Customer Reviews

National Geographic's The Great Indian Railway [VHS]

5 star:		(8)
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Not only is this the best video travelogue I've ever seen, I suspect that it's one of the best National Geographic productions of any kind. The photography is absolutely breathtaking in its detail - just as good as the still images you'll find in the magazine. Linda Hunt's narration occasionally crosses the line into pomposity but is more often poetic and affecting. And the crew takes you places that only the most intrepid traveler would ever make it to on their own.

This is a really neat film for anyone interested in either India or trains (and if you're interested in both, you'll find this a treat). It is very well-made and as someone from India I felt that it tried to be honest and did relatively little sanitizing, which is what you have to usually do to portray the harsher realities of India. The film wanders through various parts of the country and manages to be comprehensive in its coverage without getting dull at all. Next time I go to India I must try the Palace on Wheels !

One of my all-time favorite National Geographic videos. A journey on an Indian train is not unlike the journey of life itself - but one must be awake to the experience. If you haven't yet been experienced, you need to see this video.

This video is outstanding in all respects. The script, the naration, the videography, the music and the editing are all superb. One of the best National Geographic documentaries ever created. In just two hours such themes as the history of India, the politics of India, the religion of India, the geography of India, the passing of an era and growing older are skillfully and lyricly woven together with a story line that overtly explores the end of the steam era on the Indian rail system. This video be greatly enjoyed by a much broader audience than merely those steam train buffs among us.

A fascinating look at the transformation and complexity of India's railway system. The video looks at the history of the old majestic steam locomotives of the British Raj as well as the modern day electric trains. These old locomotives carry a distinct charm, a personality and history of their own, and the station masters of the villages tell a story of these trains and express sadness that their "Black Beauties" must finally come to the end of the track to be replaced by the unasthetical "modern" electric trains, that carry millions of passengers each day. This is a great video for train enthusiasts

What a tragedy that this has been allowed to all but disappear! As of this date, Netflix doesn't have it, and (apparently) it has never been transferred to DVD. Far, far more than a story of the railway (fascinating in itself) this uses the railway as an organizing theme to talk about India. And the photography is just breathtaking as well. This is what the print National Geographic did for a generation prior to the video revolution: take us on an intelligent journey to a different world and present it sympathetically. And then, come back to the railway: they evoke the romance, the congestion, the history, of that as well in a way far superior to most rail videos.

My favorite video by far. Having the pleasure of working for a historical heritage hotel in Darjeeling........I will second that India is the most breathtaking place I have ever visited... The DVD depicts a true image of what India is all about....Extremely well done...Jai Ho!!!

Agreed, this is probably the most visually stunning documentary National Geographic produced, which is saying a lot. I just wonder why it was never released on DVD.

It would be a tragedy for those who worked on this film to have it be lost in history.

This film is timeless.