"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.

Connery shines as the anti establishment mastermind, plotting to relieve the British Empire of the pay for its troops in the Crimea. Yes, the action does take a little time to get going - much to my train mad son, who was hoping for more steaming activity - but the build up to the actual robbery makes for an entertaining period piece. The actual robbery is enjoyable to watch, with the open top engine puffing through the country side, comparable to so many modern train escapades. It's fun watching with a modern perspective to see how the landscape has changed. It's watchable with your parents or grand parents, and has parts that even younger kids will enjoy.

The First Great Train Robbery is directed by Michael Crichton who also writes the screenplay. It stars Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland, Lesley-Anne Down, Wayne Sleep, Robert Lang, Alan Webb and Andre Morell. Music is scored by Jerry Goldsmith and cinematography by Geoffrey Unsworth. The story is loosely based on the real Great Gold Robbery of 1855, where a rogue criminal named William Pierce and his cohorts executed the theft of £12,000 in gold from a speeding train on route to aid the British Army during the Crimean War.A delightful period caper picture that's high on production value and fun characterisations. Split into two halves, Crichton's movie makes light of the actual crime to portray Connery and co as lovable rogues, thus hooking the viewer in to actually root for them to pull off the intricate crime. First half (well it's more two thirds of the film to be exact) details how the robbers obtained the four keys needed to get into the safe. Harder than it sounds since they are in different locations to one and other and guarded over by different officials. Naturally there are scrapes, skirmishes and obstacles to overcome during this complex operation, and no short amount of humour and tension either. Then it's on to the actual crime, which buzzes ferociously with derring do and ingenious cheek! It may have been loaded with chitter chatter and much bluffing of the way leading up to it, but the pay off is excellent and not without genuine excitement as Connery's (doing his own stunt work) Pierce and Sutherland's safe cracking Agar pull off the seemingly impossible. Benefiting the film greatly is Crichton's attention to detail, where he thrives on the Victorian England setting. From the streets, the costumes, the dialogue and mannerisms of the characters, they all fit nicely within the narrative. Helps, too, that the cast are playing it with tongue in cheek, Connery and Sutherland are revelling in playing roguish dandies, splendidly attired facially with quality face fuzz and Down raises the temperature of Connery and male audience members alike. Probably her best ever performance, Crichton writes a good role for Down that sees her not only as a sexy head turner (it's unlikely that Victorian underwear has ever looked this sexy before in film), but also as an observant member of the gang; one who isn't too shabby on the disguise front either. Dancer Wayne Sleep is nicely cast as a fleet footed housebreaker, while Lang, Webb, Morell and Michael Elphick pitch their respective performances just right. Goldsmith's score is energetic and Unsworth's (his last film as he sadly passed away shortly after shooting it) photography is a lesson in quality without trickery.Fanciful and tame if compared to the big budgeted actioners of today, The First Great Train Robbery none the less is testament that simplicity of plot and a keenness to entertain is sometimes all you need. 8/10

'The First Great Train Robbery' or as it's known stateside 'The Great Train Robbery' is nothing short of excellent. From the novel written and directed by the late Michael Chricton, i can't emphasis enough why i love this film, it's a treasure! why? The excellent Casting Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland who make an excellent double act, one wonders if Gould and Sutherland were originally approached? Lesley Anne Down who is ravishing as a whore with the inevitable heart of gold. The Score by Jerry Goldsmith is amazing! it is something of which i occasionally listen to whilst travelling by Train!The film features some of the final Cinematography by Geoffrey Unsworth which the film is dedicated to. after nearly thirty five years later 'The First Great Train Robbery' remains untouchable it is not dated in the slightest, it's a shame that they don't make em' like they used to.