The Great Train Robbery

"The Great Train Robbery" is a very important movie in film history. Created by Edwin Porter only two years after Melies "A Trip to the Moon," "The Great Train Robbery" is a great example of how fast movie making techniques were evolving in the years of early cinema. Already in this film, we can see how Porter manipulates the camera. Instead if having the camera be a stationary observer of the action unfolding, the camera follows the action and acts as an active partisipant in the story telling. For example, in the chase scene the robbers are seen starting fro, the background and running towards the camera. Then as they run off to the left, the camera moves to follow the action. This simple manipulation of the camera doesn't seem innovative to us, but it really was. it broke the fourth wall because it made the audience feel like they were a part of the action. Porter broke the fourth wall even further with the final scene of this film. One of the most iconic scenes in early film history, many modern directors have paid homage to the bandit dhooting the camera in their films. 

The editing in this film were also cutting edge for the time. Porter used double exposure composite editing in the scene on the train car. Although this scene was shot on a set, they had the door open and added in film that was shot on a moving train. It was kind of like the first green screen, but instead of digitally adding in the footage, film makers physically added cut and paste the two pieces of footage together. 

Another interesting film technique used in "The Great Train Robbery" was that some of the scenes were filmed outside on location. Up until this time it was highly unusual to have any parts of a film shot outside. Not only were the characters outside in this film, but a real train was used as well. This film took big steps for the way we make movies today. Instead of acting as an expasnsion of theater, This movie showed that films can be closer to reality.