227. The Railway Children; movie review

 

THE RAILWAY CHILDREN

Cert U

108 mins

BBFC advice: Contains scenes of characters in danger

One of my first visits to the cinema as a child was to see Lionel Jeffries' beloved The Railway Children.

My mum took me when I was just seven years old and I was carried away on the drama which enveloped Bobbie (Jenny Agutter),  Phyllis (Sally Thomsett) and Peter (Gary Warren).

They were supposedly turned from wealthy into poor by circumstances surrounding their dad.

Well, if they were poor I daren't think what my family were - my grandma and grandad didn't even have a washing machine or fridge and none of us had servants like these people.

And I had never heard any child speak with such a posh lilt.

Nevertheless, The Railway Children showed me that movies could be magic and transport us out of our world and into another for a couple of hours.

There are a number of reasons to love this wonderful film.

There are its quirky characters such as the enthusiastic and proud station manager, Albert Perks, played beautifully by Bernard Cribbins.

He befriends the family who have had to move to the Yorkshire countryside after their father (Iain Cuthbertson) is mysteriously taken away on a Christmas evening.

The mother (Dinah Sheridan) is a reassuring presence but the pressure of their new circumstances and the consequent loss of income gets to her.

Then there is the naivety of the children compared to the modern day and their carefree adventures next to a steam railway.

The Railway Children may be twee but it transports us back to a time when innocence was considered a quality not a frailty.

It's wide-eyedness gives it a wholesome appeal which has endured over five decades.

I loved going back to it and I always will.

PS I have fancied Jenny Agutter for almost all of my life and still do.

Reasons to watch: A family classic

Reasons to avoid: Very twee

Laughs: One

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 8/10

Did you know? The British Film Institute ranks this film as the 66th Best British Film of all time, the only children's film to make the list.

The final word. Jenny Agutter: "I'd already done it for TV. Also, I'd made Walkabout and I didn't want to play another child. But the director, Lionel Jeffries, was absolutely sure I was his Roberta and that was it, I was his Roberta. And, goodness me, I'm very happy that happened." IMDB

Share this post