt but now out of the race, the two riders pick themselves up. In the background stands the Glen Helen Hotel.

Facing south-west on Main Road in Kirk Michael.

Steve Hamer records the scene 89 years later and notes that the whitish house on the right has gone and in its place a small public car park for about 6-8 cars. The house on the left is no longer white. Other details such as windows, doors and chimneys have remained. The tree on the left in the capture has gone and a road entrance to Cannan Court created. (SR)

Looking north-east outside The Raven public house on Main Road, Ballaugh.

Ballaugh Bridge beyond the crossroads formed by Main Road, Ballaugh Glen and Cronk Road in Ballaugh.

Number 24 slows down towards the end of Sulby Straight. The A3 as it passes through Sulby.

In trouble, the bike comes to a halt and is helped from the highway by a Steward just as number 32 swerves into the roadside pond. Next to Kella Mills, Sulby in the parish of Lezayre.

George is overtaken by number 18 as he reaches Ramsey. Parliament Square at the junction of Lezayre Road and Parliament Street in Ramsey.

Without protective sandbags, the beauty of the lamp post is revealed. (PW)

Looking towards Parliament Square in Ramsey with Taubman Street on the right. The Old Town Hall, just visible in the centre background, was demolished in 1972 and has been replaced . . . . twice.

Taken from a similar position. (PW)

Norton climbs out of Ramsey. This is May Hill at Seamount Road.

Mounting the pavements, George leaves Ramsey followed by 19. Facing north on May Hill.

Tyldesley sets the pace as the leaders head towards Douglas. In the distance stands the former Bungalow Hotel where the tramway crosses the A18 near the junction with Sulby Glen Road.

It's Tyldesley followed by Norton, then George in third place as the race enters the last lap. Facing north-east on the A3 at Cronk-Y-Voddy with Cronkbane Cottages and the former Chapel ahead.

George recovers after being forced off the road by Norton.

More mishaps occur as the race nears it's conclusion with George taking the lead.

With his machine damaged and misfiring, George comes to a halt before dismounting and pushing number 14 over the finishing line to win the race.

And finally, one last comparison view . . . of the motorbike, an A. J. S. registration VT 1528. Tracey Wilson provides a view of this machine still going strong and seen at Matlock Bath in Derbyshire during September 2020.