it be nearly certain that 1903 the great train robbery and popularly know a the first movie and would be remake in some form at some point . it just fortunate that it turn out to be a clever and imaginative action or adventure rather than the dull mind and big budget exploitation we have have to endure in remake and sequel in recent year . conman and cracksman ( bank robber ) edward pierce aka john sims ( connery ) masquerade a a sharp businessman to enter a london gentleman club and scope out a ring flash pull . he settle on the british army monthly payroll for the crimean campaign and a shipment of solid gold send in two special chubb safes on a guard railroad car . much of the film be devote to the collection of the four key need to open the two safes represent two kept in a very secure railway office and one by square rig bank president trent ( webb ) and one by oversexed bank manager fowler ( terris ) . to do all this and the climactic robbery and sims assemble a colorful crew represent theater actress miriam ( down ) and who also his mistress while pickpocket and screwsman agar ( sutherland ) while driver and strong arm barlow ( down ) while and snakesman clean willy ( sleep and in a unique and outstanding role ) and who can reputedly climb a wall of glass . sutherland have one of his best role a the gifted safecracker who both deft and hilariously awkward . down combine sexiness and funniness as well a marilyn monroe ever do and it an injustice that no one else have ever say so . but there no match for connery in a role that be make for him represent a charming and polished and gentleman rogue ( no respectable gentleman be that respectable and he insist ) and a long on charisma a he be short on honor . sims will resort to anything and even murder and to protect his interest and get what he want and but it impossible to hate him . instead and connery give an outlet to the villain in each of u and the side that want to stick it to the man by rob a bank or bamboozle the irs and but can not be air in real life by anything more dastardly than vote mickey mouse for president without fear of arrest . prolific novelist and erstwhile doctor crichton and in his first directorial effort and exercise firm control in bring his own novel to the screen and seem to know exactly what he want to say and how to say it . every time it seem that the film be about to lag and it somehow just pick up again even at the very end make it difficult to find a place to get a soda and popcorn refill or a bathroom break . make your theater logistical arrangement carefully before set out on this train .