Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends - Better Late Than Never and Other Stories

Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends - Better Late Than Never and Other Stories is a US VHS release by Strand VCI Entertainment on 23rd January 1991. It got re-released by Strand Home Video on 20th August 1992 and 6th October 1993. It contains five second series episodes and two first series episodes narrated by Ringo Starr.

Description

PEEP-PEEP! Adventures on the Island of Sodor. This time around, watch as Thomas misbehaves, and gets stuck underground. Find out what happens when Duck doubts Diesel. Laugh along as both Gordon and Duck run out of luck with those pesky trucks and Annie and Clarabel spell double trouble for Thomas. Climb aboard and watch the magic come alive with Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Volume 5!

Episodes

1. Better Late Than Never
2. Pop Goes the Diesel
3. Diesel's Devious Deed
4. A Close Shave for Duck
5. Gordon Takes a Dip
6. Down the Mine
7. The Runaway

Credits

THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE & FRIENDS

Based on the Railway Series by the Rev. W. Awdry

Directed by
David Mitton

Produced by
Britt Allcroft

Music Composed and Arranged by
Mike O' Donnell and Junior Campbell

Art Director
Bob Gauld Galliers

Lighting Cameraman
Terry Permane

First Assistant Director
Steve Asquith

Models and Sets
Pennicott Payne and Lillie Ltd.
DBP Models and Effects
Albatross Models and Effects
Bernard Carr

Editors
Michael Dixon
Rebecca De Burgh Mound

Film
© Britt Allcroft (Thomas) Ltd. 1985, 1986

Soundtrack
© Britt Allcroft (Thomas) Ltd. 1989
for "Shining Time Station"

Trivia

• This tape was the last of a few things:
  • The last Thomas VHS tape to have the stories arranged based on the order they were featured on their Shining Time Station airdates.
  • The last VHS to feature Edward and Toby's original nameboards.
  • The last VHS to have the nameboard sequences end with Sir Topham Hatt's close-up from Trouble in the Shed.
  • The last VHS to have Ringo Starr's American narrations, until Best of Percy in 2001.
  • This was the last Strand Home Video release to use the Strand VCI Entertainment logo on the spine.
• On the Strand VCI Entertainment release, the first few seconds of Better Late than Never are cut. As a result, Thomas' whistle is not heard.
• Some copies of the Strand VCI Entertainment release list the episodes' UK titles on the back cover.
• On the Strand Home Video release, the yellow split transition after Diesel's Devious Deed is cut out.
• On the Time-Life release, the "Our Story Stops Are" rectangle on the back cover is red instead of yellow.
• This is the only American Ringo Starr tape to not feature any differences from the recordings heard on Shining Time Station.
• This is also one of three Starr US VHS releases not to be given a DVD release, the other two being Thomas Breaks the Rules and Other Stories and Tenders and Turntables and Other Stories.

Goofs

• The photographs are copyrighted 1985 on the back cover when they are actually from 1986.
• The UK narration can faintly be heard in the background.
• On the 1991 back cover, Clarabel is misspelled as Claribel.

Opening (1993 Re-Release)

1. FBI Warning Screen
2. Strand Home Video logo (1992-1995) (with The Video Collection Music from 1986 to 1995)
3. Britt Allcroft Presents Ident
4. Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends Opening Credits
5. Start of Better Late Than Never (1986)

Closing (1993 Re-Release)

1. End of The Runaway (1986)
2. Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends Closing Credits
3. Strand Home Video logo (1992-1995) (with The Video Collection Music from 1986 to 1995)