This entertaining heist picture is not a remake of the landmark early silent Western but rather a period piece inspired by the first successful robbery aboard a moving train in England, circa 1855—a feat that author Michael Crichton initially fictionalized in a novel, which he then adapted and directed for this 1978 thriller. Sean Connery plays Pierce, the gentleman thief who masterminds the crime, with Donald Sutherland and Lesley-Anne Down as his partners, Agar and Miriam, a safecracker/pickpocket and a con artist, respectively. The scheme requires that four keys to a safe transporting gold bullion be lifted and copied (each quest for a key becomes a set piece in its own right), before the three can board the train, execute the theft, and escape while the train is going full throttle down the tracks. Crichton directs what is essentially an old-school caper film with a modern sense of humor, and the three leads play with a light touch, bringing plenty of personality to their roles. But the story unfolds with real suspense and tension, and the period sets and costumes (including Down in sexy Victorian lingerie) contribute to a colorful and enjoyable film that refreshingly relies on wits and sleight of hand rather than the techno-babble and computer-hacker gimmicks of so many modern thrillers. Remastered for DVD and Blu-ray, extras include audio commentary by Crichton. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)
The Great Train Robbery
Kino Lorber, 110 min., PG, DVD: $19.95, Blu-ray: $29.95 Volume 30, Issue 1
The Great Train Robbery
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