The Railway Children (1970)

[Fellwanderer]

Originally Posted by stevie boy I recorded it but no sound, most upset at missing this classic

If you didn't get it at New Year, it is on 5 and 6 April - ITV3.

[Fellwanderer]

Anyone in the Stockport area towards the end of the month may be interested in this large screen showing:

Website for Marple UK near Stockport, Manchester and Cheshire in England


*@##!* - I've got to work that day or I'd be tempted, especially as my son's godparents live within about 5 miles!

[Moor Larkin]

Originally Posted by Fellwanderer Website for Marple UK near Stockport, Manchester and Cheshire in England *@##!* - I've got to work that day or I'd be tempted, especially as my son's godparents live within about 5 miles!

Go On. Pull a sickie. You know you want to........

I notice if you click on the poster you go to a page where they're raffling Framed Autographed Photographs............

[Fellwanderer]

Originally Posted by Moor Larkin Go On. Pull a sickie. You know you want to........

The event I'm working at that weekend had already been moved because I said I was going to Haworth the following weekend. Not sure they'd wear it again!

Anyway, the prospect of watching AAWIL in her company a few weeks later is better than watching TRC without her - though I prefer the latter film.

I notice if you click on the poster you go to a page where they're raffling Framed Autographed Photographs............

I have a more reliable way of getting signed mementoes

Pity she couldn't remember where the riverside filming had been.

[Longshot]

Perhaps I'm missing a subtlety of the various versions, but the 1970 Lionel Jeffries film (Jenny Agutter as Bobbie, Dinah Sheridan and Ian Cuthbertson as her mother and father) is available on a 2006 Studio Canal DVD. My wife picked a copy up in HMV a month or so back. (Just in time, too - our off-air VHS copy was starting to show signs of its age.)

E.g. HMV.com: DVD: Railway Children (2006)

The "slithering thing" is in the final DVD scene at 102mins 41sec by my player, and can clearly be seen to indeed be a falling branch or sappling.

[Fellwanderer]

Originally Posted by Longshot Perhaps I'm missing a subtlety of the various versions, but the 1970 Lionel Jeffries film (Jenny Agutter as Bobbie, Dinah Sheridan and Ian Cuthbertson as her mother and father) is available on a 2006 Studio Canal DVD. My wife picked a copy up in HMV a month or so back. (Just in time, too - our off-air VHS copy was starting to show signs of its age.) E.g. HMV.com: DVD: Railway Children (2006) The "slithering thing" is in the final DVD scene at 102mins 41sec by my player, and can clearly be seen to indeed be a falling branch or sappling.

Well, I'm glad someone finally agreed with me!

Watched it yet again this afternoon and, once more, the tears were welling in my eyes as that scene approached.

Apart from anything else, it stands up so well technically against today's offerings - despite the lack of sex, swearing, cgi and violence.

[CaptainWaggett]

What always cracks me up about the Railway Children is that Perks thinks that nothing short of a tree on the line could make the train a whole eight minutes late. Couldn't it have just been held up for the Old Gentleman Titfield Thunderbolt-style?

[Fellwanderer]

Originally Posted by CaptainWaggett What always cracks me up about the Railway Children is that Perks thinks that nothing short of a tree on the line could make the train a whole eight minutes late. Couldn't it have just been held up for the Old Gentleman Titfield Thunderbolt-style?

Only an Act of God [or, more appropriately a Goddess] would stop a train on that line!

[PaulPlowman]

Only today I was in Wycoller, where they filmed the packhorse bridge/ford scene. I don't actually remember the film, although I must have seen it. I only live about 5 miles from Marple, but on that date I'm otherwise engaged. Drat!

[retroman]

Originally Posted by Fellwanderer And if there is anyone who can claim to watch that scene*, you all know which one I mean, and not find tears in their eyes and a lump in their throat, then all I can say is I am truly sorry for them that they have no heart. * And, yes, it is the most emotionally charged line I've ever heard.

I have to agree: I have seen it countless times and it still gets me every time. Credit has to go to Lionel Jeffries for the way that scene was produced: the silhouette in the smoke, the use of music and the echo effect of her emotionally charged line. Quite simply classic and unsurpassed.

As an aside, the 1968 drama version was also very good: indeed the late Gordon Gostelow's portrayal of Perks was in my view superior to Cribbins. Was it not that version which was appearing on Amazon at ridiculous prices? Damn glad I have my own copy!

[Harleybloke]

I tell you what! I love the film and you can 'yoo boo sucks' all you like. Great story, great props and very fine acting! Lionel, Bernard, Jens, Sally everyone!

If it's on I'll watch it and I enjoy it every time!

By the way, in my next life I want to come back as wardrobe assistant to Ms Thomsett!

[retroman]

I think the phrase is "yah boo sucks" - a slightly unfair criticism.

[Harleybloke]

Originally Posted by retroman I think the phrase is "yah boo sucks" - a slightly unfair criticism.

Sorry Retro it was a typo............should've 'to all' not aimed at you in partikular.....................

[Fellwanderer]

Originally Posted by retroman I think the phrase is "yah boo sucks" - a slightly unfair criticism.

I suspect that harley was actually meaning those who might think it odd to pick a "family" or "children's" film as a favourite.

Me - I thought it was excellent when I first saw it and still do today.

When Sian Williams was interviewing Jenny a couple of weeks ago, her question about the 1968 series was did she say those words that got her, Sian, every time in the film version - "Daddy! My Daddy!"

[TimR]

What a beautiful film this is. It should be required viewing for all children - and for adults at Christmas as well.

I was introduced to the Nesbit books with my sister when we were about ten, just after this film was released. The first one was Five Children and It and then The Phoenix and the Carpet and The Story of the Amulet. Those books are incomparable. Then came the Bastable books and The Enchanted Castle. This one came later; it is an exceptionally intense and powerful book for childre. That last scene - I won't spoil it - is a gem.

I will say that Jenny Agutter manages to capture all the power of that scene. The whole thing is beautifully done: all the Edwardian detail combined with Nesbit's set pieces.