The Railway Children - shouldn' the Dad have sent a telegram rather than just turning up after being freed

[chomalungma]

The ending is lovely. Always makes me cry.
But what was the Dad's plan?
Did he let his wife know? It was in the papers - but did he just plan to turn up at the house, knock on the door and say surprise!!

VERY good question!

Maybe he was in cahoots with the really absent father in the secret garden.

Well, they'd got no money left for telegrams and the like.

I was just wondering the same thing. (Just caught the last 10 mins)

I can’t remember that well but I thought the wife knew he was released, just not when he would arrive? I also cry whenever I finish the book

How to ruin the ending of a beloved movie, OP. The Mum of the Railway children tells him she is going NC and gets a restraining order against him. Good job Mumsnet wasn't around in those days.

Telegrams weren't free. He probably didn't have the cash either on him or to spare.

Must read the book. Maybe that explains it?

Despite the times I've read it and watched it I still get inwardly tense with the landslide, screaming silently inside 'Don't just bloody stand there you idiots'

Apparently the actress who played Phylis (11 in the film) was 20 when she filmed it!!

Older than Jenny Agutter!

I always thought the mum knew, but as they had no money for telegrams, she just had to wait for him. I thought she just wanted to surprise the children though.

I can't even think about the ending of the film without crying.

Oh Daddy my Daddy

Slightly off topic, but does anyone else really love Bernard Cribbins? I always thought that he would be such a brilliant dad/uncle/grandad.

I used to feel the same about Brian Cant.

I prefer Swallows and Amazons personally but it is a good film.

He wrote but they didn’t get the letter in time:
“Then didn’t Mother get my letter?” Father asked.
“There weren’t any letters this morning.”

Mother didn’t know either, as Father tells Bobbie to go in and tell her quietly.

Yes it certainly says in the book that he sent a letter but they didn't receive it. I can't remember if he says that i in the film as I've only watched it twice (it makes me cry).

wilynectarine wonder it you have seen the second Swallows and Amazons film. Awful ending, to anyone who has read the book book, surely?

I love MN and the depth of the hatred for unexpected visitors.

Mother should have entertained him on the driveway.

@Frankley

wilynectarine wonder it you have seen the second Swallows and Amazons film. Awful ending, to anyone who has read the book book, surely?

Yes, the ending is appalling. The whole film is not that good TBH.

@Onceuponatimethen

Oh Daddy my Daddy

Oh don't, you'll make me blub

I quite agree. Love all the books

I always thought the mum knew because she was in talks with the Dad's lawyer. OR the old gentleman let her know. Because didn't he do some digging to get him out too.

I don't think she did know. Although you would have thought someone would let her know.
But the impression I got was that she had no idea and was just thrilled when he turned up.

Weren't they short of money? Telegrams were very expensive, who would have paid ?

Yes the old gentleman got it reinvestigated I think