The great train robbery film techniques

Porter, the filmmaker behind life of an american fireman 1903, created the great train robbery 1903, a film that experimented with different innovative filmmaking techniques that helped porter to tell his story in a way that was exciting for audiences. Ironically, porter was unable to duplicate this films success in the subsequent films he was to direct. Jan 16, 2012 released in 1903, it helped establish the western as a film genre and it demonstrated how a film could be edited to convey events that are occurring simultaneously. Porter, pioneer american film director whose innovative use of dramatic editing piecing together scenes shot at different times and places in such films as the life of an american fireman 1903 and the great train robbery 1903 revolutionized filmmaking. The films title was also the same as a popular, contemporary stage. Griffith and written by mack sennett for the biograph compan unlike most films at the time which had a simple plot line set in one location, the lonedale operator intercuts three primary spacesthe telegraph office interior, the criminals outside, and the rescue train.

Greatly influenced by the british film daring daylight robbery 1903 it introduced many new cinematic techniques cross cutting, double exposure, camera. Jun 16, 2016 the great train robbery is probably porters most wellknown film, from which dozens of film techniques, story techniques, homages, and parodies have been adapted. The great train robbery film by porter 1903 britannica. Porter and his editor utilize the technique of parallel editing to build suspense and cinematic flow. The great train robbery and the narrative structure of silent cinema 1182 words 5 pages. From mastering old techniques to bringing mistakes purposely to a scene, editing has developed and enlarged its codes through time.

Porter, who had previously worked for thomas edison as a cameraman, takes the plot from a story based on a real train robbery, written by scott marble in 1896. Both of these films are seen as critical in film theory. New techniques in film editing also helped to establish the great train robbery as a pioneer in plotbased film. New techniques in film editing also helped to establish the great train robbery as. Film historians now largely consider the great train robbery to be the first american action film and the first western film with a recognizable form. Porter, 1903 the great train robbery features many of the early silent cinema codes. The great train robbery is a twopart british television miniseries, written by chris chibnall, that was first broadcast on bbc one on 18 and 19 december 20. Its also called the first blockbuster, the first movie, the first narrative film in spite of its popularity, or perhaps because of it, the great train robbery has a lot of misconceptions associated with it. Through their classification as trick films and their use of various imaginative film techniques, they make the construction of the film into the impetus for audiences to see. The most innovative editing technique introduced in the great train robbery was the inclusion of crosscutting. Porters seminal 1903 western was the first definitive evidence of the power of film editing in the service of a story.

Innovation in the great train robbery 1903 meg at the. It was a primitive onereeler action picture, about 10 minutes long, with 14scenes, filmed in november 1903 not in. Porter he entered motion pictures work in 1896, the first year movies were commercially projected on large screens in the united states. With the great train robbery, he pulled the american film business out of its early doldrums and captured the imagination not to mention the money of the stilldeveloping moviegoing public across the united states and in europe. The art of film and video editing part1 videouniversity. At twelve minutes long, the great train robbery film is considered a milestone in film making, expanding on porters previous work life of an american fireman. The great train robbery was directed and photographed by edwin s. Before the great train robbery, most films were either actualities short documents of prominent people.

N early 100 years old, the great train robbery is arguably the first narrative film in history. Griffith, were able to build upon the film techniques that the great train robbery helped pioneer. Dec 03, 20 the film introduced moviegoers to robberies, chase scenes, and gun shootoffs. Produced by the edison company, and directed by edwin s. One of the milestones in film history was the first narrative film, the great train robbery 1903, directed and photographed by edwin s. The great train robbery followed a recently created genre of crime and chase films begun in england. Click here to view the great train robbery this film used several new cinematic techniques such as cross cutting, double exposure, and camera movement. The other contender might be trip to the moon 1902, the melies film but this film lacks the complex editing with cross cuts that typify.

It was a primitive onereeler action picture, about 10 minutes long, with 14scenes, filmed in november 1903 not in the western expanse of wyoming but on the east coast in various locales in new jersey at edisons new york studio, at. The great train robbery is probably porters most wellknown film, from which dozens of film techniques, story techniques, homages, and parodies have been adapted. For example, rather than staying on one set, porter took his crew to ten different locations, including edisons new york studio, essex county park in new jersey, and along the lackawanna railroad. The great train robbery inspired by a 1896 stage play is twelve minutes long and was created on a single reel. The most notable camera movement in the great train. Porter he entered motion pictures work in 1896, the first year movies were commercially projected. Porter in 1903 is frequently acknowledged as the first narrative film. There is some doubt as to whether all of the great train robberys many innovations were actually the first of their kind, but theres no question that edwin s. The true story of the robbery can be found in the book by david c. Its easy to forget how innovative the great train robbery was, especially since it uses many techniques that we take for granted today. The great train robbery 1903 considered to be one of the first significant early us narrative films.

In just about any film class, the first example of parallel editing youll learn about is from 1903s the great train robbery. Porter created film history when he completed the sequences for the great train robbery, released in 1903 but based on an 1896 story by. Greatly influenced by the british film daring daylight robbery 1903 it introduced many new cinematic techniques cross cutting, double. What specific visual film techniques are seen used in. Griffith and written by mack sennett for the biograph compan unlike most films at the time which had a simple plot line set in one location, the lonedale operator intercuts three primary spacesthe telegraph office. In a sense, porter helped prime the public for the movies. The great train robbery was one of the first crime dramas and archetype of the western genre. Twelve minutes long, it is considered a milestone in film making, expanding on porters previous work life of an american fireman. Oct 31, 2011 filmed in november 1903 at edisons new york studio, at essex county park in new jersey, and along the lackawanna railroad and released in december 1903, the great train robbery is considered to. His visual film, made in new jersey and not particularly artistic by todays standards set many significant milestones tools and techniques at.

The film features ten locations, both indoor and outdoor. The first great train robbery, released in the united states as the great train robbery, is a 1978 british heist neo noir crime film directed by michael crichton, who also wrote the screenplay based on his novel the great train robbery. Film during the development of this film was very expensive. Is a great example of early filmmaking techniques and the. May 01, 2009 during the film, the great train robbery i counted 14 different scenes. During the film, the great train robbery i counted 14 different scenes. Joshua cragg film history and theory 1 assessment task 1 word count. Porter, the great train robbery is a landmark in the development of the american film industry and the narrative form. Greatly influenced by the british film daring daylight robbery 1903 it introduced many new cinematic techniques cross cutting, double exposure, camera movement and location shooting to american audiences. Since the great train robbery broke the rules, silver screen film. Some prints were also hand colored in certain scenes. A good early american example is seen in the great train robbery 1903 where it is used to place a train outside a window in a ticket office, and later a moving background outside a baggage car on a train set. Published on apr 16, 2020 a short film about a group of bandits trying to rob a train. Also known as cross cutting, parallel editing gained prominence with edwin s.

The techniques used in this film were better applied to his next film the great train robbery 1903. This use of different scenes greatly assisted in my understanding and aided in the realistic aspects of the film. The film used a number of innovative techniques, many of them for the first time, including parallel editing, minor camera movement, location shooting and less stagebound camera placement. It expanded upon porters previous movie life of an american fireman. The great train robbery is a 1903 american silent short western film written, produced, and directed by edwin s. This film is famous for the innovative techniques used to make it, including camera movement and composite. The film used a number of innovative techniques, many of them for the first time, including parallel editing, minor camera movement, location shooting and less.

This video was especially important in the process of film making because it encompassed different techniques and process that were unknown to the film making world. There is some doubt as to whether all of the great train robbery s many innovations were actually the first of their kind, but theres no question that edwin s. The great train robbery is also based on a play of the same title by scott marble. The great train robbery discussion questions riveriew ib. In chronological order, here are 20 revolutionary works in film editing. The film introduced moviegoers to robberies, chase scenes, and gun shootoffs. Wherever it ends up in the fact books, this film changed the motion picture industry and our perceptions of it, forever. To begin with, if porter were to do this movie 30 years later he would have made it longer. The great train robbery is a 1903 american western film by edwin s. The daring daylight robbery was especially of influence, as was, it is said by historians, a 1903 film called the robbery of the mail coach.

Edisons company, who produced the film declared it absolutely the superior of any moving picture ever made due to the editing techniques that were totally new. This film is considered the first narrative film giving some depth to the time span of crime films. Jumpcuts or crosscuts were a new, sophisticated editing technique, showing two separate lines of action or. Jul 30, 2015 the great train robbery 1903 was the one of the earliest narrative films, one that told a story. The great train robbery laid the foundation for western film making by using cutting edge technology and ground breaking techniques to portray the films relatively deep topic. Porter in his acclaimed movie the great train robbery 1903. The great train robbery 1903 was the one of the earliest narrative films, one that told a story. Michael crichtons novel the great train robbery and subsequent feature film presents a highly fictionalised version of the event, portraying pierce played by sean connery, as a gentleman master criminal who eventually escapes. The film was the onereel, 14scene, approximately 10minute long the great train robbery 1903 it was based on a reallife train heist and was a loose adaptation of a popular stage production. The film was also one of the first to incorporate a full cast of actors and to shoot onlocation. If you mean the 1903 silent short film the great train robbery it was significant to us film history because it used new techniques in movie making and in 1990 it was selected for preservation in the united states national film registry by the library of congress as being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. Around this time, another technique known as the glass shot was also being used. What specific visual film techniques are seen used in contemporary tv.

Porters the great train robbery 1903 is widely acknowledged to be the first narrative film to have achieved such continuity of action. It is thought to be an important step in making movies. It was a 12minute long film about four bandits who try. The great train robbery filmed in november 1903 at edisons new york studio, at essex county park in new jersey, and along the lackawanna railroad and released in december 1903, the great train robbery is considered to be one of the first significant early us narrative films. Techniques used in the great train robbery were inspired by those used in frank mottershaws british film. Comprising 14 separate shots of noncontinuous, nonoverlapping action, the film contains an early example of parallel editing, two. Nov 03, 20 its often cited as the film that made the spawned the movie culture. Jumpcuts or crosscuts were a new, sophisticated editing technique, showing two separate lines of action or events happening continuously at identical times but in different places. Crosscutting is when the film cuts between two different scenes that are happening at the same time. The first great train robbery, released in the united states as the great train robbery, is a 1978 british heist neo noir crime film directed by michael crichton, who also wrote the screenplay based on his novel the great train robbery the film stars sean connery, donald sutherland, and lesleyanne down. The great train robbery not only was the first narrative film, it also introduced several new editing techniques.

An 11minutelong escapade telling the story of a gang of bandits who rob a passenger train, the great train robbery is a spectacle and dramaladen film. It was a primitive onereeler action picture, about 10 minutes long, with 14. Is a great example of early filmmaking techniques and the innovativeness required. The great train robbery and edwin porter 1814 words. Porters life of an american fireman in 1902 is considered the first edited film.

An early american film pioneer, he was a famous director most known for films like life of an american fireman 1903 and the great train robbery 1903. It was written, directed, produced, and photographed by edwin s. The film used a number of thenunconventional techniques, including composite editing, onlocation shooting, and frequent camera movement. The great train robbery and edwin porter 1814 words bartleby. In this early picture, cross cutting is used to show what occurs in two different places but not much else. It was a 12minute long film about four bandits who try to rob a train duh. Porter worked for the edison company, and became known for his use of new. Comprising 14 separate shots of noncontinuous, nonoverlapping action, the film contains an early example of parallel editing, two credible back, or rear. Porter created film history when he completed the sequences for the great train robbery, released in 1903 but based on an 1896 story by scott marble. Released in 1903, it helped establish the western as a film genre and it demonstrated how a film could be edited to convey events that are occurring simultaneously. Techniques used in the great train robbery were inspired by those used in frank mottershaws british film a daring daylight burglary, released earlier in the year.