The Railway Children (1970)

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.

Director:

Lionel Jeffries

Writers:

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

Stars:

Dinah Sheridan, Bernard Cribbins, William Mervyn

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

The film opens in a happy, comfortable upper middle-class home in Edwardian London. One night in 1905, the three children see their father usher two strangers into his study. After an argument he leaves with them and does not return. They and their mother fall on hard times and eventually move to a cottage in the country. Yet they keep their spirits up and find ways to help others. Fascinated by the nearby railway, they wave to the passengers faithfully every day, and their vigilance and courage prevent an accident. Their kindness makes friends of some important people who can help solve the mystery of their missing father.

---

Plot Keywords:

children | yorkshire | railway | train | missing father | 

---

Taglines:

A film for adults to take their children, too!

---

Genres:

Family | Drama

---

Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

Edith Nesbit & The Railway Children [UK]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 December 1970 (UK)

Also Known As:

Aseman lapset

Filming Locations:

Mytholmes Tunnel, near Haworth, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

EMI Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Peter Bromilow is dubbed by Richard Leech.

---

Goofs

The childrens' father dresses in the 'traditional' red and white Father Christmas outfit in order to hand out the presents. Father Christmas has a long and rich history, but up until 1931 he had been portrayed most often in black and white, or green and white. It was in 1931, that Coca-Cola created an image of Father Christmas in red and white, for a Christmas advertising campaign. So although theoretically possible, it is unlikely that red and white costumes would have been used in Edwardian England.

---

Quotes

Phyllis Waterbury: It's like we're in a besieged castle, the arrows of the foe striking against the battlements.
Peter Waterbury: No, it's more like a great big garden squirt.
Phyllis Waterbury: You're a great big garden squirt.
Peter Waterbury: Thank you.

---

Crazy Credits

As the end credit captions are displayed the shot tracks towards a steam locomotive, in front of which are gathered the principal cast. They are surrounded by extras portraying local townspeople, who wave and say goodbye to the audience. All the while, Jenny Agutter is preoccupied with writing something on a slate. As the camera reaches her, she holds it up to display the words "The End".

---

Connections

Version of Masterpiece Classic: The Railway Children (2000)

---

Soundtracks

The Man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo
(uncredited)
Written by Fred Gilbert
Performed by Cook and the children

User Reviews

everyone's favourite Yorkshire-set steam train tale

This almost perfect cinematic rendition of Edith Nesbit's popular children's novel follows the lives of Roberta (Bobbie), Phyllis, and Peter, and their mother, after their father is unfairly accused of treason and sent to prison. They go to live in an almost uninhabitable house in the country which stands near a railway line – mum writes stories to make enough money for food and candles, while the children spend much of their time around the railway station and, specifically, waving to one particular train to 'send their love to father'.

Always an involving and clever novel, the characters are here brought to life under the perceptive direction of Lionel Jeffries (better known as a fine character actor). Jenny Agutter plays Bobbie, while Sally Thomsett and Gary Warren are her sister and brother. Their mother is Dinah Sheridan, while the other memorable characters are played by Bernard Cribbins (Perks the railway-man) and William Mervyn (the old gentleman on the train).

'The Railway Children' is gentle entertainment from another age, but does its job beautifully. As we watch Bobbie grow up with the worries of an absent parent jostling against her own needs both to be alone and to have fun, we can only rejoice when events come together at the close of the picture. Throughout we have a sense of time and place – be it from the steam trains, the university paper chase, or the red flannelette petticoats worn by the girls (and used to avert disaster!).