Released in the uk as the first great train robbery due to 1963 seeing a reallife train robbery in the uk which is still referred to as the great train robbery. During the silent film years, films usually were shown. Porters the great train robbery 1903 is widely acknowledged to be the first narrative film to have achieved such continuity of action. 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 firsts those discount trivia books that litter the shelves of chain bookstores have a lot to answer for. The story involves the execution of a daring train robbery and the subsequent posse pursuit. The great train robbery not only was the first narrative film, it also introduced several new editing techniques.
This film made in 1926, is a rare survivor of the cowboy genre targeted for a youth audience. Until one edward pierce made off with a shipment of gold being sent to meet the british armys payroll in the crimea, it was, quite simply, thought impossible to rob a moving train. They state with great confidence that the jazz singer was the first sound movie, the birth of a nation was the first feature film, that the great train robbery was the first film with a story. Not quite as snappy as the first silent movie but we take what we can get. Porter, the 12minutelong silent film, the great train robbery 1903, was the first narrative movieone that told a story. 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. For those interested in american silent movie history, this film provides a rare look into movies as popular culture. A crash a shriek and he plunged over the sandy precipicejpg 1,024. Finally, the fact that the great train robbery is a western shows how that genre is most central to the development of the cinematic process. As tcm put it, the great train robbery became the first influential narrative film in which the editing was imaginative and contributed to the narrative. The great train robbery silent film analysis term paper. It depicts a group of criminals robbing a train and its passengers, escaping in the uncoupled locomotive, and then being pursued and killed by a posse recruited from a local dance hall.
Porter was following a trend using anything that moves as my professor would put it. The great train robberys popularity led directly to the opening up of permanent movie theaters and the possibility of a future film industry. The great train robbery is a 1903 american western film by edwin s. Based on a butch cassidy robbery, its cast included gilbert m. But how does it hold up no pun intended for the modern viewer. England has had its share of great train robbers, including the gang immortalized in stanley bakers robbery. Porter, a former cameraman for the thomas edison company. Apart from the title card and the famous shot of an outlaw firing at the audience, the film consists of thirteen. Our reader christian trapp sent a seemingly simple but actually boundless question. Additional holdings for this title may be available. A group of bandits stage a brazen train holdup, only to find a determined posse hot on their heels.
Who was the first major female american silent film director. In 1903, edwin s porter left it to the projectionist. It was a primitive onereeler action picture, about 10 minutes long, with 14scenes, filmed in november 1903 not in. The music in this version is composed by andreas brink. The great train robbery 1903 by edwin s porter youtube.
Nonviewing print was acquired for lcs national film preservation tour, featuring titles. The film begins with two masked robbers bursting into a railroad station office, and binding and gagging the railway dispatcher. But there was, we learn, only one great train robbery, and that was the first one, in 1855. The great train robbery, a 1903 american silent short western film. The great train robbery is a 1903 silent film directed by edwin s porter. Produced by thomas edison but directed and filmed by edison company employee edwin s. 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 edison manufacturing co, with the estimated budget of. Two masked robbers enter and compel the operator to set the signal block to stop the approaching train, also making him write a fictitious order to the engineer to take water at this station, instead of at red lodge, their regular watering stop. The great train robbery was one of the earliest silent films, made in 1903. Porter film, the great train robbery is a dramatization of the famous first holdup of a moving train in 1855 england. The engine is brought to a stop and the bandits flee. Scene 14 of his the great train robbery, according to the sales catalogue, can be used either to begin the subject or to end it, as the operator.
Sadly, 95% of all silent fims made, have been lost through nitrate decomposition or outright destruction. The vagabond free a silent film by charlie chaplin that costarred edna purviance, eric campbell, leo white and lloyd bacon. Time out film rounds up the 6 best silent short films including. Silent era home page psfl the great train robbery 1903 a growing source of silent era film information.
Porter, introduced the first cinematic cowboy star, bronco billy anderson. When it was shown a week before christmas in december, 1903, there wasnt a lot of promotion about the film or any real anticipation from audiences for its showing. Wherever it ends up in the fact books, this film changed the motion picture industry and our perceptions of it, forever. The heart of texas ryan 1916, tumbleweeds 1925 and the battle of elderbush gulch 19 all. Aug 15, 2016 the 1903 silent film the great train robbery was produced, directed, and written by edwin s. All music is performed on a levin guitar from ca 1930. 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. Great train robbery, the,great train robbery, the, a motion picture released by the edison manufacturing company in 1903, was written, directed, and photographed by edwin s. A description of tropes appearing in great train robbery. New jersey stands in for the wild west for the 1979 film. Apr 26, 2017 jeanluc godard felt filmmakers should be free to rearrange the beginning, middle and end of their scenarios. It was also one of the very first boxoffice blockbusters, instantly becoming a huge commercial success and spawning many outright imitations.
Produced by thomas edison, inventor of many audio and visual playback machines, the film began to shift the focus from novelty films to plot. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The great train robberys parting shot silent london. The big mystery behind the great train robbery may finally. At twelve minutes long, the great train robbery is considered a milestone in film making. The film has all of the basic rudiments of the action movie, with its constant movement, compelling narrative, buildup of suspense, and concluding violence. A public domain video considered the first narrative film, the great train robbery was directed and photographed by edwin s. Farther along on the tracks, several miles from the scene of the hold up, the four robbers force the engineer to stop the locomotive. This special edition dvd contains two versions of the historically significant western, the great train robbery 1903 and more classic silent westerns. This twelveminute silent movie, one of cinemas earliest narrative films. Silent films 6 essential silent short films time out film. The 1903 silent film the great train robbery was produced, directed, and written by edwin s.
The heart of texas ryan 1916, tumbleweeds 1925 and the battle of elderbush gulch 19 all enhanced with music and effects tracks. The great train robbery is a 1903 american silent short western film written, produced, and directed by edwin s. This is the longest and most comlpete version of the film available. Nonviewing print was acquired for lcs national film preservation tour, featuring titles from the national film registry. The great train robbery and the narrative structure of.
At less than 10 minutes long, the great train robbery serves as an excellent introduction to silent film for those who are unfamiliar with them. One of the milestones in film history was the first narrative film, the great train robbery 1903, directed and photographed by edwin s. Who made the silent movie the great train robbery answers. They jump from the train and escape down the side of the hill next to the tracks the camera pans after. Filmed in november 1903 at edisons new york studio, at essex county. During the silentscreen era three actors achieved great popularity as.
This twelveminute silent movie, one of cinemas earliest narrative films, used fourteen shots to tell the story of a robbery and the ensuing chase. Anderson plays several roles in this actionpacked depiction of. Barnes in the great train robbery 1903 the great train. Porter, along with the author of the 1896 stage play, scott marble.
From the very beginning the great train robbery is off to a. Including some of the most important films ever made. In a sense, porter helped prime the public for the movies. Porters identically titled 1903 silent movie, usually considered the first fullscale western on the american. Joshua cragg film history and theory 1 assessment task 1 word count. Among the earliest existing films in american cinema notable as an early film to present a narrative. The great train robbery s is a film directed by edwin s. The great train robbery is a silent film, directed by edwin s.
Scene 14 of his the great train robbery, according to the sales catalogue, can be used either to. Twelve minutes long, it is considered a milestone in film making, expanding on porters previous work life of an american fireman. The great train robbery s popularity led directly to the opening up of permanent movie theaters and the possibility of a future film industry. Its about a group of bandits that hold up a train, then a posse chases them down. The first great train robbery is about the fastest pickpocket youll ever see, a suave and daring gentleman who never tells the truth it is also about a bunch crooks that can steal your heart with the company of a fascinating disguised mistress who suspects that her father breaks his own regulation for each morning of the shipments. Bronco billy anderson, who became one of the first stars of western films. O ne of the earliest blockbusters, this film is a legend in the history of cinema. The great train robbery 1903 who invented film technology. This listing is from the progressive silent film list by carl bennett. Watch films by luis bunuel and salvador dali, charlie chaplin, dziga vertov, d. Though primitive compared to the work of silent film giants like cecil b. Among the earliest existing films in american cinema notable as an early film to present a.
Source for information on great train robbery, the. The heist has become legendary among the british, who lay claim to it as historys first robbery from a moving train. From the very beginning the great train robbery is off to a dramatic start. Griffith, the film is interesting and easy to understand, even without the use of intertitles.
The great train robbery 1903 silent film internet archive. Filmed during november 1903 at edisons new york studio, in essex county park in. The great train robbery is a twopart british television miniseries, written by chris chibnall, that was first broadcast on bbc one on 18 and 19 december 20. Media in category the great train robbery the following 28 files are in this category, out of 28 total. 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. Griffith made a series of highly successful westerns in the years before world war i. Based partly on the play, the great train robbery, by scott marble. The film used a number of thenunconventional techniques, including composite editing, onlocation. Comprising 14 separate shots of noncontinuous, nonoverlapping action, the film contains an early example of parallel editing, two credible back, or rear.
During the silent film years, films usually were shown select one. Griffith, alfred hitchcock, sergei eisenstein, fritz lang, f. The great train robbery has the honorable distinction of being the first western movie. The great train robbery silent film analysis 1251 words. Oct 14, 2016 at twelve minutes long, the great train robbery is considered a milestone in film making. Media in category the great train robbery the following 28 files are in this category. The great train robbery film by porter 1903 britannica. N early 100 years old, the great train robbery is arguably the first narrative film in history. We asked for an expert reply from kristin thompson, ph. No sooner does the conductor leave than they fall upon the operator, bind and gag him, then hastily depart to catch the moving train. Jeanluc godard felt filmmakers should be free to rearrange the beginning, middle and end of their scenarios. Porter, the 12minutelong silent film, the great train robbery 1903, was the first narrative movie one that told a story.