The Railway Children (2000) (TV)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Catherine Morshead

Writers:

E. Nesbit (novel)
Simon Nye (writer)

Release Date:

12 November 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Family

Plot Keywords:

Writer | False Accusation | Foreigner | Mother Son Relationship | Mother Daughter Relationship

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Jack Blumenau	...	Peter
Clare Thomas	...	Phyllis
Jemima Rooper	...	Bobbie
Jenny Agutter	...	Mother
Michael Kitchen	...	Father
Valerie Minifie	...	Cook
Melanie Clark Pullen	...	Ruth
Georgie Glen	...	Aunt Emma
Gregor Fisher	...	Perks
Amanda Walker	...	Mrs Ransome
Clive Russell	...	Station Master
Richard Attenborough	...	The Old Gentleman
David Bamber	...	Dr Forrest
Jane Wood	...	Mrs Viney
Ian Gain	...	Bargee

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:U

Filming Locations:

Horsted Keynes station, Bluebell Railway, East Sussex, England, UK

Company:

Carlton Television

Trivia:

As well as playing Roberta ("Bobbie") in the 1970 movie, Jenny Agutter (cast here as that character's mother) had played the same role in the 1960s television adaptation.

Quotes:

Phyllis: Open my present Peter! It's crayons. If you don't want them, I'll have them!

Movie Connections:

Version of The Railway Children (1970)

superior TV adaptation of an old favourite

This (perhaps superfluous) version of the Edith Nesbit novel was made for TV and, in an interesting piece of casting, had Jenny Agutter as the mother – she had been eldest daughter Bobbie thirty years earlier. Some changes to the fabric of the story were inevitable: more screen time is given to the events which cause the children's father to be arrested; the paper chase is no longer linked to the family of the old gentleman; and some of the characters are more sharply drawn than before.

As Bobbie, Jemima Rooper, is very good, but the other children Phyllis and Peter are just OK (played by Clare Thomas and Jack Blumenau). Agutter is perfect as their careworn mother, while Michael Kitchen makes an impact as their wronged father. Gregor Fisher plays Perks the railway-man with a good combination of jollity and righteous indignation; and Richard Attenborough is an inspired choice for the old gentleman (who is not as mysterious as he had been in the 1970s version; we guess he's a high-up in the civil service or the government in this one).

The great strength of the TV version is the attention to detail - we can feel the smoky fog from the 30s steam train as it rushes through the countryside.

An enjoyable TV film, but a complement to the classic one, not a replacement.