The Railway Children (1970)

Director:

Lionel Jeffries

Writers:

E. Nesbit (celebrated novel)
Lionel Jeffries (screenplay)

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:

After the enforced absence of their father, three children move with their mother to Yorkshire, where during their adventures they attempt to discover the reason for his disappearance.

Plot Keywords:

Children | Yorkshire | Train | Country | Railway

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 Warren	...	Peter Waterbury (as Master Gary Warren)
Peter Bromilow	...	Doctor
Ann Lancaster	...	Ruth
Gordon Whiting	...	Russian
Beatrix Mackey	...	Aunt Emma
Deddie Davies	...	Mrs. Perks
David Lodge	...	Bandmaster
Christopher Witty	...	Jim
Brenda Cowling	...	Mrs. Viney
Paddy Ward	...	Cart Man
Erik Chitty	...	Photographer
Sally James	...	Maid
Dominic Allan	...	C.I.D. Man (as Dominic Allen)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Leech	...	Doctor (voice)
Amelia Bayntun	...	Cook (uncredited)
Paul Luty	...	Malcolm (uncredited)
Peter Russell	...	Policeman (uncredited)

Directed by
Lionel Jeffries

Writing credits
E. Nesbit		(celebrated novel)
Lionel Jeffries		(screenplay)

Produced by
Robert Lynn	....	producer

Original Music by
Johnny Douglas

Cinematography by
Arthur Ibbetson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Teddy Darvas

Casting by
G.B. Walker		(as G. B. Walker)

Art Direction by
John Clark

Makeup Department
Jock Alexander	....	makeup artist
Helen Lennox	....	hairdresser

Production Management
David Griffith	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard F. Dalton	....	assistant director (as Richard Dalton)
Terry Hodgkinson	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Geoffrey Leggett	....	set dresser
Bryn Siddall	....	property buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Len Abbott	....	sound recordist
Bill Creed	....	sound editor
Peter Handford	....	sound recordist
Denis Porter	....	sound recordist
David.Stephenson	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Pat Moore	....	special effects
John Richardson	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Ronnie Pilgrim	....	stills cameraman
Paul Wilson	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elsa Fennell	....	wardrobe supervisor

Music Department
Johnny Douglas	....	conductor

Other crew
Joy Bayley	....	production secretary
Robert Cryer	....	railway technical adviser
Richard Gill	....	location manager
Angela Martelli	....	continuity

Production Companies

• EMI Film Productions (as EMI Film Productions Limited)

Distributors

• MGM-EMI (1970) (UK) (theatrical) (released through) (as M.G.M. - E.M.I. Film Distributors Ltd.)
• Universal Pictures (1971) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1972) (USA) (TV)
• Anglo-EMI Film Distributors (1970) (UK) (theatrical) (as Anglo - E.M.I. Film Distributors Ltd.)
• Optimum Releasing (2010) (UK) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1988) (Finland) (TV) (as MTV1)
• Warner Home Video (1989) (UK) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1999) (Finland) (TV) (TV2)

Other Companies

• Keighley and Worth Valley Railway  the producers wish to thank for their cooperation in the making of this picture (as The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway)
• People of Yorkshire  the producers wish to thank for their cooperation in the making of this picture (as The People of Yorkshire)

Also Known As:

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:

All of the vintage locomotives used in the film are still surviving today.

Goofs:

Continuity: A bed-knob on Bobby's bed is loose and changes positions between shots in the scene where she and her mother discuss the newspaper report on her father's sentence.

Quotes:

Bobbie Waterbury:There's going to be a paperchase tomorrow.
Phyllis Waterbury:Whippee!
Bobbie Waterbury:The boys from the grammar school are doing it.
Phyllis Waterbury:Zippee!
Bobbie Waterbury:Perks says we can go by the ramp.
Phyllis Waterbury:What's a paperchase?

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

The Man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo

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.