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Product Description
THE RAILWAY CHILDREN tells the story of the Waterburys, whose happy middle-class existence is shattered one night when their father leaves the family home without explanation, in the company of two mysterious strangers. Falling on hard times, Mother moves them to a cottage in the country where the children become fascinated with the nearby railroad. Waving faithfully to the passengers everyday, their vigilance and courage helps prevent an accident and their kind-heartedness soon wins them many friends – not least of all The Old Gentleman who may be able to help them solve the mystery of their father’s disappearance…. An instant classic on its release, the film made a star out of Jenny Agutter and has proved to be enchanting to children and adults alike. THE RAILWAY CHILDREN is based on the novel by E Nesbit, author of Five Children And It.
Product Description
Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 or region free DVD player in order to play.
Starring Jenny Agutter as the oldest daughter of an Edwardian family thrown on hard times when their father is wrongly sent to prison. The Railway Children avert a train disaster, save an imperiled steeple chaser and reunite an exiled Russian with his wife, all with equal enterprise.
Based on the novel by Edith Nesbit.
- Actors Dinah Sheridan, Bernard Cribbins, William Mervyn, Iain Cuthbertson, Jenny Agutter, Sally Thomsett, Gary F. Warren, Peter Bromilow, Ann Lancaster, Gordon Whiting, Beatrix Mackey, Deddie Davies, David Lodge & Christopher Witty
- Director Lionel Jeffries
- Certificate Universal Suitable for All
- Year 1970
- Screen Widescreen 1.66:1
- Languages English
- Duration 1 hour and 39 minutes (approx)
- Region Region 2 - Will only play on European Region 2 or multi-region DVD players.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Actually, make that from 6 to infinity! When I first watched this "flick" as a first run at the local movie-theatre I was enchanted by it. (I think I immediately developed a crush for Jenny Agutter that I've never actually lost!). The story, the cast and the setting just combined to produce a beautiful production. Much later it popped up on TV and once again I thoroughly enjoyed it. Recently I spent some time searching for a VHS copy so that my children could share my experience and I was delighted to find that "The Railway Children" is still available; I immediately ordered it. This is a movie that should be seen by everybody, no matter how old we are, and one that should be forever available for purchase. I gladly recommend it without any hesitation whatsoever. (BK)
79 of 81 people found the following review helpful
By John Croudy
Format:DVD
The Railway Children is essentially a film about people who are not afraid to care about each other without expecting anything in return. The story probably seems to many people today to be an unlikely fantasy. Is it really possible that a group of children would take the time to go around town and collect birthday presents for some guy who works on the railway? Well, when you consider the film is set over 100 years ago, it's quite possible. What else did kids have to do with their time when the most advanced consumer product was the pocket watch? The day was still 24 hours long but there was no TV, mobile phones or boy bands to waste your time on. Back then, people probably had the time to be kind to each other and they could do it without fear of being scammed.
The children's acting is extraordinarily good. Jenny Agutter shines in her first major film role and Sally Thomsett is the most natural child actor I've seen to date. The adults do a good job too with Bernard Cribbins at his best as the railway guy whose pride gets the better of him.
The DVD is fine but not great; there are no extras at all and the picture is a bit smudgy in the night-time scenes. It is however quite clear in the bright daytime scenes with no noticable grain.
The film is presented in 1.66:1 format (15:9) which is not wide enough for a 16:9 screen and leaves dark bands at the left and right. However, according to the Internet Movie Database this is exactly the format the film was made in so this is more a note than a complaint.
Notwithstanding the lack of extras on the DVD, the film is so good that I'd still advise you to buy it. If I had a time machine, I'd forget the future and I'd go back there, to a time when children waved at trains and got excited by a paper-chase.
The children's acting is extraordinarily good. Jenny Agutter shines in her first major film role and Sally Thomsett is the most natural child actor I've seen to date. The adults do a good job too with Bernard Cribbins at his best as the railway guy whose pride gets the better of him.
The DVD is fine but not great; there are no extras at all and the picture is a bit smudgy in the night-time scenes. It is however quite clear in the bright daytime scenes with no noticable grain.
The film is presented in 1.66:1 format (15:9) which is not wide enough for a 16:9 screen and leaves dark bands at the left and right. However, according to the Internet Movie Database this is exactly the format the film was made in so this is more a note than a complaint.
Notwithstanding the lack of extras on the DVD, the film is so good that I'd still advise you to buy it. If I had a time machine, I'd forget the future and I'd go back there, to a time when children waved at trains and got excited by a paper-chase.
40 of 41 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
The above summary says it all, really. "The Railway Children" is truly children's cinema perfection... but don't think this is one just for the kids! This film evokes an era of innocence, honesty and simplicity that maybe never actually existed, but does so without being saccharine-sweet.
The acting and the direction are first class, and the film is shot through with both extreme humour and beautifully moving moments. How hard-hearted would you need to be to fail to be moved by Roberta's birthday party, and not stifle a tear or a sob during the almost unbearable 'stop-motion' daughter and father reunion scene?
Whether "The Railway Children" can have an impact on children who have been raised on films such as "Toy Story" and "A Bug's Life" is open to debate. But to deny them the opportunity of seeing such a genuinely enchanting piece of film-making is little short of a crime.
So often, we hear the phrase, "this is one to treasure"; in this case, it truly is. Buy it... NOW!
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
Most people know about the film itself, so I will concentrate on the actual Blu-ray edition itself.
For me, picture quality is the most important aspect of a DVD or Blu-ray issue, and this Optimum Blu-ray is of high quality, and certainly an improvement on the DVD. The main benefit is sharpness; there really is an almost 3D quality (no, not the 3D with specs stuff which is currently the latest fad) in places. A great deal of the film was shot on location and some of the scenery shots draw you into them. Grass and leaves of trees can be difficult to reproduce, but here they are crystal clear. Details are generally clearer than the DVD and railway fans may well find this an essential purchase for this reason (I did). There is a little grain but not much. Colour in the outside, location, shots seems natural, although I did wonder about the colour balance of some of the studio shots. Nothing serious though. The sound is allegedly basic stereo, although listening via my TV I couldn't notice much in the way of stereo, just good clean mono. Overall, an excellent transfer.
Much of the film was shot on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway in West Yorkshire, and one of the Blu-ray extras, 'Now and Then- A Retrospective documentary on The Ralway Children', has some of the railway workers who appeared in the film giving their memories of the filming. The other extra, a series of interviews with some of the stars of the film, is pleasant enough, but you won't learn a great deal.
If you are interested in the making of the film, I strongly recommend the short booklet 'The Making of The Railway Children', , produced by the railway itself, which gives far more information and is well worth its modest price.
Back to the Blu-ray disc; an excellent transfer of what has now become a classic family film.
Strongly recommended. Read more ›
For me, picture quality is the most important aspect of a DVD or Blu-ray issue, and this Optimum Blu-ray is of high quality, and certainly an improvement on the DVD. The main benefit is sharpness; there really is an almost 3D quality (no, not the 3D with specs stuff which is currently the latest fad) in places. A great deal of the film was shot on location and some of the scenery shots draw you into them. Grass and leaves of trees can be difficult to reproduce, but here they are crystal clear. Details are generally clearer than the DVD and railway fans may well find this an essential purchase for this reason (I did). There is a little grain but not much. Colour in the outside, location, shots seems natural, although I did wonder about the colour balance of some of the studio shots. Nothing serious though. The sound is allegedly basic stereo, although listening via my TV I couldn't notice much in the way of stereo, just good clean mono. Overall, an excellent transfer.
Much of the film was shot on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway in West Yorkshire, and one of the Blu-ray extras, 'Now and Then- A Retrospective documentary on The Ralway Children', has some of the railway workers who appeared in the film giving their memories of the filming. The other extra, a series of interviews with some of the stars of the film, is pleasant enough, but you won't learn a great deal.
If you are interested in the making of the film, I strongly recommend the short booklet 'The Making of The Railway Children', , produced by the railway itself, which gives far more information and is well worth its modest price.
Back to the Blu-ray disc; an excellent transfer of what has now become a classic family film.
Strongly recommended. Read more ›
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4.9 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
An absolute classic children's film
This is a favourite film of ours and good viewing. Our Grandchildren love it when they come to visit us.
Published 25 days ago by Mrs. Deirdre M. Hoare
5.0 out of 5 stars
the railway children(blue ray)
A very gentle film which converted to Blue Ray very well.It has the added bonus, for those people of a certain vintage,of plenty of steam engines!!!
Published 2 months ago by the whiz
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic
My fave childhood book and film. My daughters just as in love as I am. This version has to be my favourite with Jenny Agutter as Roberta.
Published 2 months ago by vicky hewish
5.0 out of 5 stars
Always watchable
There are films where somehow the director has got it just right. This is one of them. Seen it a hundred times. Probably going to watch it another hundred!
Published 3 months ago by Mr. R. J. Cox
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just great for kids
I bought the railway children for my grandson and he watches it all the time a great childrens cd .
Published 3 months ago by B. J. Ayres
1.0 out of 5 stars
DVD didn't play on out machine
No issues with firmware as all other new Blue Rays play fine so we can't really comment on the movie itself
Published 3 months ago by Matt Duke
5.0 out of 5 stars
40th anniversay additon
This was a real bonus to have the interviews with the stars talking about their filming experience especially on such a super film.
Good delivery time and service. Thank you
Good delivery time and service. Thank you
Published 3 months ago by Mrs Elaine Le Grand
5.0 out of 5 stars
Old Classic
This was bought for my daughter who had read a short form of the book at school, she really enjoyed the film
Published 4 months ago by Mrs Kate White
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Classic
Takes us back to those halcyon days. Simply superb. Should be in every DVD library
regardless of your age. Excellent video and audio.
regardless of your age. Excellent video and audio.
Published 4 months ago by Boston Jack
5.0 out of 5 stars
Golden oldie
Bought this for Christmas viewing. A good version and the blue ray version is so much better than older discs.
Published 4 months ago by dragonett
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