Customer Reviews

Great Train Robbery - 100th Anniversay

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Wasn't to sure what to expect quality wise but on viewing was absolutely delighted.
The DVD features four silent westerns (all classics) with excellent picture quality and suitable accompanying music with orchestra.
Tumbleweeds is the 1939 reissue and has W S HART speaking of his love of the west.
Battle of Elderbush Gulch is an exciting story by D W Griffith.
Heart of Texas Ryan stars Tom Mix.
Two versions of the title film are included.
All the films have short intros, history and bios.

If you love silent films grab it while you can !

Of course, everyone (?) knows the reputation of the Great Train Robbery. But the rest of the package contains some gems. Surprising DW Griffith Western, in "Battle...," in the sense that the cavalry does NOT arrive in the nick of time for most of the townspeople, though the stars are saved. The Tom Mix feature is really funny, showing a character who is quite anti-heroic, by Classic Western standards. But the real gem is William S. Hart's Tumbleweeds, which stages an incredible Oklahoma land run, and a stunning ride by 55-year-old Hart.

Overall, this is a great DVD. My only compaint is that there is no option to "play all" features. Also, there is a prologue before each feature that you can't bypass. It is very informational; however, I bought this as a background video for a western party and wanted to have it play through all 4 movies. You can't do this the way it comes. You have to select each feature individually and fast forward through the prologues.

Train robbery film is only 10 mins. long, BUT watch later on in the dvd. for Tumbleweeds, W.S. Hart's final film AND interview; worth the price just for that alone!

Its hard to believe but this film was made more than 100 hundred years ago,it has to be considered to be a technical step forward for its time. The plot is basicilly a train robbery. It is also the first western. This was a stepping stone for what movies could be, D.W Griffth pushed even farther with the first epic with a Birth Of A Nation.

A classic of the start of motion pictures by Thomas Edison that has stould the test of time.

This is a great example of 'hokie' silent movies. The Train Robbery is VERY SHORT. Fortunately there are 2 other movies included. One story is a classic of the poor orphans and their new family's acceptance. The expressions and makeup are hilarious. All turns out for the best in the end.