The Railway Children (1970)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Lionel Jeffries

Writers:

Lionel Jeffries (screenplay)
E. Nesbit (novel)

Release Date:

18 December 1971 (Japan)

Genre:

Family | Drama

Tagline:

The Railway, the Children . . . and the wonderful secret they'll share with you ! [UK]

Plot:

The film opens in a happy, comfortable upper middle-class home in Victorian London. One night the three...

Plot Keywords:

Children | Country | Railway | Missing Father | Train

Awards:

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Dinah Sheridan	...	Mrs. Waterbury (as Miss Dinah Sheridan)
Bernard Cribbins	...	Albert Perks (as Mr. Bernard Cribbins)
William Mervyn	...	Old Gentleman (as Mr. William Mervyn)
Iain Cuthbertson	...	Charles Waterbury (as Mr. Iain Cuthbertson)
Jenny Agutter	...	Roberta 'Bobbie' Waterbury (as Miss Jenny Agutter)
Sally Thomsett	...	Phyllis Waterbury (as Miss Sally Thomsett)
Gary F. Warren	...	Peter Waterbury (as Master Gary Warren)
Peter Bromilow	...	Doctor Forrest
Ann Lancaster	...	Ruth
Gordon Whiting	...	Russian
Beatrix Mackey	...	Aunt Emma
Deddie Davies	...	Mrs. Nell Perks
David Lodge	...	Bandmaster
Christopher Witty	...	Jim
Brenda Cowling	...	Mrs. Hilda Viney

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Sweden:Btl | USA:G | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Bents Farm, Oxenhope, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Company:

EMI Film Productions

Trivia:

Peter Bromilow is dubbed

Goofs:

Continuity: When the toy train blows up we see the dog running out of the house into the bushes on a clearly spring or summer's day. However, it is supposed to be at Christmas time. The next time we have an outdoor shot, it is snowing heavily.

Quotes:

Peter Waterbury: I'm very sorry I haven't got tuppence to give you like father does.
Albert Perks: Hey just stop that please, I wasn't thinking about no tuppence. I just came to say sorry your mama wasn't so well and to ask how she finds herself this evening. And I brought you some sweet briar, very sweet. Tuppence indeed!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Comic Relief: The Invasion of the Comic Tomatoes (1993) (TV)

Not a dry eye in the house

Back in 1970 at the tender age of 23, I fell hopelessly in love with Jenny Agutter - and remain so to this day. For it is this film for which she will always be associated - and for the very best reasons. It in no way typecast Miss Agutter, but clearly marked her as an actress of outstanding ability.

Nesbit's characters are brought to life by Lionel Jeffries production in what must be one of literature's most heart rending stories. It has everything - pathos, compassion, empathy, humour, loyalty and love, attributes once common in Great Britain, but sadly no longer.

Who can suppress those tears at Bobby's discovery of her Father at the station. "My Daddy... my Daddy...!" as she runs towards him?

This film should be available on prescription - it is indeed a tonic for whatever ails you.

As for my love of Miss Agutter - it remains undiminished, and when I see her today, I still see that porcelain complexion, those bewitching eyes and that come hither smile.