The Great Train Robbery (1978)
The British heist comedy film, The Great Train Robbery (1978), was both directed and written by Michael Crichton. Based on his 1975 novel of the same name, the story revolves around Edward Pierce, a member of London’s elite society who is secretly a skilled thief. His plan? To steal a shipment of gold aboard the London to Folkestone train, intended as payment for troops fighting in the Crimean War. With two safes in the baggage car, each with two locks requiring four keys, Pierce enlists his accomplices including pickpocket Robert Agar, mistress Miriam, and chauffeur Barlow. A train guard named Burgess is also bribed to join in. The manager and president of the bank involved have one key each, while the other two are kept locked in a cabinet at the London Bridge railway station by the South Eastern Railway executives.
To conceal the robbers’ plans, they must create wax molds of the keys. Pierce gains Trent’s trust by pretending to share an interest in informing on others. In addition, he begins to pursue Elizabeth, Trent’s daughter, and she reveals the location of her father’s key. Under cover of darkness, Pierce and Agar break into Trent’s house, locate his key, and make a mold before escaping. Pierce exploits Fowler’s weakness for prostitutes by having Miriam pose as a courtesan named ‘Madame Lucienne’ in an exclusive brothel. She meets with Fowler and persuades him to undress, allowing Agar to make a mold of his key while he is distracted. Then, Pierce stages a fake police raid in order to ‘rescue’ Miriam and forces Fowler to flee the scene to avoid a scandal.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
| Cast: |
Sean Connery
Donald Sutherland
Lesley-Anne DownThe British heist comedy film, The Great Train Robbery (1978), was both directed and written by Michael Crichton. Based on his 1975 novel of the same name, the story revolves around Edward Pierce, a member of London’s elite society who is secretly a skilled thief. His plan? To steal a shipment of gold aboard the London to Folkestone train, intended as payment for troops fighting in the Crimean War. With two safes in the baggage car, each with two locks requiring four keys, Pierce enlists his accomplices including pickpocket Robert Agar, mistress Miriam, and chauffeur Barlow. A train guard named Burgess is also bribed to join in. The manager and president of the bank involved have one key each, while the other two are kept locked in a cabinet at the London Bridge railway station by the South Eastern Railway executives.
To conceal the robbers’ plans, they must create wax molds of the keys. Pierce gains Trent’s trust by pretending to share an interest in informing on others. In addition, he begins to pursue Elizabeth, Trent’s daughter, and she reveals the location of her father’s key. Under cover of darkness, Pierce and Agar break into Trent’s house, locate his key, and make a mold before escaping. Pierce exploits Fowler’s weakness for prostitutes by having Miriam pose as a courtesan named ‘Madame Lucienne’ in an exclusive brothel. She meets with Fowler and persuades him to undress, allowing Agar to make a mold of his key while he is distracted. Then, Pierce stages a fake police raid in order to ‘rescue’ Miriam and forces Fowler to flee the scene to avoid a scandal.
