American writer and film-maker Michael Crichton has, thanks to his prolific work in the genre, built a reputation as the father of the modern “techno-thriller”. This makes the 1978 period action comedy The Great Train Robbery look like a somewhat odd entry in his filmography. On the other hand, this film can be described as some sort of “techno-thriller”, at least in the context of the period when the plot takes place. Crichton based his film on his 1975 novel, itself inspired by the real events that occurred in 1855 England. At the time, the railway was still a relatively new and fascinating technology, and it was widely believed that the robbery of a moving train was impossible. The protagonist, professional criminal Edward Pierce (played by Sean Connery), thinks otherwise, especially after infiltrating Victorian high society under the guise of a wealthy businessman and learning details about the train carrying shipments of gold intended for payments to British troops fighting the Crimean War. He devises a plan which would use keys made by an expert locksmith and safe-cracker, Agar (played by Donald Sutherland), and copied from bank executives seduced by his mistress Miriam (played by Lesley-Anne Down). The heist, despite being planned for months and extensively rehearsed, doesn’t go off without problems and setbacks, including those that might endanger Pierce’s life.
Crichton liked to extensively research materials for his books, and in The Great Train Robbery that was reflected in a great effort to have as much authentic period detail as possible. Victorian London – its railway, working-class slums and high society’s drawing rooms – is reconstructed through sets, costumes, props and cinematography by veteran Geoffrey Unsworth. The film, on the other hand, is undeniably comic in nature, although the humour is generally of a darker variety and sometimes the tone goes too dark, with the protagonists being involved in acts questionable even for less squeamish members of the audience. But the film is, in the end, entertaining, mostly thanks to Connery, who obviously enjoyed the opportunity to play an action hero, although very different from James Bond. His Edward Pierce is portrayed as a lovable rogue and some sort of anti-establishment hero, and is quite believable in his role, which includes a final action scene on the moving train that almost got him killed during production because of his habit of doing his own stunts. Connery is helped by Sutherland, who plays an effective sidekick, and Down, whose comical talent transcends the one-dimensionality of her character. Jerry Goldsmith adds to the mix with his effective, although not particularly memorable, soundtrack. The Great Train Robbery, although one of Crichton’s less typical works, is among the more entertaining achievements of his career.
RATING: 7/10 (++)
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