History of trains in movies

Since the beginning of cinema and movies trains played significant roles on screen. In fact, the first railways were even constructed before cinema has been invented in 1895, although this date has not been confirmed officially.. Right from the beginning trains became the stars of the first movies made, for example in the movie "L'Arrivee d'un train—la Ciotat, 1895". Over 100 years trains played an important role on cinema screens since then. Trains were the ideal setting for robberies in western movies or crime scenes. Railroads also were very useful for action scenes in movies like James Bond or sci-fi action films like "Back to the Future". Finally, they also could be used in historical wartime dramas like "Schindler's List" or war veteran films. Thus, trains were the symbol of freedom, escape and prison to death alike. Over the years the viewers could witness the evolution of trains from steam to high-speed railways used in train movies. Although, steam trains remain the favorite sort of trains being showcased in movies today, as they provide an easy way to let the viewer go back in time when the directors script requires it. Nowadays heritage railways are put on screen for high definition and even 3D movies and you can be sure that steam will keep pace with the innovatory means of train filming.

Overview of train movies

Unstoppable, 2010, Chris Pine, Denzel Washington

Murder on the Orient Express, 2009, David Suchet

Transsiberian, 2008, Woody Harrelson, Ben Kingsley

The Assassination of Jesse James, 2008, Casey Affleck, Andrew Dominik

The Darjeeling Limited, 2007, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman

The Waiting Room, 2007, Anne-Marie Duff, Ralf Little

Look Both Ways, 2005, William McInnes, Justine Clarke

Tickets, 2005, Carlo Delle Piane, Valeria Bruni

Polar Express, 2004, Tom Hanks, Daryl Sabara

The Station Agent, 2003, Peter Dinklage, Paul Benjamin

Festival Express, 2003, Documentary

Station Jim, 2001, George Cole, Charlie Creed-Miles

The Yards, 2000, Mark Wahlberg, Joaquin Phoenix

Wild Wild West, 1999, Will Smith, Kevin Kline

Planes, Trains and Automobiles, 1997, Steve Martin, John Candy

Mission: Impossible, 1996, Tom Cruise, Jon Voight

Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, 1995, Steven Segal, Morris Chestnut

Money Train, 1995, Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson

Narrow Margin, 1990, Gene Hackman, Anne Archer

Back to the Future Part 3 , 1990, Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd

Throw Momma from the Train, 1987, Danny DeVito, Billy Crystal

Night Train to Venice, 1986, Hugh Grant, Malcolm McDowell

Runaway Train, 1985, Jon Voight, Eric Roberts

The Grey Fox, 1982, Richard Farnsworth, Jackie Burroughs

Terror on a Train, 1980

The Great Train Robbery, 1979, Sean Connery, Lesley-Anne Down

Avalanche Express, 1979, Robert Shaw, Lee Marvin

The lady vanishes, 1979, Elliott Gould, Cybill Shepherd

Silver Streak, 1976, Richard Pryor, Gene Wilder

The Cassandra Crossing, 1976, Sophia Loren, Richard Harris

Murder on the Orient Express, 1974, Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three, 1974, Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw

The Sting, 1973, Paul Newman, Robert Redford

The Train Robbers, 1973, John Wayne, Ann-Margret

Emperor of the North, 1973, Lee Marvin, Ernest Bornine

Boxcar Bertha, 1972, Charles Bronson, Ben Johnson

The French Connection, 1971, Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider

Once Upon a Time in the West, 1969, Henry Fonda, Claudia Cardinale

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, 1969, Paul Newman, Robert Redford

Once Upon The Time in the West, 1968, Charles Bronson, Henry Fonda

The Professionals, 1966, Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin

Closely Watched Trains, 1966, Vaclav Neckar

Doctor Zhivago, 1965, Omar Sharif, Julie Christie

Von Ryan's Express, 1965, Frank Sinatra, Trevor Howard

The Train, 1964, Burt Lancaster, Paul Scofield

A Hard Day's Night, 1964, The Beatles

From Russia With Love, 1963, Sean Connery, Robert Shaw

North by Northwest, 1959, Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint

North West Frontier, 1959, Lauren Bacall, Kenneth More

Some Like It Hot, 1959, Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon

It happened to Jane, 1959, Doris Day, Jack Lemmon

The Bridge on the River Kwai, 1957, William Holden, Alex Guiness

The Great Locomotive Chase, 1956, Fess Parker, Slim Pickens

Overload Pacific, 1954, Jock Mahoney, Peggie Castle

Indiscretion of an American wife, 1953, Jennifer Jones, Montgomery Clift

Terror On A Train, 1953, Glen Ford, Anne Vernon

The Narrow Margin, 1952, Charles McGraw, Marie Windsor

Strangers on a Train, 1951, Farley Granger, Ruth Roman

Santa Fe, 1951, Randolph Scott, Janis Carter

Mrs. O'Malley and Mr. Malone, 1950, Marjorie Main, James Whitmore

Rock Island Trail, 1950, Forrest Tucker, Adele Mara

Union Station, 1950, William Holden, Nancy Olson

The Third Man, 1949, Orson Welles, Joseph Cotten

Canadian Pacific, 1949, Randolph Scott, Jane Wyatt

Whispering Smith, 1948, Alan Ladd, Robert Preston

Terror By Night, 1946, Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce

Night Train to Memphis, 1946, Allan Lane, Roy Acuff

The Harvey Girls, 1946, Judy Garland, John Hodiak

Brief Encounter, 1945, Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard

Lady on a Train, 1945, Deanna Durbin, Ralph Bellamy

Saratoga Trunk, 1945 , Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman

Shadow Of A Doubt, 1943, Teresa Wright, Joseph Cotten

Spy Train, 1943, Richard Travis, Catherine Craig

Grand Central Murder, 1942, Van Heflin, Patricia Dane

The Major and the Minor, 1942, Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland

Broadway Limited, 1941, Victor McLaglen, Patsy Kelly

The Ghost Train, 1941, Arthur Askey, Richard Murdoch

The lone Wolf takes a Chance, 1941, Warren William, June Storey, Henry Wilcoxon

Dumbo, 1941, Sterling Holloway, Cliff Edwards

Night Train to Munich, 1940, Rex Harrison, Margaret Lockwood

Jesse James, 1939, Tyrone Power, Henry Fonda

Union Pacific, 1939, Barbara Stanwyck, Joel McCrea

The Lady Vanishes, 1938, Margaret Lockwood, Michael Redgrave

The Toast Of New York, 1937, Edward Arnold, Cary Grant

Twentieth Century, 1934, John Barrymore, Carole Lombard

Murder in the Private Car, 1934, Charles Ruggles, Una Merkel

Shanghai Express, 1932, Marlene Dietrich, Anna May Wong

Union Depot, 1932, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Joan Blondell

Danger Lights, 1930, Louis Wolheim, Robert Armstrong

The General, 1927, Buster Keaton, Marion Mack

Now or Never, 1921, Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis