Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > The First Great Train Robbery (1979)
The First Great Train Robbery
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The First Great Train Robbery (1979) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 20 | slideshow) Videos
The First Great Train Robbery (1979) -- Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland and Lesley-Anne Down star in this true-life action thriller, based on director/screenwriter Michael Crichton's best selling novel, about a daring gold heist that shocked Victorian society.

Overview

User Rating:
6.9/10   4,481 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 2% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Michael Crichton
Writers:
Michael Crichton (screenplay)
Michael Crichton (novel)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Great Train Robbery on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
2 February 1979 (USA) more
Tagline:
Never have so few taken so much from so many.
Plot:
In Victorian England, a master criminal makes elaborate plans to steal a shipment of gold from a moving train. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
1 win & 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
Author Michael Crichton Dies
 (From toxicshock. 5 November 2008, 11:01 PM, PST)

Cinematical Seven: Michael Crichton Movies
 (From Cinematical. 5 November 2008, 5:33 PM, PST)

User Comments:
"I wanted the money." more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Sean Connery ... Pierce

Donald Sutherland ... Agar

Lesley-Anne Down ... Miriam
Alan Webb ... Trent
Malcolm Terris ... Fowler
Robert Lang ... Sharp
Michael Elphick ... Burgess
Wayne Sleep ... Clean Willy
Pamela Salem ... Emily Trent
Gabrielle Lloyd ... Elizabeth Trent
George Downing ... Barlow
James Cossins ... Harranby
John Bett ... McPherson
Peter Benson ... Station Despatcher
Janine Duvitski ... Maggie
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Great Train Robbery (USA)
more
Runtime:
110 min
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White | Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Canada:PG (Ontario - 2006) | Netherlands:6 | South Korea:15 (DVD rating) | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | UK:15 (video rating) (cut) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Ireland:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:12 (video re-rating) (cut) | UK:AA (original rating) (cut) | USA:PG (certificate #25484) | West Germany:12 (f) | Singapore:PG
Company:
Starling Films more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The steam engine originally used in the film was not powerful enough to pull the train, so a diesel locomotive was disguised as a goods van and used for extra power. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: Pierce and Agar use an electric torch in the cellar. In 1855. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Edward Pierce: [narration] In the year 1855, England and France were at war with Russia in the Crimea. The English troops were paid in gold. Once a month, twenty-five thousand pounds in gold was loaded into strongboxes inside the London bank of Huddleston and Bradford and taken by trusted armed guards to the railway station...
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Stranger in the Kingdom (1998) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
4 out of 6 people found the following comment useful:-
"I wanted the money.", 21 October 2007
10/10
Author: Daniel Kincaid from Canada

"The Great Train Robbery" is based on a novel by Michael Crichton. It features the efforts of a band of three to rob gold kept in elaborate safes on a train leaving England to support the Crimean War. The film's costumes, elaborate sets and a score from Jerry Goldsmith are impeccable at creating a sense of Victorian England.

Sean Connery is charming as Edward Pierce, who leads the robbers. Donald Sutherland has a memorable role as Robert Agar, a top-rate thief and accomplice to Pierce. Lesley-Anne Down plays Miriam, Pierce's enchanting female companion who has no scruples about using her womanly charms.

The film follows the elaborate and interesting lengths that the gang must go to before they can even board the train. The elements of a great caper film are there: split-second decisions, tension and improvisations when plans go awry. The film also benefits from a lot of well-placed humor. "The Great Train Robbery" proves to remain interesting throughout the build up to and during the robbery.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The First Great Train Robbery (1979)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
who was the young man that turned them in? Bussssss69
Why did the acrobat climb the train station wall ? sherlock-37
Superb Lesley-Anne Down's nude scene. dhervas
Connery's stunts rokshok183
best line ever antoine_mathys
what is the crowd chanting? shepherd-26
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Robbery The Italian Job The Bank Job Stone of Destiny The Anderson Tapes
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Action section IMDb UK section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.