From page to screen: ‘Railway Children’ … again

Above : “The Railway Children” is the latest adaptation of Edith Nesbit’s 1905 novel. (Photo/Blue Fox Entertainment)

By now it’s clear that moviemakers find their source material where they can. And only sometimes are they faithful to the original ideas, themes and even characterizations.

Besides the obligatory need to add and/or change for dramatic effect, today’s trend of updating everything to accommodate 21st-century concerns regarding sexism and racism complicates this practice even further.

Case in point: “Railway Children,” a film now playing in theaters that is based on a 1905 British novel by Edith Nesbit .

The original story, now adapted into a film directed by Morgan Matthews, involves a father accused of spying, a Russian dissident looking for his family and the gaggle of children who help them both.

Matthews’ film changes much of the particulars while keeping to the overall storyline of the children being the main actors of change.

“The Railway Children” has been adapted to film before, director Lionel Jeffries’ 1970 version being the most notable.

From the trailer, the film – despite the alterations – looks like a good family film, especially appealing to younger viewers.

Which begs an old question. No, not why do movies feel the need to change things?

The more pertinent question is this: Why are British actors, even the children, often so much better than Americans?

The answer to that first question is obvious. Opinions regarding the second one are far less clear.

Maybe it’s in their DNA?