It remains true that some of the greatest cinema ever produced came from the silent era; it's also true that some titles of the time can be fairly described as "simpler entertainment for a simpler time." Especially with storytelling that's rather direct and relatively unsophisticated, one may reasonably argue that this 1926 western probably doesn't fall into the former category - though for all the hard work and cleverness that went into it, 'The great K & A train robbery' is absolutely more than any mere reflection of the latter. Even within the first several minutes there is a great deal to greet us that readily impresses, and one quickly begins to fall in love. I don't know if I'd go so far as to call it an complete must-see, yet this is a classic that mostly holds up tremendously and is well worth checking out if you have the opportunity. While we may debate the specifics of whether or not the sum total is "flawless," for the level at which it operates, I'm happy to say the distinction means little.
The filming locations are utterly gorgeous, and the wear of time on the surviving print hasn't diminished their visualization in the slightest. Within the natural settings in Coloradan landscapes, and the excellent constructed sets, star Tom Mix, "Wonder Horse" Tony,' and the other stunt performers execute a variety of dangerous, genuinely thrilling maneuvers, some of which definitely would not be done the same way in subsequent years as considerations developed of safety and animal labor. The stunts and effects are truly superb and all involved are to be commended for such outstanding work - including director Lewis Seiler and cinematographer Daniel B. Clark, whose keen minds and eyes consistently supply a wonderfully active, dynamic, vivid spectacle. No, not every passing moment is a major to-do, but even quieter scenes are orchestrated with an intelligence and finesse that's deeply gratifying. It very much comes across how much passion and care went into the production, and what joy these folks took in making pictures and telling stories. Even if it's not perfect, this exemplifies why we love movies.
True, there's some questionable, indelicate language concerning Curtis McHenry and his character, and one could easily take issue with some of the writing - such as, chiefly, the somewhat contrived, obligatory romantic element. But these are echoes of contemporary society, and matters of oversimplification; though worthy of discussion, they do not substantially take away from the terrific value 'The great K & A train robbery' can otherwise claim. That value further includes splendid, nuanced acting from all on hand, among them Dorothy Dwan, Will Walling, and Carl Miller, not to mention Harry Gripp and Mix. Working from Paul Leicester Ford's novel, John Stone penned a fantastic screenplay with strong scene writing to flesh out a duly compelling narrative. Even the costume design, hair, and makeup are swell. It bears repeating, though, that this is a feature with a mind for wowing the audience, and it ably succeeds with those marvelous filming locations, effects, and stunts, deftly realized through smart direction and cinematography. There's some drama in this western, yes, and romance, but at its core this is almost more of an action flick, and with some light comedy on top the result at worst only just stops short of being fully perfect.
I can understand how older cinema doesn't appeal to all comers; I'd have said the same of myself at one time. With sufficient strength and obvious skill, however, some fare supersedes any bounds of personal preferences, and I'm inclined to believe this might be an example of a title that may help to bridge the gap for folks who don't generally sit for the silent era. We can and should talk about some facets with a mind for how things have changed over time, or needed to or should change, but by and large this is stupendously fun and well made all throughout its minute length. It's exciting and absorbing, keeping us firmly locked in, and from one scene to the next there's so much for us to take in that the film quite warrants another view just so we can have more of a chance to see every brilliant detail. In all honesty, I dare say this is more riveting and satisfying than vast swaths of all those pictures that have followed in the past ninety-eight years, be they western, action, thriller, sci-fi, or anything else. I assumed I'd appreciate 'The great K & A train robbery,' but it's certainly far better than I could have hoped. I could scarcely be more pleased with just how good it is, and I'm happy to give it my very high and hearty recommendation!
The filming locations are utterly gorgeous, and the wear of time on the surviving print hasn't diminished their visualization in the slightest. Within the natural settings in Coloradan landscapes, and the excellent constructed sets, star Tom Mix, "Wonder Horse" Tony,' and the other stunt performers execute a variety of dangerous, genuinely thrilling maneuvers, some of which definitely would not be done the same way in subsequent years as considerations developed of safety and animal labor. The stunts and effects are truly superb and all involved are to be commended for such outstanding work - including director Lewis Seiler and cinematographer Daniel B. Clark, whose keen minds and eyes consistently supply a wonderfully active, dynamic, vivid spectacle. No, not every passing moment is a major to-do, but even quieter scenes are orchestrated with an intelligence and finesse that's deeply gratifying. It very much comes across how much passion and care went into the production, and what joy these folks took in making pictures and telling stories. Even if it's not perfect, this exemplifies why we love movies.
True, there's some questionable, indelicate language concerning Curtis McHenry and his character, and one could easily take issue with some of the writing - such as, chiefly, the somewhat contrived, obligatory romantic element. But these are echoes of contemporary society, and matters of oversimplification; though worthy of discussion, they do not substantially take away from the terrific value 'The great K & A train robbery' can otherwise claim. That value further includes splendid, nuanced acting from all on hand, among them Dorothy Dwan, Will Walling, and Carl Miller, not to mention Harry Gripp and Mix. Working from Paul Leicester Ford's novel, John Stone penned a fantastic screenplay with strong scene writing to flesh out a duly compelling narrative. Even the costume design, hair, and makeup are swell. It bears repeating, though, that this is a feature with a mind for wowing the audience, and it ably succeeds with those marvelous filming locations, effects, and stunts, deftly realized through smart direction and cinematography. There's some drama in this western, yes, and romance, but at its core this is almost more of an action flick, and with some light comedy on top the result at worst only just stops short of being fully perfect.
I can understand how older cinema doesn't appeal to all comers; I'd have said the same of myself at one time. With sufficient strength and obvious skill, however, some fare supersedes any bounds of personal preferences, and I'm inclined to believe this might be an example of a title that may help to bridge the gap for folks who don't generally sit for the silent era. We can and should talk about some facets with a mind for how things have changed over time, or needed to or should change, but by and large this is stupendously fun and well made all throughout its minute length. It's exciting and absorbing, keeping us firmly locked in, and from one scene to the next there's so much for us to take in that the film quite warrants another view just so we can have more of a chance to see every brilliant detail. In all honesty, I dare say this is more riveting and satisfying than vast swaths of all those pictures that have followed in the past ninety-eight years, be they western, action, thriller, sci-fi, or anything else. I assumed I'd appreciate 'The great K & A train robbery,' but it's certainly far better than I could have hoped. I could scarcely be more pleased with just how good it is, and I'm happy to give it my very high and hearty recommendation!