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Dinah Sheridan, Bernard Cribbins, William Mervyn, Iain Cuthbertson, Jenny Agutter ... see more see more... , Sally Thomsett , Peter Bromilow , Ann Lancaster , Gary F. Warren , Gordon Whiting , Beatrix Mackey , Deddie Davies , Christopher Witty , Brenda Cowling , Paddy Ward , Erik Chitty , Sally James , Dominic Allen , David Lodge

British character actor Lionel Jeffries both directed The Railway Children and adapted its screenplay from the novel by E. Nesbit. Dinah Sheridan plays the mother of three children who must live in re... read more read more...duced circumstances when her husband (Ian Cuthbertson), a government official, is arrested on a false charge of treason. The kids adapt rather well to their new environment, a community located on the edges of a railway. They befriend a kindly porter (Bernard Cribbins) and a wealthy gent (William Mervyn), both of whom strive to prove their father's innocence. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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76% liked it

3,959 ratings

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6 critics

G, 1 hr. 44 min.

Directed by: Lionel Jeffries

Release Date: January 1, 1970

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DVD Release Date: May 6, 2003

Stats: 188 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (188)

  • SirPant
    February 28, 2011
    SirPant
    A classic British Children's story brought to life in this 1970's adaptation, which itself has become a bit of a classic in its own right. To be honest I was unfamiliar with the story until I saw a brilliant theatre production of this on the unused platform in London's Waterloo s... read moretation. Now, I liked it but the story is a little dated, it's definitely posh kids literature and when you break down the story and writing it is a little insulting at times - I guess it's just a little old-fashioned but totally forgivable. There are some wonderful ideas in the story and as corney as it might be, it's full of tear-jerking moments and quite famous for it. It's not usually my kind of thing but I'd be lying if I said I didn't really enjoy it. Directed by the much loved and sadly missed Lionel Jeffries.
  • matertenebraum
    February 10, 2011
    matertenebraum
    This nearly 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 i... read moren 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!).

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Critic Reviews

Coco Forsythe
May 5, 2010
Coco Forsythe, Future Movies UK

Those of you coming to the film for the first time are in for a treat; those familiar with it will enjoy its sparkling restoration. Full Review

Peter Bradshaw
April 2, 2010
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]

It all slips down very nicely; Bernard Cribbins is terrific as railwayman Perks, and Jeffries' final scene... is justly celebrated Full Review

Wendy Ide
April 2, 2010
Wendy Ide, Times [UK]

Kids reared on the accelerated thrills of modern children's cinema might find the pacing a little lethargic but if you can persuade them to give it a chance, this sweet-natured family classic should w... Full Review

Ian Freer
April 1, 2010
Ian Freer, Empire Magazine

Jeffries mounts the whole thing with charm, humour and subtle smarts. And, let's face it, our obsession with Jenny Agutter, 11 years before American Werewolf, started here. Full Review

David Parkinson
April 1, 2010
David Parkinson, Radio Times

Directed by Lionel Jeffries, this adaptation of E Nesbit's much-loved novel is simply the finest children's film ever made in this country. Full Review

Shane Burridge
June 28, 2003
Shane Burridge, rec.arts.movies.reviews

An idyllic world that is entirely plausible

February 23, 2012
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

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