The Railway Children (1970)
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- G
- 1h 49min
- Drama, Family
- 22 Dec 1970 (UK)
- Movie
- Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Dinah Sheridan | ... |
Mrs. Waterbury
(as Miss Dinah Sheridan)
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| Bernard Cribbins | ... |
Albert Perks
(as Mr. Bernard Cribbins)
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| William Mervyn | ... |
Old Gentleman
(as Mr. William Mervyn)
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| Iain Cuthbertson | ... |
Charles Waterbury
(as Mr. Iain Cuthbertson)
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| Jenny Agutter | ... |
Bobbie Waterbury
(as Miss Jenny Agutter)
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Sally Thomsett | ... |
Phyllis Waterbury
(as Miss Sally Thomsett)
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Gary Warren | ... |
Peter Waterbury
(as Master Gary Warren)
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| Peter Bromilow | ... |
Doctor
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Ann Lancaster | ... |
Ruth
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Gordon Whiting | ... |
Russian
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Beatrix Mackey | ... |
Aunt Emma
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| Deddie Davies | ... |
Mrs. Perks
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| David Lodge | ... |
Bandmaster
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| Christopher Witty | ... |
Jim
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| Brenda Cowling | ... |
Mrs. Viney
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Paddy Ward | ... |
Cart Man
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| Erik Chitty | ... |
Photographer
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Sally James | ... |
Maid
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| Dominic Allan | ... |
C.I.D. Man
(as Dominic Allen)
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Haworth Band | ... |
Brass Band (uncredited)
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Amelia Bayntun | ... |
Cook (uncredited)
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Brian Cleaver | ... |
Haworth Band Member (uncredited)
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Ann Cryer | ... |
Bit part (uncredited)
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Bob Cryer | ... |
Train Guard (uncredited)
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Jane Cryer | ... |
Extra (uncredited)
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John Cryer | ... |
Extra (uncredited)
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Vernon Cuff | ... |
Haworth Band Member (uncredited)
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Nick Helliwell | ... |
Extra (uncredited)
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| Paul Luty | ... |
Malcolm (uncredited)
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Howard Mais | ... |
Paper Chase Runner (uncredited)
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Graham Mitchell | ... |
Train Guard (uncredited)
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Frank Morris | ... |
Haworth Band Member (uncredited)
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David Pearson | ... |
Extra (uncredited)
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Peter Russell | ... |
Policeman (uncredited)
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Malcolm Whitaker | ... |
Haworth Band Member (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Lionel Jeffries | ||
Written by
| E. Nesbit | ... | (celebrated novel) |
| Lionel Jeffries | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Robert Lynn | ... | producer |
Music by
| Johnny Douglas | ||
Cinematography by
| Arthur Ibbetson | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Teddy Darvas | ||
Editorial Department
| David de Wilde | ... | first assistant editor (uncredited) |
| Ian MacGregor-Scott | ... | second assistant editor (uncredited) |
Casting By
| 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 |
| Brian Muir | ... | sculptor (uncredited) |
| 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 |
| Jimmy Spoard | ... | grip (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Elsa Fennell | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
Location Management
| Richard Gill | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Johnny Douglas | ... | conductor |
| Peter Bown | ... | music engineer (uncredited) |
| John Scott | ... | conductor: original soundtrack album (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Angela Martelli | ... | continuity |
Additional Crew
| Joy Bayley | ... | production secretary |
| Bob Cryer | ... | railway technical adviser (as Robert Cryer) |
| David Ball | ... | assistant production accountant (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- MGM-EMI (1970) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (as M.G.M. - E.M.I. Film Distributors Ltd.) (released through)
- Kontinental (1971) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Towa. (1971) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Universal Pictures (1971) (United States) (theatrical)
- Beta Films (1972) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- British Empire Films Australia (1972) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Filmes Lusomundo (1972) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1972) (United States) (tv)
- MTC Video (1983) (Greece) (VHS)
- Thorn EMI Video Australia (1984) (Australia) (video)
- Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1988) (Finland) (tv) (as MTV1)
- Warner Home Video (1989) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- NHK-BS2 (1990) (Japan) (tv)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1999) (Finland) (tv) (TV2)
- Warner Home Video (2003) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Optimum Releasing (2010) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (re-release)
- StudioCanal (2020) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray) (Vintage Classics)
- Netflix (2021) (Non-US) (video) (VOD) (several territories in Europe)
- 9Gem (2023) (Australia) (tv)
- Svensk Filmindustri (1973) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Anchor Bay Entertainment (United States) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- EMI (original sound track album on)
- Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (the producers wish to thank: for their cooperation in the making of this picture)
- RCA (sound recording)
- Yorkshire (the producers wish to thank: the people of, for theur cooperation in the making of this picture)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
In Edwardian England, the story of the Waterbury family is told largely from the perspective of the three offspring and by oldest, teenage daughter Bobbie. Their loving and relatively affluent family life in suburban London, financially supported by father Charles' job as a government bureaucrat, includes both parents being a present and welcome part of their children's activities. Their existence is upended when on Christmas evening 1904, Charles is whisked away without warning by two men. Subsequently, the remaining family is forced to move, they renting a rundown and drafty house, Three Chimneys, in the rural village of Oakworth, Yorkshire. While the three children know that they are now poor by their existence, all their Mother has told Bobbie is that Father is not dead, that he will someday return to them when he is able, and for Bobbie and the others not to ask questions about what happened to him. The three are now forced to find a way to occupy their time while Mother tries to earn pocket money by writing and selling stories, many of their activities which are centered on the railway near their house and the railway tunnel a few miles away from the village station. Their life along the railway at least addresses one of the complaints the three had about their life in London, that not much ever happened, which is not the case along the railway as they get into one adventure after another. In the process, they learn to enjoy life in their new situation, which includes the friendship and admiration of many of the villagers in all the Waterburys' inherent kindness and generosity. But the question still remains, at least for the three children, of what happened to Father. Written by Huggo |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The Railway, the Children . . . and the wonderful secret they'll share with you ! [UK] See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Sally Thomsett was twenty when she was cast as eleven-year-old Phyllis. Her contract forbade her to reveal her true age during the making of the film and she was not allowed to be seen smoking, drinking, going out with her boyfriend or driving the sports cars that were her passion. Even the film crew did not know her true age. See more » |
| Goofs | As the engine approaches Bobbie in the 'landslide sequence' and comes to a halt, drifting steam is seen coming down from the sky and entering its funnel, indicating the shot is actually reversed footage of the train backing away from Bobbie so as to not endanger the actress by attempting a precision stop inches away from her. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into The Hound of the Baskervilles (1972). See more » |
| Soundtracks | The Man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo See more » |
| 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". See more » |
| Quotes |
Mrs. Waterbury:
May I borrow your lamp please. Cart Man: I dare say. Mrs. Waterbury: If you say 'I dare say' once more I shall have hysterics, I dare say. See more » |