38 Facts About The Movie The Great Train Robbery

The Great Train Robbery was released in 1903.

The Great Train Robbery holds the distinction of being one of the earliest narrative films ever made, having been released in It was directed by Edwin S. Porter and produced by Thomas Edison.

It is considered a groundbreaking film.

The Great Train Robbery is often hailed as a groundbreaking film due to its innovative storytelling techniques and use of parallel editing. It introduced the concept of cross-cutting, where multiple storylines are shown simultaneously, which was a significant advancement in filmmaking at the time.

The movie influenced future filmmakers.

The Great Train Robbery had a profound impact on the development of cinema, inspiring future filmmakers such as D.W. Griffith, who would go on to revolutionize the medium with his epic film, Birth of a Nation.

The film was shot in New Jersey.

The Great Train Robbery was filmed in various locations in New Jersey, including the Essex County Park and the Lubinville Amusement Park. These settings were chosen for their resemblance to the American West, where the story is set.

The movie was a commercial success.

Upon its release, The Great Train Robbery was a huge box office hit, drawing crowds of eager audiences who were captivated by its thrilling storyline and action-packed sequences.

There were 14 scenes in the original film.

The Great Train Robbery was comprised of 14 individual scenes, each depicting different aspects of the story, from the planning of the robbery to the pursuit of the robbers.

The film featured a cast of only eight actors.

In the early days of filmmaking, it was common for movies to have small casts, and The Great Train Robbery was no exception. It featured a cast of only eight actors, some of whom played multiple roles.

The Great Train Robbery was shot in black and white.

As was the norm for films of that era, The Great Train Robbery was shot in black and white. This choice added a sense of grittiness and authenticity to the onscreen action.

The film was originally shown in nickelodeons.

Nickelodeons, which were small storefront theaters, were popular venues for showing films in the early 20th century. The Great Train Robbery initially premiered in these nickelodeons, drawing large crowds of eager viewers.

The Great Train Robbery was a silent film.

Being released during the silent film era, The Great Train Robbery relied solely on visuals and intertitles to tell its story. There was no synchronized dialogue or sound effects.

The movie’s running time was approximately 11 minutes.

Considering the technical limitations of the time, The Great Train Robbery had a relatively short running time of around 11 minutes. However, it managed to pack a thrilling narrative into this concise duration.

The film utilized actual train tracks for filming.

To lend authenticity to the train robbery scenes, The Great Train Robbery was shot using actual train tracks, incorporating real locomotives and wagons into the action.

The Great Train Robbery involved pioneering special effects.

For its time, The Great Train Robbery pushed the boundaries of special effects, incorporating groundbreaking techniques such as the use of smoke, simulated gunfire, and a moving backdrop to create the illusion of movement.

The movie’s success led to sequels and remakes.

Thanks to its overwhelming popularity, The Great Train Robbery spurred the creation of several sequels and remakes over the years, with filmmakers and studios capitalizing on the public’s fascination with the genre.

The Great Train Robbery inspired other train robbery films.

Due to its influential nature, The Great Train Robbery inspired numerous other films centered around train robberies, becoming a subgenre in itself within the Western genre.

The film’s release marked a turning point in cinema history.

The Great Train Robbery is often cited as a turning point in cinema history, as it showcased the potential of the medium to tell engaging narratives and captivate audiences on a larger scale.

The Great Train Robbery was originally intended as a one-reel film.

When The Great Train Robbery was first conceived, it was intended to be a one-reel film, but the final product ended up being a two-reeler due to the demand for more content.

The Great Train Robbery created the template for future Western films.

The Great Train Robbery played a significant role in establishing the conventions and archetypes of the Western genre, shaping how future Western films would be structured and presented.

The film was influenced by popular dime novels.

One of the sources of inspiration for The Great Train Robbery was the popular dime novels of the time, which often romanticized the exploits of outlaws and train robbers.

The movie featured a combination of indoor and outdoor scenes.

To create a sense of authenticity, The Great Train Robbery incorporated both indoor studio scenes and outdoor location shoots, showcasing the versatility of early filmmaking techniques.

The Great Train Robbery was added to the National Film Registry.

In recognition of its cultural significance, The Great Train Robbery was selected for preservation in the United States Library of Congress’ National Film Registry in 1990.

The movie’s success introduced a new era of narrative storytelling.

The success of The Great Train Robbery marked a shift in filmmaking, encouraging filmmakers to explore more complex narratives and to experiment with different storytelling techniques.

The Great Train Robbery has been referenced in numerous films and TV shows.

Over the years, The Great Train Robbery has been referenced, paid homage to, or parodied in countless films and TV shows, highlighting its lasting impact on popular culture.

The film’s release coincided with the rise of the American film industry.

As The Great Train Robbery was released, the American film industry was experiencing rapid growth and evolving into a formidable force, with the film serving as an important milestone in its development.

The Great Train Robbery was one of the first films to feature a narrative climax.

Prior to The Great Train Robbery, many films were episodic in nature, lacking a defined narrative climax. The movie’s clear climax helped establish a storytelling structure that is still widely used today.

The Great Train Robbery featured innovative use of location shooting.

The Great Train Robbery made innovative use of location shooting, with scenes taking place in various outdoor settings, ranging from rural landscapes to bustling train stations.

The film starred a diverse cast of actors.

For its time, The Great Train Robbery boasted a diverse cast of actors, including both Caucasian and African American performers. This was a rarity in the early days of cinema.

The Great Train Robbery was initially met with mixed reviews.

Upon its release, reactions to The Great Train Robbery were divided, with some critics and audiences praising its technical achievements while others criticized its lack of character development and predictable narrative.

The film’s success paved the way for longer, more elaborate narratives.

The success of The Great Train Robbery demonstrated to filmmakers and studios that audiences were willing to engage with more extensive and intricate storytelling, leading to the production of feature-length films.

The Great Train Robbery featured a dramatic ending.

The Great Train Robbery concludes with a dramatic scene where the main outlaw character directly addresses the audience, pointing his gun at the camera and firing, creating a sense of tension and excitement.

The movie’s popularity led to stage adaptations.

Due to its immense popularity, The Great Train Robbery was adapted for the stage, with live performances recreating key scenes from the film, allowing audiences to experience the action in a different form.

The Great Train Robbery established the Western genre as a staple of American cinema.

The Great Train Robbery played a crucial role in establishing the Western genre as a staple of American cinema, highlighting the fascination with the Wild West and the allure of outlaw heroes.

The movie showcased the power of visual storytelling.

With its reliance on visuals and limited use of intertitles, The Great Train Robbery exemplified the power of visual storytelling, demonstrating that a story could be effectively conveyed without the need for extensive dialogue.

The Great Train Robbery was a major inspiration for future heist films.

The Great Train Robbery laid the groundwork for future heist films by showcasing the suspenseful planning and execution of a robbery, becoming a benchmark for the genre.

The film’s success led to the creation of the Western film as a distinct genre.

The immense success of The Great Train Robbery inspired filmmakers to continue exploring the themes and settings of the Wild West, eventually solidifying the Western film as a distinct genre within the broader realm of cinema.

The movie popularized the concept of the train robbery.

The Great Train Robbery played a significant role in popularizing the concept of the train robbery, which would become a recurring motif in Western films and captivate audiences for decades to come.

The Great Train Robbery is an important piece of film history.

The Great Train Robbery is not only an entertaining and thrilling film, but it is also an important landmark in the history of cinema, representing a pivotal moment in the evolution of narrative storytelling on the silver screen.

The Great Train Robbery continues to be studied and analyzed by film scholars.

To this day, The Great Train Robbery remains a subject of study and analysis by film scholars, who recognize its contribution to the art form and its enduring influence on the development of cinema.

Conclusion

In conclusion, The Great Train Robbery is a timeless classic that continues to captivate audiences with its thrilling storyline, innovative cinematography, and iconic performances. The movie holds a special place in the history of cinema as one of the first narrative films ever made. With its use of various techniques such as cross-cutting, location shooting, and parallel editing, The Great Train Robbery revolutionized the way films were made and paved the way for the development of modern filmmaking. Whether you’re a fan of old Hollywood classics or simply appreciate the art of storytelling, The Great Train Robbery is a must-watch that showcases the brilliance of early cinema.

FAQs

1. When was The Great Train Robbery released?

The Great Train Robbery was released on December 1, 1903.

2. Who directed The Great Train Robbery?

The Great Train Robbery was directed by Edwin S. Porter.

3. Is The Great Train Robbery based on a true story?

No, The Great Train Robbery is a fictional story inspired by real-life train robberies that were prevalent during the time.

4. What makes The Great Train Robbery significant in film history?

The Great Train Robbery is considered a groundbreaking film as it introduced many innovative techniques in filmmaking, such as parallel editing and location shooting. It also marked the beginning of narrative storytelling in cinema.

5. Who were the main actors in The Great Train Robbery?

The film featured a cast of unknown actors, with Gilbert M. Anderson and George Barnes playing the main roles.

6. How long is The Great Train Robbery?

The Great Train Robbery has a runtime of approximately 12 minutes.

7. Has The Great Train Robbery been remade?

Yes, there have been several adaptations and remakes of The Great Train Robbery over the years, both in film and television.

8. Did The Great Train Robbery receive critical acclaim?

Yes, The Great Train Robbery was highly praised for its technical advancements and storytelling. It is considered a classic in the history of cinema.