Not to be confused with a 1855 heist that spawned the 1978 Michael Crichton movie of the same name (based on his eponymous 1975 novel), 2013's The Great Train Robbery focuses on the true 1963 theft of over 2,600,000 pounds from a mail train travelling from Glasgow to London. The small-time crooks behind the heist were told the payout would be less than half that, so they definitely weren't prepared for the massive manhunt that followed in the weeks, months, and years to come. Told in two parts---"A Robber's Tale" and "A Copper's Tale, both 90 minutes---this stylish BBC production establishes a potent amount of suspense in short order and, despite a few very small missteps along the way, maintains a firm grip on viewing audiences with this fact-based retelling of the infamous event.

Not surprisingly, the careful planning of the heist dominates "A Robber's Tale", which takes place in the months leading up to August 8, 1963 after Bruce Reynolds (Luke Evans) and his team carefully plan an airport robbery that nets them...well, much less than expected. Hoping to make a name for himself with something much bigger, he learns about a potential train job in which the risk appears minimal and the payout substantial. Another group gets involved because Bruce needs help coordinating some of the trickier parts of the robbery...but with more people on board, the payout is much smaller and the potential for error widens. Obviously, Bruce and his men pull it off, or this made-for-TV film would have both a different title and no second half...and for the most part, it's an entertaining setup.

The perspective shifts dramatically during "A Copper's Tale", though the structure itself is almost identical: one man---in this case, DCS Tommy Butler (Jim Broadbent), nicknamed "One-Day" for his efficient arrest record---learns about the heist and hand-picks a group of men to get the job done. So it's no surprise that this two-part film has a decidedly linear feeling to it: like Akira Kurosawa's High and Low (a personal favorite), the film's clear-cut division yields terrific results. The Great Train Robbery could've easily gone off the rails, had one half of this production not held up its end of the weight; instead, they complement each other quite well and, as a result, it's hard to pick a winner.

If there's one flaw to be found during what amounts to a 180-minute drama, The Great Train Robbery doesn't give us very much detail about the criminals themselves. Aside from Bruce, none of these chaps make much of an impression: sure, they're given occasional scraps of motivation before the robbery and we learn a few tidbits during the subsequent investigation...but without a fully realized group of villains, we can only be partially satisfied with their eventual fate. Also based on Robert Ryan's Signal Red, a 2010 novel that brought new facts about the case to life, this adaptation by Chris Chibnall (Doctor Who, Broadchurch) still remains a thrilling, accessible ride heightened by terrific performances and production design. Acorn Media's DVD package took almost a year to reach Region 1, but those who haven't seen The Great Train Robbery on Netflix during the last six months may want to consider a purchase.

I've reviewed a handful of Acorn releases during the past few years, and their inconsistent video quality was usually the result of dated source materials, incorrect NTSC-PAL conversion, a lack of progressive flagging, or a combination of these three. Thankfully, The Great Train Robbery suffers from none of these problems and looks exceptionally strong from start to finish. Stylishly shot (often in natural light or under cover of darkness), this 1.78:1 transfer yields excellent image detail and the muted color palette appears accurate and well-saturated. Black levels and contrast levels are also pleasing. The production appears to have been shot with top-quality HD video equipment and appears smooth and clean---and I mean that as a compliment---from start to finish. Flagrant digital issues are also no a problem here. Overall, it's a fine effort that fans will enjoy on both sides of the pond. No Blu-ray option, though.

The only audio option on either disc is a Dolby Digital 5.1 track that creates a well-balanced and natural soundstage. This is obviously a front-loaded and dialogue-driven affair, but the film's jazzy soundtrack and some of the more action-oriented scenes drift into the rear channels. The train itself also carries a bit of low end and sounds as imposing as you'd expect. There were very few times where I felt the sound could've been improved, and I'm very happy overall with the presentation we get here. Optional English SDH subtitles have been included during the main feature.

Stylish and suspenseful, The Great Train Robbery is a pleasant surprise that maintains a firm grip on viewers from start to finish, whether they're aware of the outcome or not. Though divided into two 90-minute halves with different directors and (mostly) different cast members, the production feels like one polished long-form production that ties together neatly. Featuring terrific performances, deliberate pacing, and a dark atmosphere that simmers slowly without overindulging itself, this entertaining import will impress new and seasoned viewers alike. Acorn Media's two-disc DVD package only disappoints by not offering a Blu-ray option; even so, the A/V presentation is more than adequate and the two lengthy cast featurettes are also appreciated. Overall, this is a well-rounded package worth picking up, unless you already caught The Great Train Robbery and feel no need to revisit its world. Firmly Recommended.