The Great Train Robbery (film)

Not to be confused with The Great Train Robbery (1979 film).

The Great Train Robbery
Release poster
Directed by	Edwin S. Porter
Produced by	Edwin S. Porter
Written by	Edwin S. Porter Scott Marble
Starring	Alfred C. Abadie Broncho Billy Anderson Justus D. Barnes Walter Cameron
Cinematography	Edwin S. Porter Blair Smith
Editing by	Edwin S. Porter
Distributed by	Edison Manufacturing Company Kleine Optical Company
Release date(s)	December 1, 1903 (1903-12-01)
Running time	12 minutes
Country	United States
Language	Silent film English intertitles
Budget	$150 (est.)

The Great Train Robbery is a 1903 Western film written, produced, and directed by Edwin S. Porter. Twelve minutes long, it is considered a milestone in film making, expanding on Porter's previous work Life of an American Fireman. The film used a number of innovative techniques including cross cutting, double exposure composite editing, camera movement and on location shooting. Cross-cuts were a new, sophisticated editing technique. Some prints were also hand colored in certain scenes. None of the techniques were original to The Great Train Robbery, and it is now considered that it was heavily influenced by Frank Mottershaw's earlier British film A Daring Daylight Burglary.

The film was directed and photographed by Edwin S. Porter, a former Edison Studios cameraman. Actors in the movie included Alfred C. Abadie, Broncho Billy Anderson and Justus D. Barnes, although there were no credits. Though a Western, it was filmed in Milltown, New Jersey. The film has been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

Cast

• Alfred C. Abadie – Sheriff
• Broncho Billy Anderson – Bandit / Shot Passenger / Tenderfoot Dancer
• Justus D. Barnes – Bandit Who Fires At Camera
• Walter Cameron – Sheriff
• Donald Gallaher – Little boy
• Frank Hanaway – Bandit
• Adam Charles Hayman – Bandit
• John Manus Dougherty, Sr. – Fourth bandit
• Marie Murray – Dance-hall dancer
• Mary Snow – Little girl
• George Barnes (uncredited)
• Morgan Jones (uncredited)

Edison Film Catalogue description

Image

From Edison Films Catalogue, No. 200, Jan. 1904: "This sensational and highly tragic subject will certainly make a decided `hit' whenever shown. In every respect we consider it absolutely the superior of any moving picture ever made. It has been posed and acted in faithful duplication of the genuine `Hold Ups' made famous by various outlaw bands in the far West, and only recently the East has been shocked by several crimes of the frontier order, which fact will increase the popular interest in this great Headline Attraction.

Scenes

1. Interior of railroad telegraph office. Two masked robbers enter and compel the operator to set the `signal block' to stop the approaching train, also making him write an order to the engineer to take water at this station....
2. At the railroad water tank. The bandit band are seen hiding behind the tank as a train stops to take water (according to false order). Just before she pulls out they stealthily board the train between the express car and the tender.
3. Interior of express car.... the two robbers have succeeded in effecting an entrance. They enter cautiously. The messenger opens fire on them. A desperate pistol duel takes place, in which the messenger is killed. One of the robbers stands watch while the other tries to open the treasure box. Finding it locked, he searches the messenger for the key. Not finding it, he blows the safe up with dynamite.... [end of part 1]
4. The fight on the tender. This thrilling scene was taken from the mail car showing the tender and interior of locomotive cab, while the train is running forty miles an hour....
5. The train uncoupled....
6. Exterior of passenger coaches. The bandits compel the passengers to leave coaches with hands aloft, and line up along the tracks. One of the robbers covers them with large pistols in either hand, while the others ransack travelers' pockets. A passenger makes an attempt to escape, but is instantly shot down....
7. The escape. The desperadoes board the locomotive with their booty, command the engineer to start his machine, and disappear in the distance.
8. Off to the mountains. The robbers bring the engine to a stop several miles from the scene of the `Hold Up,' and take to the mountains. [end of part 2]
9. A beautiful scene in a valley. The bandits come down the side of a hill on a run and cross a narrow stream. Mounting their horses, which were tied to nearby trees, they vanish into the wilderness.
10. Interior of telegraph office. The operator lies bound and gagged on the floor. After a desperate struggle, he succeeds in standing up. Leaning on the table, he telegraphs for assistance by manipulating the key with his chin, and then faints from exhaustion. His little daughter enters.... cuts the ropes, and, throwing a glass of water in his face, restores him to consciousness. Arising in a bewildered manner, he suddenly recalls his thrilling experience, and rushes forth to summon assistance.
11. 

    

    Scene 12
    Interior of a dance hall.... typical Western dance house scene.... Suddenly the door opens and the half dead telegraph operator staggers in. The crowd gathers around him, while he relates what has happened.... The men secure their guns and hastily leave in pursuit of the outlaws.
12. The posse in pursuit. Shows the robbers dashing down a rugged mountain at a terrible pace, followed closely by a large posse, both parties firing as they proceed. One of the desperadoes is shot....
13. The remaining three bandits, thinking they had eluded their pursuers, have dismounted from their horses.... [and] begin to examine the contents of the mail bags.... The pursuers, having left their horses, steal noiselessly down upon them until they are completely surrounded. A desperate battle then takes place. After a brave stand, all of the robbers and several of the posse bite the dust.
14. Realism. Full frame of Barnes, leader of the outlaw band, taking aim and firing point blank at the audience. (This effect was gained by foreshortening in making the picture). "The resulting excitement is great. This section of the scene can be used either to begin the subject or to end it, as the operator may choose." (p. 5-8)

Library of Congress information

The Library of Congress includes this information with the copyright:

The Great Train Robbery Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; 1Dec1903; H38748. Duration: 3:30 (part 1), 3:54 (part 2), and 4:18 (part 3) at 18 frame/s. Director and camera: Edwin S. Porter. Cast: George M. Anderson, Justus D. Barnes (head bandit), Walter Cameron (sheriff). Filmed in November 1903 at Edison's New York studio, at Essex County Park in New Jersey, and along the Lackawanna railroad.

Miscellaneous notes

• The film was originally distributed with a note saying the famous shot of the bandit firing his gun at the camera could be placed either at the beginning or at the end of the film, or both. Most modern prints put it at the end.^{[citation needed]}
• Edison also made a parody of The Great Train Robbery (The Little Train Robbery) (1905) with an all-child cast in which a larger gang of bandits holds up a mini train and steal their dolls and candy.[1]
• The final shot is paid homage in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas when Joe Pesci's character fires a gun at the camera at the end of the movie.
• Ridley Scott also paid homage after the final credits of American Gangster when Denzel Washington's character in a darkened bar fires a gun into the camera.
• The .45 Long Colt shot clip appears in the historical introduction to the film Tombstone, as do numerous other clips from the film, notably the man shot while attempting to escape the robbers.
• It is believed that the sequence with Justus D. Barnes was the inspiration for the gun barrel sequence in James Bond movies.

External links

• Download from the Library of Congress (in MPEG-1, RealVideo or QuickTime format)
• The Great Train Robbery at the Internet Movie Database
• The short film The Great Train Robbery is available for free download at the Internet Archive [more]
• The Great Train Robbery at the TCM Movie Database
• The Great Train Robbery at AllRovi
• Great Films: The Great Train Robbery