The Scissors and Glue: How “The Great Train Robbery” Chopped Up and Recreated the Film Industry

In the beginning, cinema was merely a captivating spectacle; the camera was placed in front of the scene, and filming began, without any special cuts or editing. But in 1903, an 11-minute short film, using simple scissors, changed the rules of the game forever. This is the story of “The Great Train Robbery” and the invention of cinema’s most hidden art: Editing

 Before the Scissors: The Single-Shot Era

In the early years of cinema (like the works of the Lumière brothers or even early Georges Méliès), films were generally “single-shot.” This meant the camera was turned on and did not turn off until the end of the scene or the end of the film reel. If a mistake occurred, the scene had to be repeated. During this era, editing was merely about cutting out extra or failed parts, not a tool for narrative storytelling

 The 1903 Revolution: Edwin S. Porter and “The Great Train Robbery

Generally, film historians consider “The Great Train Robbery” to be the first film where deliberate and creative cutting and splicing (montage) was used to construct a narrative

• Film Title: The Great Train Robbery
• Year of Production: 1903
• Director: Edwin S. Porter
• Editing Technique: Although previous films were single-shot, this film was the first where sequences and shots filmed separately were cut using scissors and then joined together with special glue to narrate a complex and continuous story

The Historical Significance of this Editing

Edwin S. Porter implemented a revolutionary idea in this film. He realized he could connect shots taken at different times and locations to create an exciting, fast-paced, and continuous narrative. Porter was able to instantly transport the audience from inside the train station to inside the wagon, and then to outside the train for the chase scene. This was the first successful and vital use of editing as a visual language that drove the story forward. The scissors in Porter’s hands transformed from a mere technical tool into the pen of cinematic storytelling

 The Evolution of Editing: From Scissors to the Montage Bench

Following the great success of “The Great Train Robbery,” filmmakers realized that editing was the heart of cinema. Great subsequent directors like D.W. Griffith brought this language to perfection

• Parallel Editing: Griffith used rapid cuts between two parallel storylines (like a chase scene and the hero approaching for the rescue) to elevate tension and suspense
• Close-Up: He employed editing to use the close-up shot, focusing the viewer directly on the actor’s emotions and away from the surrounding environment

Final Word: Why the First Edit Matters

Today, editing is done digitally with complex software. But the lesson we learn from the scissors and glue of “The Great Train Robbery” is that the essence of the art of editing is still cutting and connecting

With every cut, the editor manipulates time and reality to create the effect the director desires in the audience’s mind. The first cut in film history was not a technical mistake, but the moment cinema was born as The Seventh Art

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