The Great Train Robbery (1903)

Directed by Edwin S. Porter

Starred Gilbert M. "Broncho Billy" Anderson, Willam S. Hart, Barbara Bedford, A.C. Abadie, Justus D. Barnes, Walter Cameron, Donald Gallagher, Frank Hanaway, Adam Charles Hayman, Tom London, Mary Snow ...

1903, United States, Silent

 

The oldest robbery movie I can ever list here. Because it is not only the first known robbery movie, but also the first known western movie ever. And it is the first movie in cinema history which has ever a narrative plot according some sources, while one the firsts according to some others.

It is in possession of Library of Congress. The film uses simple editing techniques (each scene is a single shot) and the story is mostly linear (with only a few "meanwhile" moments) but it represents a significant step in movie making, being one of the first "narrative" movies. The final shot of a gun being fired toward the camera had a profound effect on audiences. As cinema was in its infancy, many people who saw the film thought that they were actually about to be shot. The earliest American film listed in '1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die', edited by Steven Jay Schneider.

The budget of the movie is estimated as $ 150. Filmed in New Jersey. Lasts at around 11 minutes. And it was given an award by National Film Preservation Board in 1990, 87 years later it had filmed.

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If you look for;

a movie you must see before you die

a first robbery movie of cinema history

a first western movie of cinema history
one of the first movies which has a narrative

then this is your movie.

Degree: Pure Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Train Robbery

Excellence of Robbery Plan: N/A

Originality of Robbery Plan: N/A

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: N/A

Actors' Performances: N/A

Excitement Level: N/A

Surprise Level: N/A

Humor Level: N/A

Originality of the Story in General: N/A

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: N/A

Rating the Movie As A Whole: N/A

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.