I would like to introduce you to a very special film…
Shot in 1961, ‘Terminus‘ provides an intriguing insight into Waterloo station and the London of the early 1960s- as the gallery of snapshots below demonstrates…
The documentary- an early example of the ‘fly on the wall‘ genre- was directed by John Schlesinger, a born and bred Londoner who died in 2003 aged 77.
John Schlesinger
Schlesinger’s other works include Billy Liar, Midnight Cowboy and Marathon Man.
Terminus is perhaps most famous for a controversial scene in which a five year old lad called Matthew is led to believe he has become separated from his mummy!
Don’t worry… everything works out ok in the end!
Matthew looses his mum…
The entire 30 minute film (which is now free from copyright) can be viewed below…enjoy.
View from the Mirror 
I think I must have mucked something up…I saw the film until 16.27 mins and then could not work out how to get the rest.
What i saw was super…Waterloo as I remembered it! and the bliss of having benches to sit on as opposed to being forced into inadequate caffs at high prices to be able to rest your feet…
Hi Helen, the whole film should be on there. Please let me know if if you experience any further problems.
Sorry to be late replying…heavy rains here brought about a landslide which took out the ‘phone lines. I’ll try again.
Hope it works 🙂
THANK YOU! What a wonderful journey back in time. For years I caught the train to and from Effingham Junction for boarding school.
I wonder if the lady ever found her umbrella 😀
And what would health and safety have to say about the gentleman standing on the trolleys.
Those were the days when travel was romantic, before it became dehumanised. (Taxis excluded from that remark!)
You’re most welcome 🙂
nostalgia and bringing memories alive – feel sure we have lost something along the way and could cry like Matthew
Great comment, Laura. I know exactly what you mean…
A great find – thanks for sharing!
Many thanks, Dermot
Ranked at Marylebone watching “Terminus”. Should have waited until I got to Waterloo. Fantastic…almost surreal.
The year of my conception. 😆