That the train would inspire the world’s first narrative film, Edwin S. Porter’s 1903 Western The Great Train Robbery, makes complete sense to us.
Trains and Westerns go together like, well, trains and Jesse James. Speaking of which, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford has one of the most authentic train robberies ever captured on film (obstruct the tracks, wait for the train, then rob everyone on board).
From Breakheart Pass to the forthcoming Lone Ranger (which allegedly will have three spectacular train sequences engineered without CGI) the train in Westerns is a staple. If you love Westerns and you love trains, here are eight movie classics you have to see. All aboard!
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The first narrative film, and the first to include parallel editing, cross-cuts and the very first pan shot. Throw in that the film is based on a 1900 Union Pacific train robbery committed by Butch Cassidy’s Hole In the Wall gang and that he and the Sundance Kid possibly saw this film during their time in New York, well, what more can we say?
Staring Charles Bronson and Ben Johnson. Lots of sweet train scenes in the snow, although the ending is notorious for having alternating scenes of clear and overcast skies. It’s worth watching just for that. Based on the novel by Alistair MacLean, it was filmed on the Camas Prairie Railroad out of Lewiston, Idaho.
John Ford’s epic silent Western features a cast of thousands, authentic steam locomotives, and it all climaxes at Promontory Summit with a re-enactment of the famous photo that introduces our train coverage.
Building the Transcontinental Railroad is the beating heart of this AMC series, and we are excited to see how the story will move forward in Season Two, which fires up August 12. Last Train from Gun Hill (at Right), 1959. A sequel, or a rip-off (depending on your point of view), of the Glenn Ford vehicle 3:10 to Yuma, this one stars Kirk Douglas who is always good, especially when he was bad.
Spectacular images, like this one, make this a beautiful piece of work. And did we mention it was in IMAX?
Great poster, good actors, overcooked ending. Still worth watching.
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