The Great Train Robbery (1903) Edwin S. Porter

The Great Train Robbery has proven to be a pivotal moment in film history because it was based on a real-life train heist but also came from the idea of a stage production. “It was the first narrative Western film with a storyline, and can be seen as the first true Western film”. The use of scenes with shoot-outs, a robbery, a chase etc has given the idea for many other Western films since the emergence of The Great Train Robbery. Edwin S. Porter was seen as the “father of the story film” and this ten minute long master piece shows that true meaning of telling a story.