The Railway Children

Synopsis: The film opens in a happy, comfortable upper middle-class home in Edwardian London. One night in 1905, the three children see their father usher two strangers into his study. After an argument he leaves with them and does not return. They and their mother fall on hard times and eventually move to a cottage in the country. Yet they keep their spirits up and find ways to help others. Fascinated by the nearby railway, they wave to the passengers faithfully every day, and their vigilance and courage prevent an accident. Their kindness makes friends of some important people who can help solve the mystery of their missing father.

Genre: Drama, Family

Director(s): Lionel Jeffries

Actors: Dinah Sheridan, Bernard Cribbins, William Mervyn, Iain Cuthbertson

Production: Universal

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 nomination.


IMDB:: 7.4
Rotten Tomatoes:: 100%

Collection Edit Watch PDF Buy

: G
Year:: 1970
: 109 min
: 286 Views

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Let's get to the fire, Peter, come on.
My darlings, those men last night
did bring very bad news
and Father will be away
for some time
Is it something to do
with the Government, Mummy?
Yes... yes, it is.
Now it's bed time, my darlings.
And don't worry.
It will all come right in the end.
Don't you worry either
because we'll be as good as gold.
Oh, we used to say life was so dull...
Nothing ever happened like in books.
Now something has happened.
Yes, it has
and it's made Mother unhappy.
Everything's horrid...
...just horrid.
Stairs... stairs... stairs...
Everything continued to be
perfectly horrid for some weeks.
Mother was nearly always out,
the between maid was sent away...
... and Aunt Emma
came on a visit.
- Good afternoon, children.
- Good afternoon, Aunt Emma.
Your mother has sent for me
in her distress,
and I'm here for a while
but not for long.
I'm off to India as a governess
and as I shall be busy preparing
for my arduous journey,
I shall require you to be seen
and not heard.
Preferably to be not seen
and not heard.
Children should be kept
in their proper places.
- Do you understand?
- Yes, Aunt Emma.
- Yes, Aunt Emma.
- Excellent.
You may kiss me
if you wish.
# You can hear them sigh
and wish to die
# You can see them wink
the other eye
# At the man who broke
the Bank at Monte Carlo
Altogether now
# As I walked along the Bois Boulogne
with an inde... #
I have asked you not to use them utensils
in that manner.
I was up at four this morning
cleaning them
as if I haven't got enough to do
what with the between maid leaving
and now your aunt asking me
to heave bloomin' great boxes about
like I was a navvy or something.
- Ruth.
- Yes?
There's no need to be so rude.
Cook was just trying to cheer us up.
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