---------------------------THE FIRST GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY (DVD)---------------------------
The First Great Train Robbery is a story by the late Michael Crichton who wrote it first as a novel and then adapted and directed it for the big screen, loosely based on real history.
-- PLOT Edgar Pierce (Connery) is a gentleman and a thief, he can move with nonchalance between the high society and the slums of London, perfectly knowing how to deal with people of both. After hearing at a high class party about a £12,000 load in gold coin and ingots being moved on the London and Folkestone passenger train, Edgar Pierce cannot stop thinking about the gold!
In 1855 TNT hadn't been invented yet and all the "jobs" which involved a safe were based on making sets of duplicate keys from wax impressions for the locks. Inevitable is the need of a skilled screwsman. Agar (Sutherland) becomes Pierce's accomplice along with other picturesque character of a Victorian era.
The robbery takes over a year in the planning and, aside from making sets of duplicate keys from wax impressions, it also involved bribing the train's guard and plenty of breath-holding situations.
Connery stunts on the train are incredibly dangerous... climbing on top of a moving train at high speed (and it wasn't fake, apparently, I read the story of the incredibly dangerous stunts he performed) ducking at passing bridges by seconds before being hit by them! When I said "breath-holding situations" I really meant it!
_________ I think I had this film in the back of my mind even before I read the novel but it is not too often on TV so that, after reading the extraordinary novel, I decided to purchase it on DVD. I didn't regret my choice, the film is very entertaining and the acting and script are superb. I still watch it once in a while as a saturday afternoon film when I have nothing else to do.
The DVD itself doesn't have any special feature a part from a theatrical trailer but honestly I only bought it for the film itself. Something more could have been expected though for the dvd release.
It was shot mostly in Ireland although it is supposed to be set in Victorian London.
Some more info and then where to buy it:
____ Year: 1979 Duration: 1 hour and 45 minutes Widescreen 1.85:1 Director & Writer: Michael Crichton Actors: Sean Connery as Edward Pierce Donald Sutherland as Robert Agar Lesley-Anne Down as Miriam
Certificate: 12 years and over
Languages: English - Dolby Digital (5.1); French ; German ; Italian ; Spanish Subtitles: Danish ; Dutch ; English ; English For The Hearing Impaired ; Finnish ; French ; German ; German For The Hearing Impaired ; Italian ; Norwegian ; Spanish ; Swedish
__________ AVAILABLE on: play.com for £3.99 (free postage)
___ This film is definitely a good one to watch and to buy if you can get it for a good price as is on Play.com. I strongly suggest also to read the novel by Crichton because it's very enjoyable too!
_
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A lively, humorous caper film of the first order,The First Great Train Robberyis Michael ... more
Crichton's ambitious adaptation of his own novel, which was inspired by the facts of the first known train robbery. Crichton sets this attractive, highly enjoyable...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
All aboard for runaway action and suspense in this riveting masterpiece from ... more
writer/director Michael Crichton! Starring Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland and Lesley-Anne Down, it's a spine-tingling and suavely performed adventure, based on history's firs...
A lively, humorous caper film of the first order,The First Great Train Robberyis Michael ... more
Crichton's ambitious adaptation of his own novel, which was inspired by the facts of the first known train robbery. Crichton sets this attractive, highly enjoyable...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
All aboard for runaway action and suspense in this riveting masterpiece from ... more
writer/director Michael Crichton! Starring Sean Connery Donald Sutherland and Lesley-Anne Down it's a spine-tingling and suavely performed adventure based on history's first...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: Fine performance from connery Disadvantages: Connery plays the role very much with a straight bat, perhaps a little too pompous & stiff but entertaining all the same
Advantages: Fine performance from connery Disadvantages: Connery plays the role very much with a straight bat, perhaps a little too pompous & stiff but entertaining all the same
![The First Great Train Robbery [DVD] [1978]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78540670.jpg "The First Great Train Robbery [DVD] [1978]")
Nov 12th, 2008
(Nov 13th, 2008)
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