Customer Reviews

The Railway Children [VHS]

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This PBS version of "The Railway Children" is nowhere near as
charming as the original 1970 movie. If you saw this TV version and liked it, you owe it to yourself to see the young Jenny Agutter in the earlier film. In my opinion, the PBS remake lacks the warmth and civility of the original.

This is a valiant effort to remake the 1970 film based on Edith Nesbit's novel. In comparing the two, the new version features more "emoting"; things which went unsaid but were implied in 1970 are now told to us rather than shown. This is to the detriment of the newer version.
In spite of this, it is still a beautifully presented tale appropriate for the entire family; I think the production team was quite brave to even attempt a remake.

This 2000 Drama classic was shown on our local PBS station under the Masterpiece Theatre title. After viewing this movie, once again Masterpiece Theatre has done itself proud giving us a thoroughly enjoyable and quaint look into the past. The actors and actresses were well chosen and performed well in telling us the story of three young children and their mother taken from rich to poor for a temporary, but unexpected time during the absense of their father/husband. I enjoyed this film very much. The story was simple and easy going, no huge, tramatic drama, but rather with less complex problems of earlier years in history. I find this type of film much more enjoyable today, in a much harder, cold world where we live surrounded by far to much devastation and tragedy. We all could use more films portraying elegance, manners and gentility. A very relaxing film and great stress reliever. END

I've seen this movie every time it has aired on PBS and am eagerly anticipating receiving it for Christmas!! :)
A beautiful movie for all ages, taken from the incredibly beautiful story by E. Nesbit... One of the very few movies I've seen which truly does justice (or near-justice) to the book. Jemima Rooper is lovely, though perhaps looks a trifle too old for the part. I was also pleasantly surprised by the acting skills of the other two children. Very classic and in good taste. I only wish that I had "The Railway Children" in my VCR at this very moment!!

Jenny Agutter stars in this 2000 film edition of the novel by E. Nesbit's The Railway Children. She plays the part of the children's mother. She understands Roberta(Jemima Rooper)better than her other two children having played the part of Roberta in the 1970's version of the film.This version of the film, however, is clearly Rooper's picture. She plays the part of Roberta perfectly understanding the conflict of her childhood adventures on the railway line and her adulthood, in which she begins to understand far more about her fathers disappearance than her younger siblings do. The whole story is put into motion when the childrens father mysteriously disappears one night. The children are then told a week later that they are to move into the country. After the move the children take up waving to trains on the nearby railway line. This leads them into many adventures such as stopping a train from derailing,reuniting an escaped Russian prisoner with his family and rescuing a schoolboy who injured himself in the tunnel. A few of thier adventures are accomplished with the help of an old gentleman (Richard Attenborough) who waves to them from the rear carriage of The Green Dragon. He trns out to be the owner of the railroad and helps Roberta (Jemima Rooper) clear her fathers name of false treason.The film itself is 97 minutes long with a few minutes added to the beggining and end for Russell Baker's commentary and historical context.

This is a splendid remake of E. Nesbit's classic children's novel, The Railway Children -- it is as good as the earlier (1970) version, and also, in its way, as delightful and moving as the book itself. Jenny Agutter, who was wonderful as Bobbie in the earlier version, is equally splendid as mother in this; while Jemima Rooper makes a perfect Bobbie, struggling on the threshhold of womanhood. The production is in general careful and imaginative. I have one criticism only -- why, oh why, do those responsible for Masterpiece Theater imagine that we are incapable of appreciating such an offering as this without "commentary" before and after it? There would be something patronizing about such an assumption, even if the commentary said anything worth saying: as it is, we are inflicted with several minutes of Russell Baker mouthing pompous, irrelevant twaddle. Five stars for the movie, and MINUS five for whomever cooked up that nonsense!

E. Nesbit's stories have charmed children and adults for a century. Many of her books are about children who gain magical powers or contact magical creatures. They are fun, but none has as much strength and beauty as The Railway Children. This is a story of three children whose father is falsely imprisoned. They and their mother retreat into the countryside where they live a hand to mouth existence for several months. Nesbit included quite a few of her own democratic socialist beliefs into The Railway Children, but the ideology does not detract from the story.

This DVD is beautifully done so that the outdoor scenes, especially, are magnificent. The children's adventures and their developing friendships with the people who live in and around their small village are all lovingly filmed. A host of talented actors, including Michael Kitchen, Jenny Agutter, and Sophie Thompson, among many others, enhance the story. And the final scenes, when the newly released father steps off the train into his daughter's arms, are guaranteed to produce a lump in your throat.

I loved the original version of this move and was delighted to see that Jenny Agutter has a part in this remake. She is one very underrated actress who sadly we do not see enough of in films these days.The story concerns some young children who move to the country after their father is accused of a crime he did not commit. Then the children embark on a series of adventures in their small village. This movie is touching, funny and full of the charms of yesteryear.

This is Masterpiece Theatre on DVD. Based on the book of the same title by Edith Nesbit, it is set at the turn of the 20th century. The patriarch of a well-to-do family is taken in the middle of the night. The family is forced to move to the country and the mother sets to provide for them while the children spend their time exploring the area. Most of their adventures surround the Railway Station; the tracks, trains, employees, and travelers. Their sincere desire to help those around them is soon repaid when the friendship they form with one rider in particular holds the key to where their father has gone. The acting is wonderful and the film was enjoyed by our entire family!

*A note to parents: While the entire movie is appropriate for children of all ages, it is important to note that in Masterpiece Theatre fashion, after the film the narrator gives a glimpse into the life of the author. The details shared here may not be something you are ready to discuss with your children (or would at least like a little warning on).

I've seen this movie 3 times on PBS and each time I have been delighted by the charms of every character, be them young or old. The story is set in early 20th century England through the eyes of 3 children. When their father is falsely convicted of treason, the family is forced to move to more meager accomodations, but they are met with open arms by their new neighbors and peers. They are situated near a railway track that is the basis for their adventures, whether it be waving at the 9:15 to send their father their love, helping out a friend on his birthday, or reuniting a Russian man with his missing family.

The people they meet and the incredible and heroic deeds they do make for a wonderful and heartwarming story. This movie is well acted, incredible sweet, and a wonderful show for the whole family to enjoy!