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The Railway Children [1970]/Swallows and Amazons [1974] [DVD]
 
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The Railway Children [1970]/Swallows and Amazons [1974] [DVD]

DVD ~ Virginia McKenna
4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Railway Children [1970]/Swallows and Amazons [1974] [DVD]
37% buy the item featured on this page:
The Railway Children [1970]/Swallows and Amazons [1974] [DVD] 4.6 out of 5 stars (8)
The Railway Children [DVD]
22% buy
The Railway Children [DVD] 5.0 out of 5 stars (7)
£4.68
Swallows and Amazons [DVD]
19% buy
Swallows and Amazons [DVD] 4.5 out of 5 stars (8)
£3.98
Classic Children's Films - Swallows and Amazons/The Railway Children [DVD]
16% buy
Classic Children's Films - Swallows and Amazons/The Railway Children [DVD] 4.0 out of 5 stars (4)
£7.68
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Product details

  • Actors: Virginia McKenna, Ronald Fraser, Simon West, Suzanna Hamilton, Sophie Neville
  • Directors: Claude Whatham, Lionel Jeffries
  • Writers: Lionel Jeffries, Arthur Ransome, David Wood, E. Nesbit
  • Producers: Neville C. Thompson, Richard Pilbrow
  • Format: PAL
  • Language English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 2
  • Classification: U
  • Studio: Warner Home Video
  • DVD Release Date: 14 April 2003
  • Run Time: 192 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00008IARQ
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 23,465 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Railway Children (1970) and Swallows and Amazons (1974) are perfect bedfellows: two classic children's novels, simply and faithfully adapted for the big screen. Together they evoke a poignant nostalgia for the periods in which they are set--Edwardian and 1920s England, respectively--and for the childhood of anyone who has grown up watching them. 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 The Railway Children as the oldest daughter of a family thrown on hard times when their father is wrongly sent to prison. They avert a train disaster, save an imperilled 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 work-outs in film history, it hits the spot every time.

Perhaps the lack of such a pivotal scene has kept Swallows and Amazons in the relative shade. But its gentle appeal survives with equal charm, not least in the resourcefulness of the eponymous children and the period detail. Together this pairing makes a double bill to treasure, and a piquant reminder that Disney doesn't have a complete monopoly on the rich heritage of children's cinema.

On the DVD: The Railway Children and Swallows and Amazons is presented in standard 4:3 picture format, from so-so prints, and with acceptable mono soundtracks. Both films envelope the viewer in a comforting Sunday-afternoon haze. There are no extras, apart from scene indexes. --Piers Ford

Special Features
The Railway Children [1970]

  • Colour
  • PAL
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.66
  • Widescreen

Swallows and Amazons [1974]

  • Colour
  • PAL
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33 (4:3)
  • Full Screen
  • Total Running Time: 192 minutes


See all Reviews

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Customer Reviews

8 Reviews
5 star:
 (6)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect, simply perfect!, 10 Aug 2005
By A Customer
There can be few people who have not been enthranced by The Railway Children. If you are one of those - shut the door, curl up in front of the fire and be transfixed by what is quite simply the best children's film there will ever be. Everything about the production is as perfect as a film can be.

Of course, the film is dominated by the divine (then and now) Jenny Agutter who stole everyone's hearts as Bobbie and made the part as much hers as Judy Garland had with Dorothy for a previous generation.

There will not be a dry eye in the house as the film reaches its climax and Bobbie's immortal words echo down the station platform - even as I think of it, I can hear that voice like dripping honey and a lump comes into my throat.

The end of civilisation will be nigh if the time ever comes when this masterpiece is no longer available.

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23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Quite Simply, the BEST Children's Film Ever Made, 5 Aug 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: The Railway Children [VHS] [1970] (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!

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A movie to be enjoyed by children of all ages, from 6 to 60!, 7 April 2000
By brucek@tpg.com.au (Canberra, Australia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Railway Children [VHS] [1970] (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)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Superb films, zero extras
As the other reviewers have remarked, neither film can be faulted, they are both good old-fashioned adventure yarns which are sadly lacking in the present day. Read more
Published on 13 Jun 2006 by A. Hunting

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect, simply perfect!
If you have not seen this film - shut the door, curl up in front of the fire and be transfixed by the most perfect family film there will ever be. Read more
Published on 10 Aug 2005

4.0 out of 5 stars An All-Time Childrens Classic!
Recently, i have been somewhat starved by the television companies of good films to watch and so when this film came on, i was quite looking forward to watching it. Read more
Published on 27 Feb 2004 by no1filmaddict

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Glorious!
I really bought this for 'The Railway Children' and couldn't have been more pleased with it! It's like pulling on an old comfy sweater and gives you a warm, cosy feeling inside... Read more
Published on 29 Jan 2004 by hmcni

5.0 out of 5 stars Best overall family film ever
A wonderful family film,it will make you laugh,and cry.A great plot,and great actors.I first saw this film in 1972,and have not forgot it.
Published on 5 April 2000 by popqson@aol.com

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