Adapted from Edith Nesbit's beloved century-old novel, this 1970 big-screen version is being released on DVD six months after the debut of its small-screen remake (VL-11/02). While both are faithful to the source material, and neither is really superior to the other, they share performances by Jenny Agutter, who played the mother in the newer version, and quietly steals the show in the original as the oldest of three children whose father is taken by authorities from his family for mysterious reasons. Forced to move from their posh London digs to a Yorkshire country house, Mother (Dinah Sheridan) and her son and two daughters cope as best they can--with the kids becoming local heroes for saving the local train from accidental disaster, an event that ultimately brings them back in touch with their father. This lovingly filmed family classic sports a sharp and virtually speckle-less transfer, but the audio recording level is a little low, and the disc contains no extra features. Recommended. (T. Rich)
The Railway Children
Anchor Bay, 109 min., G, DVD: $19.98 August 25, 2003
The Railway Children
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