MovieChat Forums > The Railway Children (1970) Discussion > The touching ending

The touching ending

posted 18 years ago by William_Britton
9 replies | jump to latest

A tender, wonderful film, made more touching by the "surprise" out of character ending, where many of the actors and "townspeople" are saying good bye to us directly. And at the last moment as the camera continues to creep in closer, Jenny Agutter holds up a chalk board with her handwritten words "The End" and shyly says "Goodbye" to us the audience. Creative and tender.

Years ago (approx. 1980) in the San Diego, CA area, I met Miss. Agutter at an outdoor party. We sat next to each other. I was shy and made some type of chit chat. I did not have the courage to tell her I loved her for her acting in "The Railway Children." At least on that afternoon, and in that setting she seemed very much like her character, Roberta.

[–] sarahlouise1033 18 years ago

i think the ending was cheesy to be honest. I bet half of the extras felt like idiots just standing there waving. I do love the movie, but i dont like the very end of the movie

[–] RobertaWaterbury 18 years ago

the end is lovely i can understand why u may think its cheesy but personally it makes me well up everytime on the basis that i love the stry so much and after her father returning home and everything being ok it just seems perfect like atlast everything is happy!!!

[–] philipshepp 17 years ago

i'm usually to busy crying after "Daddy my daddy" that i can't see the ending anyway.

[–] beresfordjd 14 years ago

Have to agree.The editing in that scene is superb. It never fails to affect me. I never really watch the whole movie but when it is on I try to catch that scene.

[–] nexx-2 17 years ago

It's just a very typical Lionel Jeffries ending. One of his other films, "The Amazing Mr. Blunden" had a similar ending where all the cast waved individually. I think it's quite sweet... in a school play kind of way. Both The Railway Children and The Amazing Mr. Blunden are two of my favourite movies.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] iceblink1 16 years ago

It's a charming and memorable ending, pretty unique in film history too, it's one of the few movies that could pull this off, because the characters are themselves so charming. Nowadays, it seems everything has to be coarse and in your face, being gentle and delightful is a thing of the past.

[–] brand78 13 years ago

Well the ending was unusual but I have always enjoyed this movie - it is hard to believe that it is 40 years since it was released. I give it 9 marks out of ten.

[–] ridge-m-1 7 years ago

William, you are so fortunate to have met Miss Agutter in her late twenties. Being a former resident of San Diego myself for many years, such an idyllic place. Then again, my crush on her did not develop until well into the next century. Not that I am a young man, just not one prone to have crushes on movie starlets until relatively recently. The 70's was the last golden age of film.