The Great Train Robbery

Name: The Great Train Robbery
Director: Edwin S Porter
Released: 1903
Duration: 12 min
Cast: George Barnes, Gilbert M Anderson, Frank Hanaway, Tom London, Mary Snow

Save

1903
Edwin S Porter
12 mins

Review

A star rating of 3 out of 5.

David Parkinson

Two varmints intercept a locomotive and rob its passengers in this simple but ground-breaking short. Often hailed as the cornerstone of the western genre, Edwin S Porter's 13-sequence adaptation of Scott Marble's 1896 stage thriller is also one of the most significant films in the development of screen storytelling. Among its many initiatives was the use of a screenplay, descriptive captions, panning shots and back-projected footage. But its most important contribution to film grammar was the introduction of continuity editing, in which the action cross-cuts between parallel events to increase the narrative tension. Moreover, it also culminated in the iconic shot of bandit George Barnes firing his gun directly at the camera. A pivotal picture in cinema history, and a neat little tale besides.

How to watch

Loading

Credits

Cast

rolenameBanditGeorge BarnesBanditGilbert M AndersonBanditFrank HanawayEngineerTom LondonLittle girlMary SnowSheriffA C AbadieSheriffWalter Cameron

Crew

rolenameDirectorEdwin S Porter

Details

Languages

Formats

Black and white