Thomas the Great Discovery

***Thomas the Great Discovery*** is the first feature film in the *Thomas* franchise, Originally titled *Thomas The Tank Engine*, it is based off The Railway Series by The Rev W. Awdry. It was produced by PDI (Pacific Data Images)/DreamWorks Pictures.

## Plot

Sir Topham Hatt lives in his house and meets Thomas the Great Discovery, a blue inquisitive engine who wants to have an adventure. When countless people are banished to Sir Topham Hatt's house by Lord Finfwack, Sir Topham Hatt and Thomas set off on a quest to get a crown for Finfwack and compete in a spelling bee. Thomas introduces Sir Topham Hatt to his fellow engines, Percy, James, Gordon and Henry. Sir Topham Hatt and him go to find the crown in the castle, and they start to bond. On the way back they find themselves face-to-face with a hunter who tries to shoot them, they fall off a waterfall and they are safe, but the critters there yell at Sir Topham Hatt for bringing them to the hunting grounds, until Sir Topham Hatt accuses Thomas of lying about knowing the way back. An angry Sir Topham Hatt storms off and Thomas goes home discouraged. Percy and the other engines talk to him and convince him to talk to Sir Topham Hatt, so they get on the giant hamster from the castle and ride all the way to Lockit. Thomas goes to Sir Topham Hatt and tells him Finfwack is planning to kill him he and Lord Finfwack fight and Finfwack falls to his death, Sir Topham Hatt tells Thomas he wants him to live with him. They form a railway and live happily ever after.

## Cast

* Ramahfool/Ben **Ambrosini****.** as Thomas, Percy, James, Gordon, Henry, Sir Topham Hatt and Dennis
* Alan Rickman as Lord Finfwack
* Conrad Vernon as Police Chief
* Alex Hirsch as Knight Guards/Bystander
* Christopher Knights as Kinight Guards
* Cody Cameron as Forest Hunter
* Kath Sourcie as Sir Topham Hatt's agent
* Tom McGrath as Stand Keeper/Audience member
* Tara Strong as additional voices
* **Christine Cavanaugh as** additional voices

## Trivia

* Oreo Cookies and Mike n Ikes Candy made blue, green, red and black frosted oreos and blue raspberry Mike n Ikes to go along with the film in theaters.
* In 2001, *Thomas the Great Discovery,* *Shrek and* *Monsters Inc.*, were nominated in the 2001 Golden Globe Award and *Thomas* won.
* Thomas is heard humming the *Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends* Theme*.*
* Bachmann Thomas makes a cameo in this film.
* Ghost Rider is briefly mentioned at one point.
* A life-size Thomas was used to chug around and promote the film.

## Soundtrack

* Stay Home - Self - the first song in the end credits
* I Wanna Lose Control (Uh Oh) - Deathray - played during the convenience store scene.
* Free Ride - Dan Hartman - Played during the celebration at the end.
* Like Wow!— Leslie Carter - the third song in the end credits
* Best Years of Our Lives— Baha Men - the second song in the end credits
* Little Less Conversation - Elvis Presley - Sir Topham Hatt battles the guards at Locket.
* Wherever you Are - Barry Coffin and Vonda Sheperd - the fourth and last song in the end credits
* All Star— Smash Mouth - the beginning of the film when Thomas is living alone.

## Sequels

* The first sequel, *Thomas and Tillie* was released March 4th 2004. The film focuses on the gang going to meet Sir Topham Hatt's parents and Thomas falling in love with The Little Engine That Could.
* The second sequel, *Thomas: Cousin Neville* was released March 18 2007. The film focuses on the gang finding their cousin Neville to be heir to the throne of Sodor.
* The third sequel, *Thomas: Gordon Returns* was released March 29 2010, nine years after the original. The film focuses on Gordon returning to Sodor and being tricked into erasing his birth.