On the whole this isn't a bad film at all, but it's not my thing. I can see why it's on the BFI Top 100 British films list (although it won't be on mine), because it is well made, inoffensive and I suppose it is what some people would call feel good. I feel however that with it's typical prim and proper way, it is already quite dated. I'm not sure how it would have appealed to children even back in 1970. The story just isn't that gripping, they don't help to run the train station or get kidnapped on a train, they basically just wave at them as they go by and take advantage of the people on board.
It's obviously well put together and had a good budget behind it, but some of the acting is hammier than the hammiest ham from Ham Lane in Hammington, Hamfordshire. Ham!
It doesn't help that they all live in such an idealistic world, which is so hard to believe by today's jaded and pessimistic standards. It's all very twee.
There are times when I fancied Mr Cribbins, I've always had a soft spot for him, even as a kid, he's always played such enjoyable and kind characters, but he has a charm in this that made him quite cute too.
I can see that it might have been enjoyable in a nostalgic way for those born at the time it was set, but I'd have been bored stiff watching this as a kid, which is probably why I've avoided it all these years.
309.91/1000.
It's obviously well put together and had a good budget behind it, but some of the acting is hammier than the hammiest ham from Ham Lane in Hammington, Hamfordshire. Ham!
It doesn't help that they all live in such an idealistic world, which is so hard to believe by today's jaded and pessimistic standards. It's all very twee.
There are times when I fancied Mr Cribbins, I've always had a soft spot for him, even as a kid, he's always played such enjoyable and kind characters, but he has a charm in this that made him quite cute too.
I can see that it might have been enjoyable in a nostalgic way for those born at the time it was set, but I'd have been bored stiff watching this as a kid, which is probably why I've avoided it all these years.
309.91/1000.