THE RAILWAY CHILDREN RETURN

Cert PG

98 mins

BBFC advice: Contains violence, racism theme, threat, language, rude humour, dangerous behaviour

Which classic will be next up for the sequel treatment?  It's A Wonderful Life? Schindler's List? 

The desperation of movie studios to avoid risk saw them delve deep into the archive this time and find the The Railway Children.

And they made sure they couldn't lose at the box office by bringing back national institution Jenny Agutter who first made her name in Lionel Jeffries' film.

They even tried to lure Bernard Cribbins but, despite his agreement, his and his wife's failing health prevented his return.

However, recreating a classic after so long was always going to be fraught with problems - not least that its makers faced an uphill battle to create a favourable comparison with the original.

This movie is set four decades after its predecessor in 1944 when the world is at war.

Three children, Lily (Beau Gadsdon), Pattie (Eden Hamilton) and Ted (Zac Cudby) are evacuated to the country because of the dangers of bombings in their home city of Manchester.

They are taken in by the family of Bobbie (Agutter), her daughter (Sheridan Smith) and her grandson (Austin Haynes).

Needless to say, their country home is right next to the same railways station at which Bobbie arrived from London with her siblings and mother long before.

Also, nearby is an American army barracks and that is the centre for one of the movies central planks.

Time has moved on in Yorkshire and, despite being set in the 1940s, Morgan Matthews' film addresses some 2022 issues, especially with regard to racial intolerance.

But there is always the lure of a good old-fashioned train to anchor us back as well as some prim, dare I say stilted, dialogue.

Will good win the day and will the kids outwit the adults? What do you think?

The Railway Children return isn't a bad way to spend an hour and a half but, while its predecessor stuck in the memory for more than 50 years. I am certain it will not.