There’s more than one fantastical, true-to-life train theft in Britain’s past to keep historians busy. But the original was an ingenious 1855 caper that was the first robbery on record from a moving train.
Michael Crichton’s novel “The Great Train Robbery” told the tale in intricate detail; he then made a movie version, with Sean Connery as the wily, elegant crook Edward Pierce.
The safecracking team’s goal was a gold shipment that went from London banks to the payroll officers overseeing a war in the Crimea. Donald Sutherland and Lesley Anne Down help Pierce lift the keys he needs to open the safe – but how will he get inside a locked, guarded car, and how will he get out with all that metal?
There’s one risqué moment if you’re worried about your younger children, a pre-sex scene full of double entendres. Other than that, it’s a solid PG entertainment for kids who can follow a plot thread.
For parents entranced by a good train heist story and wanting more, there’s the R-rated New York special “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three,” with Walter Matthau trying to keep things sane amid a subway ransom scheme.
Each Tuesday, Michael Booth finds a movie gem for families in search of rewarding entertainment. Reach him at mbooth@denverpost.com; find the Screen Team blog at denverpostbloghouse.com.
OTHER RELEASES | These DVDs are also available today
The Addams Family Volume One
The Astaire and Rogers
Collection: Volume 2
Batman Beyond: Season 2
Beat Angel
Bewitched: Season 4
Body Heat: Deluxe Edition
The Facts of Life: Season 3
Father Christmas
Greg the Bunny: The Best of the Film Parodies
Hands Over the City
The Harry Smith Project:
Anthology of American Folk
Music Revisited
Heavv Metal: Louder Than Life
Invitation to a Suicide
Justice League Unlimited Season 1
The Kid & I
Kiss Me Again
The L Word: Season 3
La Commune (Paris, 1871)
Looking for Kitty
Mini’s First Time
Monsignor Renard
The O.C.: Season 3
Pizza
The Reading Room
Rolling Family
Saw II Special Edition
Slings & Arrows: Season 2
The Snowman
Sweetie
Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior
Wings: Season 3
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WHAT WE’RE WATCHING | This week’s top DVDs
SALES
1. The Little Mermaid
2. X-Men: The Last Stand
3. Curious George
4. The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
5. X-Men: Trilogy
RENTALS
1. X-Men: The Last Stand 20th Century Fox
2. The Lake House
3. The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
4. Thank You for Smoking
5. Lucky Number Slevin
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