Breakheart Pass (Special Edition)

While I agree with other 4- and 5-star reviewers that the plot, acting and video quality of Breakheart Pass is very good, this review is from a railfan's viewpoint regarding the accuracy and value of the railroad footage. When Trains Magazine publishes a special edition in January, 2010, naming its choice of the 100 all-time best train movies, I would expect Breakheart Pass to rank near the top. The exterior photography is excellent. The train trip occupies 100% of the story, from the opening to the closing scene. More than 90% of the scenes that do not show the exterior of the train take place inside the train.Weaknesses: There is only one train involved. Although the trip supposedly takes two days, no other trains are met or passed. Only once in the plot does the train stop to take on water and only one other time does the steam locomotive require a fuel stop (for wood). The year in which the action takes place is not specified, but the train equipment appears too modern (early 20th Century rather than late 19th Century) for a wood-burning locomotive to be appropriate. The brown and tan paint on the locomotive seems out of place, but only during the opening station stop at Myrtle is this a distraction. Apparently the train is expected to run through wilderness for two days without an engine crew change. It does stop overnight so that the engineer can sleep for "not more than six hours". It is not realistic to imagine a railroad so isolated that it has no support facilities.Filmed on the Camas Prairie Railroad southeast of Lewiston, Idaho, the movie railroad is called the Wasatch & Nevada R.R. and although not identified, the story presumably takes place in Utah. As such, mountain scenes perhaps should have more Aspen and fewer evergreen trees.Based on the percentage of train footage, Breakheart Pass ranks favorably with the likes of Emperor of the North, The Train, El Ultimo Tren, The Titfield Thunderbolt and Tough Guys for railroad content. Plus it is packaged around a good "who done it" mystery yarn.

Bronson is good as is the plot

I have Breakheart Pass on VHS tape. I bought the Blu-Ray to replace the tape. I like trains and Charles Bronson movies. This movie was made while I was attending college. The location for a lot of the train shots was filmed about 40 miles away. The papers had coverage of the film making so it carries some special interest for me.

In my humble opinion, Bronson has never been better than in this superb movie version of Alistair MacLean's outstanding novel "Breakheart Pass" with MacClean also writing the movie script. Mystery, suspense and action abound in this thriller packed with a top cast of well known actors such as Richard Crenna and Charles Durning. The taut drama plays out as one by one passengers of this doomed train disappear, and slowly it is revealed that no one is who they claim to be, that the mission of the passengers and military is not as reported, the cargo is suspiciously odd for the stated mission, and that something unexpected awaits them as they move closer to Breakheart Pass. Jill Ireland, in one of her best performances, is an unknowing pawn and soon finds it difficult to know who to trust. Bronson's understated performance gradually builds to an explosive expose of the train's mission and the true motives of the passengers as he races to try to stop the secret mission and turn the tide of the planned attack awaiting them as the train reaches Breakheart Pass. I first saw this movie after its 1975 release and it has remained one of my favorite suspense movies. Although the time period is in the 1800s, it is not easily classified as a western. This movie is a top-notch suspenseful thriller with plenty of action, superb acting and a great cast. One of MacClean's best creations.

Not your typical western movie. Alistair MacLean was known for writing thrillers involving spies and intelligent supervillains, usually with some twists where the hero is not who he seems and the villains motives are not what they seem. If you've seen Die Hard - that's basically an Alistair MacLean story. So you have what looks like a western, but it's not really. Films from this time period didn't treat the audience like idiots, so you have to pay attention. If you are a bit confused about later developments, go back and watch the bar scene again at the beginning of the film and you'll see it in a whole new light. Not the best film adaptation ever, but it's serviceable enough.

My wife and I saw this as a sneak preview back in 1975. It came on after The killer Elite. It was getting late and when I saw it was a western with Charles Bronson i thought I'd give it a shot. Boy were WE glad. This is a TERRIFIC western, murder-mystery thriller. The first two-thirds keep you guessing as to what is going on. Who's doing the killings. Why. The last third is fast-paced, exciting action.The film commentary is a nice extra.We've seem this, at least, a half dozen times and will be watching it again this week.

Excellent,

Collection.

昔テレビ映画で見たチャールズブロンソン　と美人奥様の出演のミステリーとにかくジェリーゴールドスミスの音楽がかっこいいです。当時の電信を使ったモールス信号！？の通信方法が興味深いですね、高架橋と言っても、19世紀の木造建築もレトロで懐かしい　CGもない時代の本物を走らせた蒸気機関車も主役デスね。

Superb movie starring one of the all time great action/tough guy stars, Charles Bronson. Plausible storyline, without the superhero nonsense. Just a determined and well experienced lawman battling the bad guys to do what's right. I love Charles Bronson flicks and this one is a classic. Fantastic scenery and camera work. Realistic props and costumes. A pleasure to sit for two hours and watch a classic movie that was well crafted and well scripted. Highly recommend.

Enjoyed the film,dvd in great condition and a reasonable price .