Pierce is the brains, clean willy the brawn, and safecracker agar provides the finesse. The first great train robbery, a 1978 film, released in the u. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. With the great train robbery, he pulled the american film business out of its early doldrums and captured the imagination not to mention the money of the stilldeveloping moviegoing public across the united states and in europe.
The great train robbery of 1903 there is a pretty good chance that if you were alive and happened to walk into a movie theatre in 1903, you would be pretty scared of this image to left. The film was produced at thomas edisons studio and surounding locations in new jersey. The daring daylight robbery was especially of influence, as was, it is said by historians, a 1903 film called the robbery of the mail coach. Filmed in november 1903 at edisons new york studio, at essex county park in new jersey, and along the lackawanna railroad and released in december 1903, the great train robbery is considered to be one of. The great train robbery is the 1903 short film that is widely considered the movie that began the motion picture industry. The robbery also featured as one theme in the victorian mystery novel entitled kept, written by d.
The film introduced moviegoers to robberies, chase scenes, and gun shootoffs. The first scene shows the chief as he explains to his followers the plan of the great train robbery. The great train robbery kindle edition by crichton. Nov 26, 2014 the wild west genre fascinated american audiences for decades. The great train robbery is a 1903 american western film written, produced, and directed by edwin s. Maybe it was just the version i saw, but i found it rather strange.
The film was also one of the first to incorporate a full cast of actors and to shoot onlocation. The great train robbery, a 1903 american silent short western film. The entire novel is based on the story of one of the most notorious train robberies in england. The great train robbery was americas first narrative film.
This special edition dvd contains two versions of the historically significant western, the great train robbery 1903 and more classic silent westerns. Two masked robbers enter and compel the operator to get the signal block to stop the approaching train, and make him write a fictitious order to the engineer to take water at. Trains pass windows, the new jersey forests speed by during a shootout and each frame is lifted from stasis to life. The film used a number of innovative techniques including composite editing, camera movement and on location shooting. Michael crichtons the great train robbery is a historical novel based on an.
Porters the great train robbery 1903 is widely acknowledged to be the first narrative film to have achieved such continuity of action. Porter, the man who had conceived, directed, and edited the film, based it on a felony that occurred in 1900. The great train robbery was one of the earliest silent films, made in 1903. You can enjoy this either as a historical landmark for its use of such a variety of thennew skills, or you can simply watch it for the story. Oct 31, 2011 filmed in november 1903 at edisons new york studio, at essex county park in new jersey, and along the lackawanna railroad and released in december 1903, the great train robbery is considered to. The great train robbery film by porter 1903 britannica. Jul 16, 2014 the big mystery behind the great train robbery may finally have been solved chris longs a tale of two thieves examines the largest cash theft of its time. The great train robbery kindle edition by crichton, michael. Double exposure is used to show through the window a train arriving. The heart of texas ryan 1916, tumbleweeds 1925 and the battle of elderbush gulch 19 all enhanced with music and effects tracks.
I just saw this film for the first time on tcm this morning and it was great. The movie was among the earliest narrative films with. The great train robbery was one of the first crime dramas and archetype of the western genre. The great train robbery discussion questions riveriew ib. The great train robbery soundtrack suite jerry goldsmith. Porter for the edison manufacturing company in 1903, established film as an attractive and. First movie in the worldthe great train robbery 1903. Jake king, nick harris and luke bucher the great train robbery was made into a movie directed by edwin porter. Random religion sci fi science software sports stanford technology ted talks television theatre. It was a primitive onereeler action picture, about 10 minutes long, with 14scenes, filmed in november 1903 not in the western expanse of wyoming but on the east coast in various locales in new jersey at edisons new york studio, at. But how does it hold up no pun intended for the modern viewer. It told a simple story of a group of western criminals who steal money from a train. The great train robbery is one of cinemas earliest westerns, and something of a breakthrough in the development of narrative film editing.
Thats at least two generations of prints and not great for quality, especially on a film that was shot with primitive stock and equipment in the first place. Through the window of the station, the train is seen coming to a stop. We tend to forget that in 1903, the western setting was not a time period but a place. The great train robbery silent film analysis 1251 words. The true story of the robbery can be found in the book by david c. It was a primitive onereeler action picture, about 10 minutes long, with 14scenes, filmed in november 1903 not in. Dec 03, 20 when the great train robbery debuted in december of 1903, henry ford had recently sold his first car, the boston americans had just won the first modern world series, and theodore roosevelt was president of the united states. The great train robbery 1903 the great train robbery. There is, however, a zombiethemed board game called the. Actors portraying myths and legends of the old west became iconic figures in their own right.
Color the great train robbery 1903 discussion moviechat. Youll enjoy their antics on and off the train as they rob passengers for local charities. It was a primitive onereeler action picture, about 10 minutes long, with 14scenes, filmed in november 1903. I just watched this and some of the scenes had certain objects in color the girl at the train station, the women dancing with the robbers. The bandits rob the train and shoot a passenger trying to escape them. Produced in 1903, it contained many of the plot elements that became a staple of succeeding hollywood westerns. Great train robbery, august 8, 1963, in british history, the armed robbery of. From the very beginning the great train robbery is off to a dramatic start. Within a short twelve minute run time, the great train robbery presents an entire story from hostage. Moviechat forums the great train robbery 1903 discussion color color posted 14 years ago by ac427dc 19 replies jump to latest. One of the milestones in film history was the first narrative film, the great train robbery 1903, directed and photographed by edwin s. This is the longest and most comlpete version of the film available. Filmed in november 1903 at edisons new york studio, at essex county park in new jersey, and along the lackawanna railroad and released in december 1903, the great train robbery is considered to. For example, rather than staying on one set, porter took his crew to ten different locations, including edisons new york studio, essex county park in new jersey, and along the lackawanna railroad.
After color stock came out, they would have had to tint a positive master print, strike a color negative off that, then print final color projection prints off that. The great train robbery of 1903 by jake king on prezi. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. So be prepared and bring your loose change for a good cause. Its easy to see why this was such a sensation in 1903, and why today it is still considered to be an icon in movie history. See more ideas about the great train robbery, train and sean connery. Filmed in november 1903 at edisons new york studio, at essex county park in new jersey, and along the lackawanna railroad and released in december 1903, the great train robbery is considered to be one of the first significant early us narrative films.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the great train robbery. Porter film, the great train robbery is a dramatization of the famous first holdup of a moving train in 1855 england. Santa clarita valley for location shooting in and after 1910. Based partly on the play, the great train robbery, by scott marble. The film depicted an outlaw gang robbing a train and was one of the first to use the motion picture medium and editing techniques to actually tell a story. Created for my introduction to electronic mass media class as part of a presentation. The great train robbery is a well made film and a fantastic time. Rather than force the class to sit through all ten minutes of the great train robbery from 1903, i pieced. Some one hundred and eight years ago marked the birth of the first western, a genre that was in a few short years.
The great train robbery is also based on a play of the same title by scott marble. Porter created film history when he completed the sequences for the great train robbery, released in 1903 but based on an 1896 story by scott marble. The great train robbery the great train robbery of 1903 there is a pretty good chance that if you were alive and happened to walk into a movie theatre in 1903, you would be pretty scared of this image to left. The great train robbery silent film analysis term paper. The great train robbery 1903 full complete original film. The film begins with two masked robbers bursting into a railroad station office, and binding and gagging the railway dispatcher. The great train robbery followed a recently created genre of crime and chase films begun in england. As you watch, jot down notes hit the pause button and you wont miss anything so you dont forget any of the important observations that. The life of the frame is only furthered by the narrative construction. The big mystery behind the great train robbery may finally.
The great train robbery is a 1903 american silent short western film written, produced, and directed by edwin s. Porter in 1903 is frequently acknowledged as the first narrative film. The film used a number of thenunconventional techniques, including composite editing, onlocation. Sean connery is hilarious as a smooth talking, suave, debonaire gentleman robber. The film was inspired by scott marbles 1896 stage play, and may also have been. Porters tenminute movie cuts between simultaneous actions in different locations, more economically than in his previous work life of an american fireman 1902, and the drama gains urgency from its use of location shooting, camera movement and. At twelve minutes long, the great train robbery is considered a milestone in film making. The great train robbery, a 1903 american silent short western film the great train robbery 1941 film, a 1941 american lowbudget crimewestern the first great train robbery, a 1978 film, released in the u. One of the earliest blockbusters, this film is a legend in the history of cinema. The movie was meant to shock and horrify by showing realistic western violence. Nov 03, 20 the great train robbery does not invite the audience to sympathize with its villains. He is the brilliant mastermind behind the ambitious plan to rob a moving train full of gold headed to crimea for the first time in history. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the great train robbery by michael crichton. Filmed in 1903, it was the first narrative film in history.
Porter story by scott marble 1903 1 interior of railroad telegraph office. From the very beginning the great train robbery is off to a. Porter, who had previously worked for thomas edison as a cameraman, takes the plot from a story based on a real train robbery, written by scott marble in 1896. The big mystery behind the great train robbery may finally have been solved chris longs a tale of two thieves examines the largest cash theft of its time. Two masked robbers enter and compel the operator to stop the approaching train. In a sense, porter helped prime the public for the movies. This is the longest and most complete version of the film available. Oct 14, 2016 at twelve minutes long, the great train robbery is considered a milestone in film making.
Bruce reynolds and biggs were signed up to produce a great train robbery video game in 1999 but it never came to fruition. May 01, 2009 2 the great train robbery contains well done cinematography for its time, including as far as i can tell shooting indoors, which would require some form of lighting, and camera movements. For this session of the motion picture club, a twelveminute, blackandwhite classic called the great train robbery was being shown. Filmed during november 1903 at edisons new york studio, in essex county park in new jersey south mountain reservation and along the lackawanna railroad. George barnes an outlaw, frank hanaway, max aaronson gilbert m.
Nonviewing print was acquired for lcs national film preservation tour, featuring titles from the national film registry. First movie in the worldthe great train robbery 1903 how. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. The conspirators in this undertaking are edward pierce sean connery, agar donald sutherland and clean willy wayne sleep. The great train robbery 1903 full complete original film restored. Inspired by scott marbles play the great train robbery 1896, porter was the first to put together motion picture magic with myths and stories of americas pursuit of manifest destiny on the pioneering plains and horizons, all pointing west. Porters 10 minute film combined western themes with innovative cinematic techniques narrative. The great train robbery 1903 cast and crew cast photos. Therefore, it is a great pleasure to simultaneously present the great train robbery as the earliest example of american cinema on this list and the first western. Porters tenminute movie cuts between simultaneous actions in different locations, more economically than in his previous work life of an american fireman 1902, and the drama gains urgency from its use of location shooting, camera. The great train robbery 1903 full complete original film on. Comprising 14 separate shots of noncontinuous, nonoverlapping action, the film contains an early example of parallel editing, two credible back, or rear.
The great train robbery also ignited americas long love affair with the western genre. The film was only 12 minutes long but it was one of the first films ever made. This study guide consists of approximately 22 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the great train robbery. The great train robbery was directed and photographed by edwin s. A great film tradition the western started with the great train robbery in 1903. Great train robbery, the 1903 internet movie firearms. The great train robbery explore the investigation into one of the most audacious crimes of the 20th century. The great train robbery not only was the first narrative film, it also introduced several new editing techniques. The great train robbery, a 1941 american lowbudget crimewestern. Crawling over the top of a moving train damages pierces clothing, forcing him to change clothes with.
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