Shadows on the Wall | The Railway Children Return

The Railway Children Return

dir Morgan Matthews
scr Danny Brocklehurst
prd Jemma Rodgers
with Jenny Agutter, Sheridan Smith, Beau Gadsdon, KJ Aikens, Austin Haynes, Eden Hamilton, Zac Cudby, John Bradley, Tom Courtenay, Hugh Quarshie, Jessica Baglow, Oscar Wallwork
release UK 15.Jul.22
22/UK StudioCanal 1h38

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Gadsdon, Hamilton, Smith, Haynes, Cudby, Aikens and Agutter

Old fashioned charm fills this sequel to the 1970 British classic, although it's never clear who the intended audience might be. While young children might enjoy its mysteries and adventures, others are likely to be bored by its simplistic sensibilities. Thankfully, most scenes are grounded with a twinkle of earthy wit, even if the writing and direction create little to connect with beyond nostalgia for the original.

It's 1944, and in the 40 years since the earlier events, Bobbie (Agutter) has raised her family and lost her husband. Still living in the same Yorkshire house, now with her headmistress daughter (Smith) and bright-spark grandson Thomas (Haynes), she takes in siblings evacuated from German bombing raids near Manchester: teen Lily (Gadsdon), tomboy Pattie (Hamilton) and cheeky Ted (Cudby). The four kids get up to various adventures around the railroad line, including the discovery of injured African-American teen soldier Abe (Aikens), who says he's on a secret mission. So they decide to help him.

Warmly comforting, the film is balanced by an exploration of racism, as bigoted US military police horrify local villagers with brutal treatment of Black soldiers. But there's only a subtle parallel between them and the Nazis. Without something more resonant going on in the story or characters, this will feel rather gimmicky for older viewers. And the various capers are so gentle that they never generate much suspense, although some lightly edgy events are depicted as well.

The still-luminous Agutter reprises her iconic teenager as a gracious grandmother, finding some grit in various undercooked relationships. Aside from an emotive subplot, Smith doesn't get much to do here. And solid scene-stealers Bradley, Courtenay and Quarshie add some sparkle in barely sketched side roles. Meanwhile at the film's centre, the five teen actors are able to bring their characters to life with strong flashes of personality. Each is hugely likeable, even if the roles would have been stronger with more texture.

All of that said, the film nicely uses the same settings and verdant landscapes as the original, capturing glimpses of local colour and culture. The best sequences involve unexpected little moments that feel like they might be taken from personal memories, such as a random bomb terrifyingly dropped in a field one night. Most of the movie is carefully crafted to echo specific scenes and the larger dramatic beats of the first film, so there's little here that feels particularly original. But youngsters won't mind that, and may enjoy the low-key adventures along the way.

themes, language, violence 16.May.22

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The Railway Children

Review by Rich Cline |

dir-scr Lionel Jeffries
with Jenny Agutter, Sally Thomsett, Gary Warren, Dinah Sheridan, Bernard Cribbins, William Mervyn, Iain Cuthbertson, Peter Bromilow
release UK 22.Dec.70,
US 28.Oct.71
reissue UK 8.Jul.22
70/UK EMI 1h49

See also:

Is it streaming?

I'd never seen this venerable British classic, so caught up with it before watching the 50-years-later sequel. It's quickly clear why the film is so beloved, as it's packed with vivid characters and offbeat humour, and it tells an involving story about kindness and friendship. There's also lots of terrific Yorkshire scenery and several moments of mildly thrilling suspense along the way. And it superbly captures the curiosity, compassion and restless energy of children.

As it opens in 1905 London, a man (Cuthbertson) is escorted away from his home by officials, leaving behind his wife (Sheridan) and children Bobbie, Phyllis and Peter (Agutter, Thomsett and Warren). Unable to pay their bills, they move to rural Yorkshire, where they get up to a variety of adventures along the railway line that runs past their house. Each of these incidents resolves with a kick of emotion, turning the children into local heroes. Through all of this, they're told not to ask about where their father has gone. Then Bobbie discovers the truth.

While the filmmaking has that cluttered, over-lit 1970s vibe, it's strikingly well-textured to reveal its surprises largely through the eyes of thoughtful eldest daughter Bobbie (the terrific Agutter), while both Thomsett and Warren are wonderful scene-stealers. Quirky wit adds a series of unexpected laughs, while there are moving moments all the way through the film. It's a sharply well-drawn depiction of the textures in society, how some people are innately kind, while others simply aren't. And it's the connections between people that brighten things up.

themes, violence 15.May.22