Robbie (Public Information Film)
Encyclopedia
Robbie is a 13-minute long film made by British Transport Films
in 1979 and revised in 1986. Although it is not strictly a Public Information Film
, it is often considered to be so by fans of the genre. The film, which was shown in schools all over Great Britain
, is based around a young boy suffering a disfiguring and/or fatal accident when he trespasses on a railway line, with three different versions being made to demonstrate the dangers of both electrified and non - electrified lines. When it was first released, all three versions were narrated and introduced by Peter Purves
, later replaced by Keith Chegwin
when the films were revised. Robbie was written and directed by Ronald Dunkley and produced by James Ritchie. It was a replacement for the controversial and extremely graphic The Finishing Line
, and was itself later replaced by a more modern film called Killing Time.
British Transport Films
British Transport Films was an organisation set up in 1949 to make documentary films on the general subject of British transport. Its work included internal training films, travelogues , and "industrial films" promoting the progress of Britain's railway...
in 1979 and revised in 1986. Although it is not strictly a Public Information Film
Public information film
Public Information Films are a series of government commissioned short films, shown during television advertising breaks in the UK. The US equivalent is the Public Service Announcement .-Subjects:...
, it is often considered to be so by fans of the genre. The film, which was shown in schools all over Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, is based around a young boy suffering a disfiguring and/or fatal accident when he trespasses on a railway line, with three different versions being made to demonstrate the dangers of both electrified and non - electrified lines. When it was first released, all three versions were narrated and introduced by Peter Purves
Peter Purves
Peter Purves is an English television presenter and actor.Purves was born in New Longton, near Preston, Lancashire, and was educated at the independent Arnold School in Blackpool, he had originally planned to go into teaching, training at Alsager College of Education, but began to act with the...
, later replaced by Keith Chegwin
Keith Chegwin
Keith Chegwin is an English television presenter, former child actor and singer.-Early career:Chegwin's early roles were in works of the Children's Film Foundation, appearing as Egghead Wentworth in The Troublesome Double Egghead's Robot . He also appeared as a stowaway in Doomwatch episode...
when the films were revised. Robbie was written and directed by Ronald Dunkley and produced by James Ritchie. It was a replacement for the controversial and extremely graphic The Finishing Line
The Finishing Line
The Finishing Line is a short film produced in 1977 by British Transport Films, warning about the dangers children face on railway lines. Although it is not strictly a public information film, it is often considered to be so by fans of the genre...
, and was itself later replaced by a more modern film called Killing Time.
Plot
All three variants of the film show Robbie, a young boy of about 10 years old with a keen interest in both trains and football, being persuaded by his elder brother to climb through a hole in the fence surrounding a nearby railway line and go onto the track. The three different editions continue as follows:- Version 1 (non - electrified railway lines): As he is walking along the railway line, Robbie gets the laces of his football boots caught in the track, and desperately tries to pull his feet free. We then hear and see a train approaching. The shoelace then pops and Robbie stumbles back in time, but trips on the other tracks, then we hear and see another train approaching. In the next scene, Robbie is now in a wheelchair because he got hit by the train and had to have both feet amputatedAmputationAmputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
. He is watching some other children play football, with a commentary by the narrator about how he'll never be able to play again. The final shot is of his football boots hanging up on the back of his bedroom door at home. - Version 2 (overhead electric line): While the children are playing, Robbie's brother snatches his football boots and throws them. They land near an electricity pylonElectricity pylonA transmission tower is a tall structure, usually a steel lattice tower, used to support an overhead power line. They are used in high-voltage AC and DC systems, and come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes...
, and Robbie tries to retrieve them with a long metal pole, but is electrocuted. - Version 3 (third rail electrified line): Robbie accidentally steps on the electrified third railThird railA third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost...
, and is electrocuted.