Vashirdfel Simply A Masterpiece

Greenes Please don't spend money on this.

FeistyUpper If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film

slightlymad22 Continuing my plan watch every Sean Connery movie in order, I come to 1979 yeah he released three movies, The first of which was The First Great Train Robbery. Connery's last good movie of the 1970's, and last great performance of the decade. Possibly a bit ahead of its time The First Great Train Robbery is an enjoyable period heist movie. Since robbers did not crack safes in those days. Because dynamite and combination locks had not yet been invented, they could only open the saw with keys. The stealing of the four keys to the two safes without their owners knowing it was great fun.Connery was a suave, gentleman criminal, Donald Sutherland was his partner whilst Lesley Ann Down was his mistress and the annoying Wayne Sleep had a small role.The First Great Yrain Robbery has witty innuendo and some great lines. I always enjoyed this oneJudge: "Why did you commit this scandalous and dastardly crime?" Man In Dock: "I wanted the money."It is superbly delivered.It's also worth noting that Connery clearly did all of his own stunts. Including running across the top of a moving train, going at 55 mph, ducking the bridges as he went. The First Great Train Robbery grossed a disappointing $13 million at the domestic box office. His next two movies this in 1979 didn't fare any better.

Con-Deuce "The Great Train Robbery" is a perfect example of the creative skills of Michael Crichton. He was no master director or writer but what he did excel at was making and writing fast paced, imaginative and highly enjoyable entertainments. "The Great Train Robbery" provides great entertainment at the expense of historical accuracy. From what I understand, some of the plot elements are based on the actual train robbery of Crimean gold but a lot of it is highly fictionalized. While watching the film, you don't care about whether or not it's accurate. It moves so briskly and assuredly that you don't mind. But like so much of Crichton's work, it evaporates from memory pretty quickly. It's disposable entertainment but of that kind, it is exemplary. The art direction and cinematography (by the great Geoffrey Unsworth) are superlative. It could have been a much better film if it had tried to deepen the characters just a bit. The three leads (Connery, Sutherland and Down) are attractive and likable but there isn't much shading to their characters.Crichton's direction is as sure footed as anything done by Spiellberg and makes you wonder why he didn't direct more often.

edwagreen A caper should be interesting, fast moving and a joy to watch. This 1978 film is anything but. In fact, we would have been better off had author Michael Crichton told about the Crimean War.The film takes place in 1855 England with the latter and France at war with Russia over the Crimea. British soldiers were paid in gold that was shipped by train.When a robber is thrown off the train and killed, this gives Sean Connery, aided by Donald Sutherland, the idea of pulling off such a heist.The film is mostly devoted to making the necessary sets of keys so they can rob the train while it's in motion.It is interesting how they pursue this, but you want the film to move ahead until you get to the actual robbery scene.It finally happens, but by then one is annoyed with the whole film.

ma-cortes Attractive picture written and directed by Michael Crichton who based his book and movie only loosely on the actual crime committed in 1855 about stealing shipment of gold from a moving train and destined to the Crimea for British soldiers who are there fighting the Russians . In Victorian England , a brilliant trio of crooks conspire to pull off a spectacular heist ; they are formed by an elegant master criminal called Edward Pierce (boastful Sean Connery spent several days running on top of a moving train) and his accomplices , a pickpocket cracksman called Agar (Donald Sutherland) and a beautiful mistress named Miriam (Lesley-Anne Down) make a elaborate plan to steal a shipment of gold from a moving train . But the gold is stored in two locked safes that requires four separate keys to be opened . Never have so few taken so much from so many . Based on a true incident , this intrigue-filled caper has been packed with suspense , thrills , action , stylish fun and hooks to keep interested . The film was entitled "The First Great Train Robbery" to distance it from a £2 million robbery from a mail train in 1963 which was known in the British press as "The Great Train Robbery" . The movie faithfully reflects some events of the Victorian era such as large differences of classes , public executions applauded by the assistants , carriage parades and many other things . Sensational trio protagonist who can steal your heart , as Sean Connery as a dashing mastermind , Donald Sutherland as a skill cracksman , and a gorgeous Lesly-Anne Down . Agreeable support cast such as Robert Lang , Michael Elphick , Alan Webb and Wayne Sleep ,one of Britain's premier ballet dancers, from The Royal Ballet Company , he actually did his own stunts, including scaling the Newgate prison walls, at the tremendous risk of falling and hurting himself . And it was the final film for both André Morell and Peter Butterworth, both of whom had died by the time that it was released . Thrilling and intriguing musical score by the great Jerry Goldsmith , director Michael Crichton frequently hired Jerry Goldsmith to compose the scores for his films . Colorful and evocative cinematography by Geoffrey Unsworth , in fact , the picture is dedicated to his memory ; being marvelously photographed against gorgeous Irish countryside . The motion picture was well directed by Michael Crichton . After giving up medicine, Michael moved to Hollywood, California, in the early 1970s and began directing movies based on his books, his first big break being ¨Westworld¨ (1973) and subsequently wrote and directed other successes as ¨Coma¨, ¨Runaway¨ and ¨13º warrior¨ until his early death by cancer at 66 years old .