The Great K & A Train Robbery

Director: Lewis Seiler Lewis Seiler

Overview

Silent screen Western star Tom Mix portrays a detective investigating a series of train robberies in this fast-paced, stunt-driven oater filmed on locations at Colorado's Royal Gorge. Mix poses as a masked outlaw in order to infiltrate the outlaw gang behind the robberies, only to discover that their leader is the secretary (Carl Miller) to the railroad president (William Walling). Along the way, the hero falls in love with the president's daughter (Dorothy Dwan). Considered one of Mix's very best efforts, this well-staged and photographed Western also benefitted from good performances by the smooth Carl Miller and comedy sidekick Harry Grippe. According to the star himself, John Wayne worked as a prop boy on this film.

Product Details

Release Date:	10/18/2018
UPC:	0660845441040
Original Release:	1926
Source:	Grapevine Mod
Language:	English
Sales rank:	29,968

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Tom Mix	Tom Gordon
Dorothy Dwan	Madge Cullen
Will Walling	Eugene Cullen,Eugene Cullen
Harry Gripp	DeLuxe Harry
Carl Miller	Burton Holt
Edward Piel Sr.	Bandit Leader
Curtis McHenry	Cullen's Butler
Harry Grippe	DeLuxe Harry
Curtin McHenry	Cullen's Butler
Tony the Wonder Horse	Actor
John Wayne	Extra
Edward Peil Sr.	Bandit leader

Technical Credits

John Stone

Lewis Seiler	Director,Producer
John Stone	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

The Great K&A Train Robbery is a beautifully balanced, very knowing and nuanced look at an incarnation of the western that was already considered dated in 1926 -- and it pulls off exactly what it means to. Tom Mix gives one of the most enjoyable performances of his career as the upright hero, adding just enough of a slight, knowing sense of humor to his work to make this western work, not only in its own time but today. The rest of the cast is equally adept, finding the precise balance in their work to make it fit perfectly with Mix's portrayal of the upright hero. The only performer who doesn't get to give a nuanced portrayal is also one of the most impressive -- Tony, Mix's horse, who is truly amazing at times in what he does. In his most impressive moment, the horse, seen in wide shot with no human handlers visible anywhere around him, trots down a hill and to a foot-bridge, stops for a moment, and crosses the foot-bridge on his own, all with no instructions or visible handlers. The heroine, Dorothy Dwan, is fetching, and the action is non-stop, and even Harry Grippe as a slightly reprobate sidekick to the hero provides a warm and engaging performance. The result is a fondly, gently nostalgic and enjoyable action-adventure movie, showing off the hero in one of his very best roles and portrayals, and the level to which the western action film had risen on the eve of the coming of sound.

All Movie Guide - Bruce Eder