The Arlberg Railway (1906)

The Arlberg Railway (1906) poster

In 1906, the Arlberg Railway, which connects the Austrian cities of Innsbruck and Bludenz, is the only east-west mountain railway in Austria. This 340-second "ghost railroad ride" shows the view from the back of a train, though I'm not sure if it's heading east or west. This kind of film, in vogue at the time, is an intermediate form of short reality, which often showed a train engaging in a bend, and a feature documentary. Its editing is live, linear and temporal, and the cuts are very apparent. Indeed, the choices of where to place the cuts seem to have avoided the less populated stretches. There are plenty of buildings to see, even when the train is not at the station.

Director: Frank Ormiston-Smith
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 6 min
Release Date:
Production: Charles Urban Trading Company
Country: United Kingdom
Language: No Language
Original Language: xx

Keywords

railway, pioneer cinema

More Films by Director: Frank Ormiston-Smith
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Arlberg Railway about?
In 1906, the Arlberg Railway, which connects the Austrian cities of Innsbruck and Bludenz, is the only east-west mountain railway in Austria. This 340-second "ghost railroad ride" shows the view from the back of a train, though I'm not sure if it's heading east or west. This kind of film, in vogue at the time, is an intermediate form of short reality, which often showed a train engaging in a bend, and a feature documentary. Its editing is live, linear and temporal, and the cuts are very apparent. Indeed, the choices of where to place the cuts seem to have avoided the less populated stretches. There are plenty of buildings to see, even when the train is not at the station.
Who directed The Arlberg Railway?
The Arlberg Railway was directed by Frank Ormiston-Smith.
How long is The Arlberg Railway?
The Arlberg Railway has a runtime of 6m (6 minutes).
What genre is The Arlberg Railway?
The Arlberg Railway is a Documentary film.
Where was The Arlberg Railway produced?
The Arlberg Railway was produced in United Kingdom.