THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN [2022] [Blu-ray] [UK Release]
A First Class Family Entertainment!
This sequel is inspired by one of the most beloved British family films of all time; THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN is an enchanting, moving, and heart-warming adventure for a new generation.
1944 – As life in Britain’s cities becomes increasingly perilous, three evacuee children – Lily Watts [Beau Gadsdon], Pattie Watts [Eden Hamilton] and Ted Watts [Zac Cudby] – are sent by their mother to the village of Oakworth in the West Riding of Yorkshire. There to meet them on the train station platform is Roberta “Bobbie” Waterbury [Jenny Agutter], reprising her iconic role in the original film, her daughter, Annie [Sheridan Smith], and grandson Thomas Waterbury [Austin Haynes], and with their help the evacuees are soon settling into their new life in the countryside.
When the children discover injured American soldier Abraham “Abe” McCarthy [KJ Aikens], hiding out in the railyard at Oakworth Station, they are thrust into a dangerous quest to assist their new friend who, like them, is a long way from home.
FILM FACT: Three steam locomotives are predominantly used throughout the film; 5820 USA Transportation Corp, Class S160 (affectionately known as “Big Jim”), 43924 LMS Class 4F and 45596 "Bahamas" LMS Jubilee Class. 78022 BR Standard Class 2 2-6-0 also makes a very brief appearance in the film. At the time of filming, “Bahamas” was in British Railways green livery and the overlaid, correct LMS decals (BR was only formed in 1948) can be easily observed on the tender. Its BR number was also changed from 45596 to the correct 5596 which was used when the engine worked for the LMS. 43924 which was also in British Railways identity and wore plain black livery had its BR crest overlaid with LMS decals and its 43924 number changed to 3924. To celebrate the film's release, Hornby Railways has produced a 00 scale model of 43924 LMS Class 4F in special packaging.
Cast: Jenny Agutter, John Bradley, Sheridan Smith, Tom Courtenay, Beau Gadsdon, Hugh Quarshie, Austin Haynes, Gabriel Freilich, Jessica Baglow, KJ Aikens, Eden Hamilton, Tashinga Bepete, Zac Cudby, Max Duane, Neil Hurst, Philip Gascoyne, Oscar Wallwork, Joseph Richards, Hannah Wood, Joanne James, Elliot Benn, Rocco Haynes, Annie Escadale, Thomas Flynn, Jayne Michele Pacitto, Micky Williams, Jude Grillo, Keith Lomas, Gabriel Courtney, Dumo Mkweli, Saul David Courtney and Thomas J. Powell (uncredited)
Director: Morgan Matthews
Producers: Jamie Harvey, Jemma Rodgers and Steve Newton
Screenplay: Daniel Brocklehurst and Jemma Rodgers
Composers: Edward Farmer (music) and Martin Phipps (music)
Costume Designer: Dinah Collin
Cinematography: Kit Fraser (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Audio: English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: DTS Audio Description
Subtitles: English HOH
Running Time: 98 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: STUDIOCANAL
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: With the film ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN’ [2022] the narrative takes place during World War Two, the main focus is not on the war but rather on the impact on children who were evacuated from industrial cities to the quiet countryside. Although the experience of siblings Lily Watts [Beau Gadsdon], Pattie Watts [Eden Hamilton], and Ted Watts [Zac Cudby] in the country are far from quiet. Upon arrival, the siblings along with other children are inspected and chosen by residents. Roberta “Bobbie” Waterbury [Jenny Agutter], who herself came to the village as a child in the original film, along with her daughter Annie [Sheridan Smith] takes in the siblings.
From there the adventure begins and the siblings along with Annie’s son Thomas Waterbury [Austin Haynes] find themselves wound up in their own war mission. Whilst playing at a secret hideout on the railway tracks, they discover Abraham “Abe” McCarthy [KJ Aikens] a young injured American soldier who requires their help. The narrative is compact with a few twists thrown in. Issues such as war, race, class, and even age are navigated throughout. If you are looking for an explosive narrative, with non-stop action then this is not the film for you. But if you are looking for the inner warmth and triumph of a period drama then ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN’ is totally perfect. Trust me, there are so many hugs throughout this film, you’ll find yourself desperate for a hug by the time you finishing this Blu-ray release.
Even though this is a war film, we are not on the frontlines which allow for the creation of a fun adventure vibe throughout. It offers us a look into the smaller war efforts. Such as the children being taken to safety which allowed their mother to work as a nurse. And the efforts of train station master Richard Perks [John Bradley] as he intercepts radio messages. The wider of the film is that we have the people of the village who take in children, having to feed and care for them, and the pressure on the school where Annie is head teacher; to educate the increased number of children.
With Lily Watts, Pattie Watts, Ted Watts, and Thomas Waterbury we see how eager the young generation was to play their part and help the war effort. Abraham “Abe” McCarthy the perfect example of a child wanting to fight for his family – no matter what. An empowering impact will be had on child viewers, as they see the power they have to change things just as the children do in the film.
British heritage films always tend to purport a sense of sanitized Britishness and ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN’ is no exception. Location plays a key role throughout. Especially as the children are transported from a smoggy bombed Manchester to the postcard-perfect countryside of the village of Oakworth in the West Riding of Yorkshire and the Worth Valley Railway. The film is diligent in its recreation of the 1940’s. With costumes, sets, and props all help to create a realistic depiction of history; transporting audiences to a different era. This faithful recreation of the 1940’s, combined with brilliant performances from the cast creates a believable film that utilizes history to create such a compelling story.
At the end of the film, they inform us that after a long journey home, Abraham “Abe” McCarthy was reunited with his mother in New York. Shortly after the Second World War ended, Thomas Waterbury’s dad returned home safely to Oakworth. After three months after they were sent to Yorkshire, Lily Watts, Pattie Watts and Ted Watts went back home to their mum in Salford.
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Blu-ray Image Quality – STUDIOCANAL presents us the film ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN’ with a stunning 1080p image and is presented in the 1.39:1 aspect ratio. The picture is absolutely stunning and shows what can be done when time and effort is put into a film this glory. Detail levels are very high and the contrast and tones are totally exceptional. The colours are vibrant and showcase the beautiful scenery of the Yorkshire Dales from the bright blue sky to the rolling fields where almost every buttercup can be picked out. So all in all STUDIOCANAL have done this film proud with their quality of work. Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – STUDIOCANAL brings us the film ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN.’ It's not only the picture that has been wonderfully produced for ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN,’ but the sound has undergone a brilliant treatment and is presented here in a beautifully clear and stunning 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. The dialogue and small ambient sounds are crisp, especially with the wonderful steam trains giving us a reassuringly loud noise as they steam past the camera, and of course the whistle of the steam train adds to the wonderful ambience of the sound experience. So all in all this has been a totally brilliant professional effort on the part of STUDIOCANAL.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN’ – Then & Now [2022] [1080p] [1.78:1] [6:10] With this featurette it basically looks at the original film ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN’ and compares it with the latest film ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN’ and how things have progressed with the storyline, and talks about the original Waterbury family who were displaced from their home in1905 and had to move to Three Chimneys in Yorkshire, which is near the Oakworth railway station and talks about the actors like Jenny Agutter, Sally Thomsett, Gary Warren and Dinah Sheridan who each played their characters and they comment on how the film ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN’ really captured the original novel by Edith Nesbit and so making the original film a really magical experience. Now they turn their attention to the new film ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN’ and we are now 34 years onwards in July 1944 where the American Army are stationed in the village of Oakworth in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and the last of the evacuated children from Manchester arrive at the Oakworth railway station and of course all the children are of course missing their parents in a place they have never visited before and for the children it is a very scary time and of course Roberta “Bobbie” Waterbury has now been settled in Oakworth for a very long time and just getting on with her life with the other sister Sheridan Smith as Annie and her 13 year old grandson Thomas Waterbury played by Austin Haynes and of course the three evacuated children Lily Watts, Pattie Watts and Ted Watts who soon settle in Three Chimneys residence with Roberta “Bobbie” Waterbury, Annie and Thomas Waterbury their new family and of course the three new evacuated children encounter an American soldier named Abraham "Abe" McCarthy played by KJ Aikens who has been hiding in one of the railway wagon who is in a very vulnerable situation, who feels very lonely until the three new evacuated children help Abraham "Abe" McCarthy to achieve his hearts desires. But when Roberta “Bobbie” Waterbury arrives at the Oakworth railway station and sees all the new evacuated children, who is really keen to help these vulnerable and scared and lonely these evacuated children who are away from their parents, and when they filmed scene, the three new evacuated children actors felt it was a very powerful moment in the film and at the same time they felt it was a very magical moment. They also wanted to show how Roberta “Bobbie” Waterbury has progressed from the original film, and how the original young lady has grown up and especially finding out that Roberta “Bobbie” Waterbury was part of the original suffragette movement of the activist women's organisation. They also talk about Lily Watts played by Beau Gadsdon who was very strong willed and knows her own mind, especially helping out people who are in trouble, and they also feel Lily Watts that if the suffragette movement had been around in this period, Lily Watts would of joined up with them. Next we hear from John Bradley who plays Richard Perks and who is the grandson of Albert Perks who of course was played by the legendary actor Bernard Cribbins and Richard Perks feels what he is doing secretly for the Second World War was very important and especially listening on his secret radio. But most of all the team behind the new film, wanted to honour the original film, especially contacting Noel Hartley [Railway Operator Manager] in helping out with using the original location and all of the logistics that goes with it. What the original cast from the original film felt was really lovely being back in North Yorkshire and to look at the possibilities is seeing what happens when time has moved on. But when the original film ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN’ was released on the VHS tape format and people loved it so much they kept playing it constantly until it got worn out, that is why the original film was loved by so many people. On top of all that, people who loved ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN,’ will hopefully look at the new film and witness the new adventure of the new evacuated children from Manchester and get a totally new magical experience. Also they say, that people who have never ever seen the original ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN,’ will hopefully still enjoy the totally magic of the new film, especially with all the troubles that are happening in the world today and for just over 98 minutes, hopefully everyone ones worries will fade away and make people wish they were part of the adventure that everyone in the film experienced. At that point the featurette ended. We see lots of clips from the film, but also lots of behind-the-scene filming. Contributors include: Morgan Matthews [Director], Jenny Agutter [Roberta “Bobbie” Waterbury], Jemma Rodgers [Producer], Eden Hamilton [Pattie Watts], Zac Cudby [Ted Watts], Austin Haynes [Thomas Waterbury], Daniel Brocklehurst [Screenplay], KJ Aikens [Abraham “Abe” McCarthy], Sheridan Smith [Annie], Beau Gadsdon [Lily Watts], John Bradley [Richard Perks], Noel Hartley [Railway Operator Manager] and Tom Courtenay [Uncle Walter].
Special Feature: ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN’ –Looking The Part [2022] [1080p] [1.78:1] [6:38] With this featurette they inform us the film ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN’ starts mid Second World War and a new wave of evacuated children from Manchester who finally end up at the Oakworth railway station and get to explore the Yorkshire countryside, which is of course the first time these new evacuated children from Manchester have ever experienced before and feels slightly alien to them, but soon over time really enjoy the freedom of the countryside. Everyone thinks the costume designs by Dinah Collin were totally brilliant and especially what people wore in 1944 and they thought the Costume Designer Dinah Collin did a totally amazing job and she was incredible the way she brings a real ability to get the clothes looking so good and so natural and was such a pleasure to wear the clothes that fitted so good and Dinah Collin explains in detail what she wanted to bring to the film with designing the clothes for the actors and also informs us the blue dress Lily Watts wears is from the 1944 original fabric and all the actors we see say they were so proud d to wear the clothes made for them, as it made them all feel that they are back in 1944. They also felt the interior sets built in the film studio was totally amazing and totally of the 1944 era and the small paper theatre that was used in the original film was also there in the background of the film, but of course was never used. They also praise very much Cinematography Kit Fraser, as director Morgan Matthews feels he brought a great cinematography eye to the film and also felt he captured the atmosphere of 1944. Once again we get plenty of clips from the film as well as many clips of behind-the-scene filming. Contributors include: Daniel Brocklehurst [Screenplay], Eden Hamilton [Pattie Watts], Zac Cudby [Ted Watts], Morgan Matthews [Director], Jemma Rodgers [Producer], Dinah Collin [Costume Designer], Beau Gadsdon [Lily Watts], Austin Haynes [Thomas Waterbury], Sheridan Smith [Annie], Tom Courtenay [Uncle Walter], Jenny Agutter [Roberta “Bobbie” Waterbury] and KJ Aikens [Abraham “Abe” McCarthy].
Special Feature: ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN’ – The History That Inspired The Film [2022] [1080p] [1.78:1] [4:38] With this featurette we find out what inspired then to make the film ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN,’ and it came about with a famous story about The Battle of Bamber Bridge and is the name given to an outbreak of racial violence involving American soldiers stationed in the village of Bamber Bridge, Lancashire, in Northern England during the Second World War. Tensions had been high following a failed attempt by the US commanders to racially segregate pubs in the village, and worsened after the 1943 Detroit race riot. The battle started when white American Military Police attempted to arrest several African American soldiers from the racially segregated 1511th Quartermaster Truck Regiment, and at the Ye Olde Hob Inn public house in Bamber Bridge for being out of uniform. In a confrontation on the street afterwards, a white MP shot and killed Private William Crossland. More military police then arrived armed with machine guns and grenades, and black soldiers armed themselves with rifles from their base armoury for protection. Both sides exchanged fire through the night. Although a court martial convicted 32 African American soldiers of mutiny and related crimes, poor leadership and racist attitudes and hatred among the white racist American Military Police was blamed as the cause of the terrible situation. Producer Jemma Rodgers own family experienced the same situation when they arrived from Jamaica to the United Kingdom and especially her uncle who was a Travelling Secretary in the Second World War and of course it really resonated to Jemma Rodgers and felt it was very important to show this nasty ugly discrimination that went on with the white racist American Military Police because it was 100% accurate. They also praise the young actor KJ Aikens as Abraham “Abe” McCarthy and really enjoyed his performance in the film and of course you get to see the nasty racist discrimination towards him by the white racist American Military Police and also the horror of the Second World War and just wanted to desperately get back home to America and his story comes from accurate research about the black American GI’s during the Second World War and the nasty segregation issue within the white racist American army which was much the standard practice and the white racist American army felt that had to import those nasty racist discrimination from America to England and to get it 100% accurate they contacted Historian Professor Alan Rice to help it to be incorporated into the screenplay, because of the very important historic facts about the nasty race relations in England in the Second World War. The white racist American Military Police would go into the English public houses and impose their own colour bar and to tell the pub owner not to serve the black American GI’s, but to the locals they felt the black American GI’s were very decent common folk, who were over here to support United Kingdom against the nasty evil Nazi regime, so the locals felt why shouldn’t we offer the black American GI’s their hospitality and appreciation and of course this infuriated the white racist American Military Police. But again, as I mentioned earlier, where the UK Military Police had to intervene in the nasty massive fight between the white racist American Military Police and the black American GI’s and some of the white racist American Military Police were arrested by our English police and sadly one of the black American GI’s got killed, and of course with this nasty discrimination, they were able to incorporate the story of Abraham “Abe” McCarthy played by KJ Aikens and they were all very pleased this terrible discrimination was included into the film, and all the cast felt this nasty discrimination was a terrible indictment on the white racist American Military Police against the black American GI’s, and because of what we witness with the character Abraham “Abe” McCarthy, the actor KJ Aikens was very proud to tell his story in the film, and on top of all that, they desperately wanted to tell this true story of the nasty discrimination that happened in Oakworth in the Second World War. Once again we get plenty of clips from the film as well as many clips of behind-the-scene filming. Contributors include: Jemma Rodgers [Producer], Danny Brocklehurst [Screenplay], Morgan Matthews [Director], Clinton Smith [Historian], Professor Alan Rice [Historian], Jenny Agutter [Roberta "Bobbie" Waterbury] and Sheridan Smith [Annie].
Special Feature: ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN’ – All Aboard! The Trains of ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN’ [2022] [1080p] [1.78:1] [2:17] With this final featurette we get to see some of the original cast from ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN’ back at Oakworth and especially the original steam trains and it brought back so many wonderful memories flooding back in encountering these wonderful steam trains and Beau Gadsdon as Lily Watts the new cast member was so amazed how they brought back the feel of the 1944 period and it felt so real and life like and what Beau Gadsdon, Eden Hamilton and Zac Cudby the new cast children really enjoyed riding in the carriages pulled by the steam trains and again they thought it was a wonderful experience and also totally amazing, and Eden Hamilton and Zac Cudby sat at the front of the train and kept on singing to Frank and Nick the poor train drivers, but Frank and Nick really enjoyed when you really fire up the steam train and feel it is especially a great experience and there is nothing like it. Also the actress Jenny Agutter feels it is totally amazing that the Oakworth railway station and platform is still the same, the steam trains are the same and they made sure they found the right steam trains for the film and the three steam locomotives were predominantly used throughout the film; were the 5820 USA Transportation Corp, Class S160 (affectionately known as Big Jim), 43924 LMS Class 4F and 45596 "Bahamas" LMS Jubilee Class. Another steam train that was also used was the 78022 BR Standard Class 2 2-6-0 that also makes a very brief appearance in the film and of course some of those steam trains were also used in the original ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN’ film, but most of all, the local people who work on the preservation Oakworth railways station are very proud of its heritage and love working there and especially when visitors come to see where the original ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN’ film was shot and of course it is a railway enthusiast dream location, but also everyone who worked on the ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN’ film. Once more for the last time we get plenty of clips from the film as well as many clips of behind-the-scene filming. At that point the totally delightful short featurette ends. Contributors include: Jenny Agutter [Roberta "Bobbie" Waterbury], Beau Gadsdon [Lily Watts], Austin Haynes [Thomas Waterbury], Eden Hamilton [Pattie Watts], Zac Cudby [Ted Watts], Frank and Nick [Train Drivers], Jemma Rodgers [Producer], Noel Hartley [Railway Operator Manager], Jim Shipley [Assistant Station Master of Oakworth Station], Sheridan Smith [Annie] and Morgan Matthews [Director].
Trailers: Here we get to view two specific sort of related trailers and they are the following: ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN’ [1970] [1080p] [1.66:1] [ 3:53] and ‘AMAZONS AND SWALLOWS’ [2016] [1080p] [2.39:1] [2:33].
Finally, ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN’ is a brilliant sequel to its 1970 predecessor. This new story will leave a lasting impression and smile upon audiences of all ages. It is also a heart-warming instant classic and a brilliant example of British heritage cinema. ‘THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN’ is really interesting. It deals with a lot more serious issues than the last and, while it isn't quite as funny, it is still a very exciting film. It highlights a lot of problems at that time and that is good to see. I would have loved Perks back from the first film because the substitute station master isn't as amusing. The film tries to recreate what it was like as evacuees in WW2 and that part is done well and all in all this film release proves really good as a sequel. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
