Terminus (1961)

John Schlesinger's outstanding "fly on the wall" film about a day in the life of Waterloo Station. It was nominated for a BAFTA Film Award for Best Documentary. As well as being a masterpiece of film it has a magnificent soundtrack composed by Ron Grainer (who later composed the Doctor Who theme).
Published Crown copyright material has protection for 50 years from date of publication. Copyright on this film has thus expired.

[@janoriordan2198]

I was in this film. I was the little girl being handed a sweetie by my mum. Mr brother and Aunty were in the train at the doorway. Just after the prisoners were boarded and the rest of the passengers allowed through. I was 11. It's wonderful to see my beautiful mum who was widowed when she was 36.

[@simonf8902]

What happened to this world ? A world with polished shoes. Proper clothes. Hats. Good behavior. Emotional departures. A solid respectful organization with a potential to be individual. Bee keeping on the roof. Vale the real world. I was 6 when this was made. Vague memories come back to me. I miss all this.

[@Sameoldfitup]

“Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?”― Tennessee Williams

[@princetonburchill6130]

I must have been aged 11 when this film was shot of an England that has changed out of all recognition. I don't feel nostalgic about it because people have a lot more 'stuff' these days which has brought us all a much higher standard of living. Few homes back then had central heating or even a telephone, a refrigerator or a washing machine.

[@perrydear]

I'm very impressed by the level of competency that people in all ranks of life seem to portray in this film, is it "common sense" and is that lost...

[@Firebrand55]

I see this film and ache inside at what I know has been lost, Some comments tell the story; but the primary loss is Englishness, which was politeness, awareness, common sense, sensibility, clear speech....and sociatal innocence.

[@montyzumazoom1337]

No mobile phones, no louts, plenty of police helping to direct people, offices where tickets were bought from humans not machines, porters to help with luggage.

[@wilcoleman8288]

I’m 74 now. Back then, up on the train from Leatherhead, Waterloo was ‘our’ big London station. Wonderful to see it again. Happy memories.

[@inglepropnoosegarm7801]

Sublime. Every face a novel we shall never read.

[@marty8535]

A world we have lost :(

[@RoadCone411]

A lot of people on this video - actually most, by my account - are no longer with us. This is truly just a slice of life from not that long ago but it’s amazing how the fundamentals of life stay the same and everything else changes. Just as we are enthralled watching this bit of history from nearly six decades ago, imagine what any of these people would think about being dropped into our world? They’d be shocked by peoples’ clothing, style, mannerisms, and by the prevalent use of electronics and computers in general. Just about everything they knew - money, trains, lighting, racial integration, measurements, pollution, countries of the world - is different now. There are no signs of heavy industry, no more war damage in London, steam trains are in museums now. Travel is quicker and more comfortable, albeit a lot busier today. All of this within a lifetime!

[@stevedoubleu99B]

No wonder this little gem won awards. When I was little, I got seperated from my mum at Liverpool Street, so seeing the little lad in the film brought it all back. I think I was in about the same state he was in, terrified. This is a people watchers dream and a wonderful wallow in nostalgia.

[@richardhumphreys8662]

I remember Waterloo Station at this time. As an eight year old, it seemed huge and smoky and very exciting. This film is always a delight and fills me with nostalgia.

[@Charles-ey9qk]

I was five years old in1953 and it was the year of my first visit to Waterloo. I had just arrived from Egypt in a troop ship with my family. I was thrilled by the steam engines and the electric multiple units, and this is where my love of railways began! Seven years later we moved much nearer to London and I became a regular visitor to the station. I was very impressed by Pullman cars, and enjoyed watching the Bournemouth Belle slowly gliding out of the station. In later years I became a commuter and watched the end of steam and the introduction of 4 VEP units and a host of others., Including some fast runs in a 4 TC set behind two class 73's ! I suppose the greatest thrill was a trip to Paris in an early Eurostar from Waterloo. Rush hour was very exciting with the forecourt covered with people all moving in different directions and heading towards their destinations. The brolly was an essential piece of kit for the well dressed businessman, and of course the smart briefcase. He had to make sure he had today's copy of the Times, as the advert at the end of the station told everyone that ' Top people read the Times ' ! The 'Drain' was exciting. Such small trains so wonderfully quaint with dim lighting and attractive wooden interiors. Really atmospheric. Now gone for ever, but not forgotten. I count myself very fortunate to have experienced a much gentler way of life. We had less materially after a terrible war, but people really cared and helped each other not expecting something on return. The selfish , 'I want ' society had not yet emerged

[@davidspear9790]

Wouldn't it be great if all fly on the wall documentaries were made in this way today? No commentators constantly telling you what you've seen 5 mins before and trying to keep you interested by constantly saying 'coming up'. Great 33 mins worth. Thx.

[@scopex2749]

I was 2 years old! BUT this was the HAPPY England we will never see again, no terrorism or people throwing acid at you in the street or trying to stab you, murder you or kill you with a vehicle or a bomb.😁 What happened to this country, we let all the troublemakers take over and rule our lives as soon as we joined the ‘common market’ that was the end for Britain 😢 HOW WELL PEOPLE SPOKE! QUEENS ENGLISH! I remember the 60’s with great fondness and the simplicity of life WITHOUT awful mobile phones or computers everywhere .........people actually used to SPEAK to each other instead of texting or email. If mobiles DISAPPEARED tomorrow I think BILLIONS would cheer! Great film thank you👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🇬🇧👍🏻

[@trainsontuesday]

As an 11 year old I passed through Waterloo station on my way to Bournemouth for my summer holidays. What memories this evokes.

[@garyandrewranford]

This is without doubt one of the best video uploads on KZbin.

[@Jo1066milton]

I was 5 when this was made. We went through this station every year on holiday. I cried when Matthew Perry got lost - he was so much like my little brother at the time. I can't believe his mother would set the poor little man up like that! Great film though - how things have changed!

[@andrewcroft6855]

A glorious picture of a long gone Great Britain, watched this many times and it's beautiful, 60 years old and just sublime, the music just makes it all the better