I’m looking for movies- kids’ movies are best- that heavily feature trains.
My roommate’s little boy loves trains. His favorite movie is Polar Express. I swear to god if we have to watch Polar Express one more time, I’ll shoot myself. That movie is awful. I’ve taken to switching the dubbed language just so I don’t have to listen to the dialogue one more time. He doesn’t mind- he’s memorized his favorite parts and just likes looking at the train and all the Christmas stuff. But everyone here is burned out on Polar Express.
So, I’m looking for another train movie. Something that also doesn’t involve Thomas the Tank Engine. Any suggestions?
He probably wouldn’t get the gags, but if ever there was a train that was funny, it was the old time train Buster Keaton built for Our Hospitality. Of course, lots of trains also in Keaton’s The General. These are wonderful movies.
Galaxy Express 999, and its sequels. And its spin-off TV series, The Galaxy Railways. These “trains” are actually spaceships, but I don’t think that would matter. The original movie is a bit dated, but the TV series is much newer.
Castle in the Sky has a good train sequence near the beginning. The rest of it is mostly flying machines, but I think the steampunk aesthetics would appeal to someone who likes trains.
This is the one I thought of too. I saw it a few years ago and liked it a lot, but was still a little surprised to see it appear on a list of “Best British Movies Ever Made.” Not because of the quality, I was just surprised it was a famous movie given I’d never even heard of it before picking it up at the library one day.
I’m unsure if it would be suitable for children, but I’ll offer it anyway: Silver Streak. Lots of scenes of trains and railyards and stations amidst a plot concerning an art theft.
As a hard core train enthusiast I would recommend these:
Out of Scale - This Disney Donald Duck cartoon can be found on YouTube. Was probably inspired by miniature train that Walt Disney had in his back yard. The Brave Engineer - Disney cartoon about Casey Jones, can also be found on YouTube. Casey Jones - Several episodes of this late 1950s T. V. series on appear YouTube. Features Allen Hale who later became the Skipper on Gilligan’s Island. Here is a link to one of the episodes - casey jones nightmail part one - YouTube Pacific 231 - Sort of an early music video. The 1923 orchestral piece “Pacific 231” - a musical interpretation of the sights and sounds of steam locomotives - inspired this short film made in 1949. No story here, but many wonderful shots of a train running across the French country side. Also on YouTube. Ticket to Tomahawk - Western. Watch carefully and you’ll see Marilyn Monroe in one of her early roles (although I doubt your friend’s son would care about this). Titsfield Thunderbolt - Wonderful British comedy about villagers who take over local railroad line to prevent it from being closed.
**Union Pacific **- Western directed by Cecil B. DeMille about the building of the Transcontinental railroad.
**Denver and Rio Grande **- Western about the building of the Denver and Rio Grande railroad and its battle with the Santa Fe railroad.
**The General **- Buster Keaton comedy based on an actual incident from the American Civil War. This is a silent film so it might seem a bit strange to a small kid at first. You may have to read the title cards for him. This classic film often appears in lists of ‘best films ever.’ The Great Locomotive Chase - This Disney film covers the same story as The General, but far more accurately.
Some other films that might be suitable for older kids: The Chattanooga Choo Choo - 1984 comedy. Has some young women showing a lot of bare skin, but if I recall correctly, no nudity. The Train - An excellent film but a bit violent. Takes place during World War 2 and has several scenes of Nazis brutally shooting people. Emperor of the North - This film always appears on lists of train fans’ favorite films but I would not recommend for children. Has several violent parts and language that you probably wouldn’t a child to hear.
A couple other films with good train parts that come to mind are: Go West - This Marx Brothers film contains funny train chase near end of film Sullivan’s Travels - Has several good shots of trains. An excellent film but I doubt your friend’s son would enjoy it (except of course for the train parts). North by Northwest - Part of this Alfred Hitchcock film takes place on the 20th Century Limited as it travels from New York to Chicago.
You never mentioned how old he is. There’s a lot of train footage in The Journey of Natty Gann and since it’s a Disney movie it’s fairly kid-friendly if a bit older-skewing.
Railroadin’ - 1929 Our Gang comedy short. Kids playing around train yard climb aboard a locomotive, start it and are unable to stop it. Sometimes
pops up on YouTube.