The Water Babies (1978)

A loose adaptation of Charles Kingsley's 1863 book of the same name, the film is notable for its blending of live action and animation, which likely doesn't seem as special now as it did back in the late 70s. Set in 1850 in England, it's the story of twelve-year-old Tom (Tommy Pender), apprentice to a cruel chimney sweep (James Mason). When Tom is blamed for something he didn't do, he escapes to an animated fantasy world, which gives the film its name.
The animation side of things is colourful and the primary moral lesson is straightforward and easily understood, but there's some broad cultural stereotyping that may seem crude by today's standards. Billie Whitelaw plays multiple roles, which doesn't make a lot of sense, but she brings a welcome level of real-world wonder to what at times is a pretty grim way of life.

3 transformations out of 5

She (1965)

Addressing the maxims that you should never touch an Englishman's hat without permission and that you should be wary of trusting a beautiful lady completely, Dir. Robert Day's version of the H. Rider Haggard novel She: A History of Adventure (1887) moves the setting decades forward to Palestine, 1918. Three Brits, Peter Cushing, Bernard Cribbins and John Richardson hunt for a fabled lost city wherein the titular high priestess She, a dubbed-over Ursula Andress in her nightie, holds dominion over the entire population.
The arduous traipse across the desert feels too brief, but it leaves more time for events within the exotic locale and the actors keep it mildly interesting.
She's showy royal garb is fantastic, making her look like an ancestor of the Sorceress from He-Man, but the film itself is less memorable.

2½ burning desires out of 5

The Railway Children (1970)

Children's Classics - each generation will find qualifying examples from its own era, but some stories are rediscovered time and again. In Britain The Railway Children, based on Edith Nesbit's 1906 novel, is an enduring classic from yesteryear that never goes away and nor would I want it to.
The story is about a mother and her three privileged "suburban children." They're forced to move from their comfortable townhouse to a county villa in Yorkshire and live a poor life, without a father. It's simple in construction but remains as welcome and warming today as it was all those decades ago.
The lesson that kindness isn't dependent on social status or material riches is perfectly woven into every relevant part. The ending is a little mawkish, but the journey toward it is direct and smooth, like the train tracks that carry the focus of the faithful children's good nature into their collective midst.

4 proper places out of 5