Breakheart Pass (1976)

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  December 16, 2010

  chaleins

  Trains, murders, and a tough guy - Charles Bronson. What, another 'Taking of Pelham 1-2-3?' Nope, wrong. Breakheart Pass is a western that actually features action on a train, not just a train full of bad guys pulling into Dead End Gulch. The movie adaptation was based upon the ... read morenovel by famous yarnster Alistair MacLean, who also wrote the screenplay.
  
  An unusual murder mystery, Breakheart Pass has Charles Bronson, and old-school badass, who steps out of his usual tough guy role, and plays a dangerous murderer. Wait, I guess that's not so different from his usual roles! However, in this film, he shows some of that craggy charisma he did in films like the Magnificent Seven. In fact, it's probably the most lines he ever had in a movie.
  
  Set in the 1870's, aboard an army supply train in the Old West, the film is noteworthy because it's quite different from the usual gunslingers and range wars fare. Bronson plays his character with the usual grim-faced, gravel-voiced skill, and he's surprisingly effective here. The film also has a load of familiar old film stars supporting him in various roles, and they all look right at home in this western. The mystery of what's going on is slowly unraveled as the train chuffs slowly through the snowbound wilderness. There's some very cool photography, and the fact that it was shot aboard an authentic steam train in some beautiful locations elevates it from the humdrum. Although the pacing is a little slow, it does move along, sort of at a 1870 steam train pace. Unlike static western town scenarios, this murder mystery action western has some great scenery and action on and nearly off the train. The characters are straight out of the book with a few modifications, and they're all distinct and interesting. Charles Durning, Richard Crenna and Ben Jonson put on their Western personas here, and have fun with it.
  
  The result is an entertaining yarn about the old west, and there's even a pretty damsel (a still youthful Jill Ireland - Bronson's wife). It's a straightforward script, with good guys, bad guys, and those caught in between. It's up to you to figure out who really is who they say they are.

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  November 26, 2008

  patrickdol

  This is a very intriguing film. With some twists and mystery. Bronson is cool as cool can be, but most of the supportings hold their own weight. To be corny, this film is just a fun effing train ride. With an incredible theme song by Jerry Goldsmith.

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  May 2, 2008

  DrrnHarr

  Novelist Alistair MacLean, whose normal area of expertise is World War II thrillers such as "Where Eagles Dare" and "The Guns of Navarone", took a break from his wartime suspense novels to write an American western.
  Here Charles Bronson plays a mysterious man held captive on bo... read moreard a train rolling through the bleak winter wilderness towards Breakheart Pass. Accused of a crime, all is not as it seems for Bronson's character Deacon, is he really a criminal or an undercover agent? With gun runners, government agents, deceitful officials and Indians, this action thriller really thrills and one could do worse than watch this on a rainy afternoon.
  Highly recommended.

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  September 24, 2007

  blindpilgrim

  Not as good as the other two MacLean movies I've seen, it suffered from a mediocre director. Bronson made a fine hero though.

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  July 3, 2007

  futsin

  I'm not fond of the Native Americans' protrayal in the finale, but nevertheless - this is a great mystery/spy thriller set in the wild west on a train. Great stuff from Alister's book and great execution of it!

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• Charles Bronson as John Deakin
• Ben Johnson as Nathan Pearce
• Jill Ireland as Marcia Scoville
• Richard Crenna as Gov. Richard Fairchild
• Charles Durning as Frank O'Brien
• Roy Jenson as Banlon
• Casey Tibbs as Jackson
• Archie Moore as Carlos
• Joe Kapp as Henry

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