The Railway Children

By Piers Ford

Simply and faithfully adapted for the big screen from the classic children's novel, The Railway Children evokes a poignant nostalgia for the period in which it is set--Edwardian England--and for the childhood of anyone who has grown up watching it. Sentimentality reigns, of course, but it's never cloying. The truthfulness of the juvenile performances, balanced with restrained sympathy from the adults, sees to that. Flourishing under Lionel Jeffries' delicate direction, Jenny Agutter dominates as the oldest daughter of a family thrown on hard times when their father is wrongly sent to prison. (She played the mother's role in the 2000 remake.) They avert a train disaster, save an imperiled steeple chaser, and reunite an exiled Russian with his wife, all with equal enterprise. Happy endings prevail after every crisis. And no number of repeat viewings can ever diminish the impact of father's return. One of the most expert tear-duct workouts in film history, it hits the spot every time.

Share Your Memories!

Is The Railway Children one of your favorite movies? What do you remember about it? Share your stories (or your reviews) with the world! (We print the best stories right here!)