Railway Children, The - 1970

The Railway Children, UK film (1970), director Lionel Jefferies - possibly the best U-rated film ever made, is not just a film for children, but about childhood, and growing up. It is very faithful to Edith Nesbit's classic story, even taking across the Socialist undertones as revealed by both the Tsarist refugee, and the basic plot of a wrongfully imprisoned man. Starring the young Jenny Agutter, the film's strength is partly a perfect evocation of a bygone era of unfailingly cheery and helpful railway staff, when children could wander freely without fear, and a good heart was enough to solve all problems.