Reviews...

AMAZON REVIEW - September 2006      A MOVIE SOUNDTRACK TO TREASURE   The Johnny Douglas score for the film "The Railway Children", is one of the most charming and heartfelt soundtracks of recent years.  It's beauty is it's simplicity.  It captures the time and place, and above all, the love of family in every note.  I've seen this movie numerous times now.  The first with with my three children when it was originally released.  From the very first scene, a sense of civility and warmth seems to emanate from the screen, helped in no small measure by the music.  Johnny Douglas was obviously a fan of "The Railway Children".  How else can one explain his wonderfully accurate sense of melody and mood.  If you have young children, and you haven't rented or purchased "The Railway Children" for family viewing, please do so.  It's never less than enchanting for young.....and old.  I'll bet you'll want to follow that up by buying the original soundtrack CD.  And, as an extra treat, on Disc 2, you'll enjoy portions of the book narrated by the film's Director Lionel Jeffries.  You'll also enjoy the endearing... and enduring music of the great Johnny Douglas.  Phil Stout - USA musicfromthemovies.com review by Mike Beek Films don’t get more quintessentially English than The Railway Children. Lionel Jeffries’ very faithful 1970 film adaptation of E. Nesbit’s famed children’s novel remains a firm favourite in the hearts of many. Jenny Agutter starred as the eldest of three children whose Father mysteriously disappears, leaving them and their Mother penniless and homeless. Moving from London to Yorkshire, the children discover that the railway line close to their new home is not just a passage for trains, but a location for endless drama, where they make new friends and embark on many adventures. Providing the music for this classic British film was the late Johnny Douglas, a composer whose very busy career is highlighted by this little gem. Performed by ‘The Johnny Douglas Orchestra’, the composer created an airy, melodic score filled with charm and warmth. Following the sounds of the railway (which buffer each cue) ‘The Railway Children Overture’ opens this delightful album, beginning a short but sweet musical adventure that will leave you dreaming of harmless fun in the English countryside where you’ll be home in time for tea. This is a score absolutely of its time, so to some it might sound dated. However, it’s a glorious snapshot of the Johnny Douglas sound, a sound that lies somewhere between Henry Mancini (evident in the cue ‘The Robbers’) and the Sherman Brothers (‘The Birthday Waltz’). His themes are laced with warm strings, kitsch percussion and a healthy dollop of schmaltz that serves to sweeten the palette, while the melodies are carefree and the orchestrations lovingly conceived. A favourite moment comes in ‘The Paper Chase’, with the motion and rhythm played out in the busy strings and a great spirit of adventure resounding in the brass. A further highlight of the line-up is ‘Perks Must Be About’. Mr. Perks was played by the inimitable Bernard Cribbins and the music has just a touch of ‘Any Old Iron’ about it, decorated with the sounds of whistles and hooters; all good fun and endlessly entertaining. Joining the original soundtrack is a second disc featuring the story of The Railway Children, read by director Lionel Jeffries (Jeffries is perhaps better known as an actor, most famously playing the grandfather in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang). Joining the actor’s honey-coated tones are soundtrack and dialogue elements from the film and Douglas’ score. It’s a lovely addition to the album and perfect listening for a rainy Sunday afternoon. That of course goes for the whole album, which is entirely enjoyable and completely inoffensive, like the film itself. The Railway Children is a wonderful representation of the legacy left by Johnny Douglas, a composer whose name isn’t widely known, but one whose music is full of character and spirit. Reviewed by: Mike Beek

JOURNAL INTO MELODY - December 2005 Johnny Douglas was truly inspired when he composed the music for this magical film in 1970.  Everything about the movie was just right – the cast, the scenery and, of course, the music.  This new release offers again two LPs: firstly the Johnny Douglas Orchestra playing his themes from the film (on EMI’s Columbia label), and secondly Lionel Jeffries introducing soundtrack excerpts (originally on Music for Pleasure).  Johnny’s memorable main theme will be familiar to many, but this CD reveals that this was only one of several pleasing melodies created for the various characters.  As a bonus the final track on CD1 is the vocal version of the main theme, retitled More than Ever Now and sung by Vince Hill.  Hugely enjoyable! David Ades

IN TUNE - February 2006   The late Johnny Douglas was one of Britain’s most admired composer-arrangers and conductors.  I am delighted to welcome this CD presentation in a two disc set of the music he composed and conducted for the film “THE RAILWAY CHILDREN”.  The outstanding music score occupies the first CD while on the second is a beautifully crafted version of the soundtrack narrated by the film’s director, Lionel Jeffries.  This audio production with excerpts of dialogue and action from the film was originally issued on a Music For Pleasure LP (MFP 1430) in 1971.  Johnny’s film score had an LP release (SCX6446) in 1970.  Douglas was a supreme melodist and his skill as a writer capable of capturing any dramatic mood in musical terms is demonstrated to perfection in a charming, tuneful score.  Using top musicians the orchestra’s performance is very impressive as is the stereo sound quality. The “story CD2" will delight young and old and for this particular “youngster at heart” it provided an entertaining 45 minutes long yarn one wintry afternoon.  The music is another reminder from Dulcima Records of the fine Johnny Douglas recorded legacy.

JOURNAL INTO MELODY - March 2006 The 1970 film of E. Nesbit’s The Railway Children is acknowledged as being one of the finest children’s films ever made.  Although it paid remarkable attention to period detail, shot entirely on location, its score by Douglas was deliberately contemporary; consistently tuneful, atmospheric 1970s light orchestral music.  The film was noted for its romantic style without wallowing in sentiment, and the music is such.  This two-disc set is a well-produced reissue of two EMI LPs, both in stereo; one a selection of music from the film, the other taken directly from the soundtrack with additional narration by director Lionel Jeffries.  Peter Edwards