Riden' the Rails (in long red flannel Underwear)

This past year I read a very entertaining book by Michael Crichton, a now deceased author, one of the very best.  He wrote this 1975 novel, based on a real life 1855 incident in London, titled The Great Train Robbery.  I learned he also wrote a screenplay first released in England in 1978. It co-starred one of my two or three favorite actors, Donald Sutherland. Sutherland played the petty crook and pickpocket Robert Agar. The film also starred Sean Connery as Edward Pierce, the main character. The production company of this near classic was Starling Films and was distributed by United Artists. 

Pierce, a well known 19th century socialite, was never convicted of conniving to steal a very large gold shipment from a major railroad in Britain. He had dreamed up and elaborate scheme to get his hands on that treasure.

Part of the procedure was to smuggle his acquaintance, Agar, into the baggage car where the gold was stored. Agar was convinced to hide in a coffin which would be placed inside with the mail, packages and, most importantly, the gold shipment. Pierce secured a place in one of the elegant private train car cabins. 

Later, Pierce climbed out the window of his cabin, made his way walking rapidly on top of the train cars back to the baggage car. By doing do he was covered from head to toe in the smoke soot of the engine. His clothes were torn and ruined.

Eventually, he was able to break into the baggage area from the outside, sliding the door open he joined Agar, holding the attendant who was guarding the gold by gun point. The crooks replaced the gold with lead bars. They then threw the bags of gold out through the train doors onto the ground at a predetermined place in the country, before arriving into town, their destination. They would return later to retrieve their bounty.

It dawns on Pierce that he can not return to his cabin in his ruined clothes. He tells Agar to give up his clothes so their theft can be completed without drawing suspicion. Hagar curses Pierce but then reluctantly strips out of his attire, down to his red union suit. 

 

 

With help from Agar which involves using a rope inside the baggage car, Pierce exits the area, closing the door and heads back with Agar's clothes bundled under his arm:

Assisted by the guard, Agar climbs back into his coffin, wearing now only his long red underwear,

 

 he lays down and awaits the end of the line while the coffin lid is closed down on him.

My thanks to Starling Films and United Artists for producing and the actors for acting in a very entertaining film.