Breakheart Pass

Starring:Charles Bronson, Ben Johnson, Richard Crenna, Jill Ireland, Charles Durning, Ed Lauter, Bill McKinney, David Huddleston, Roy Jenson, Rayford Barnes, Scott Newman, Robert Tessier, Joe Kapp, Archie Moore, Sally Kirkland, Sally Kemp, Eddie Little Sky, Keith McConnell, John Mitchum, Read Morgan
Director: Tom Gries
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Adventure movies are hard to come by these days--they've been replaced by action movies, which favor fast cars and big explosions over the dangers of nature and explorations of human character. Breakheart Pass stars Charles Bronson as a mysterious petty criminal on the Western frontier. After being caught cheating at cards, he's arrested and held on a military transport train heading through the Rocky Mountains toward a fort on the coast, a fort stricken with diphtheria and in desperate need of the medical supplies on the train. But there's a conspiracy afoot--people on the train keep getting killed or disappearing--and the situation at the fort isn't what it seems either. Alistair MacLean adapted the screenplay from his own novel, and it's a well-plotted, efficient piece of work, made more compelling by a cast of solid character actors, ranging from Charles Durning (The Sting, Tootsie), Richard Crenna (Body Heat), and Ben Johnson (Oscar winner for The Last Picture Show) to guys whose faces you'll recognize, even if their names don't sound familiar. Breakheart Pass isn't The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, and Bronson isn't Humphrey Bogart, but the movie is a lean adventure flick with an outstanding score by Jerry Goldsmith. (Trivia buffs will catch Sam Elliot and Sally Kirkland in bit parts.) --Bret Fetzer

Description

Charles Bronson (The Magnificent Seven, Death Wish) is at his dynamic, heroic best inthis suspenseful action-packed mystery-western based on the best-selling novel by Alistair MacLean (Where Eagles Dare). With a powerful cast that includes Ben Johnson (The Last Picture Show), Richard Crenna (First Blood), Jill Ireland (Death Wish II) and Charles Durning (Tootsie), Breakheart Pass throws open the throttle for runaway excitement! At the height of the frontier era, a locomotive races through the Rocky Mountains on a classified mission to a remote Army post. But one by one, the passengers are being murdered! Their only hope is John Deakin (Bronson), a mysterious prisoner-in-transit who must fight for his life - and the lives ofeveryone on the train - as he uncovers a deadly secret that explodes in a torrent of shocking revelations, explosive brawls and blazing gun battles.

Customer Reviews:

There `s a lot of action.......2007-03-20

A sharp script conforms a stupendous Western thriller when a mysterious prisoner who hates any kind of violence is carried I a train with other intriguing characters. Some unnatural deaths occur and an unexpected gun shot will make you to pay full attention in this curious but smart movie.

Passable picture., but never a classic.

Catch the Governor's Train to Fort Humboldt!.......2007-03-01

Alistair MacLean's western adventure novel brought to the screen with an admirable cast. Charles Bronson stars in the lead role as John Deacon, a doctor wanted for murder. Ben Johnson plays Texas Ranger Nathan Pearce. Jill Ireland, Bronson's real time wife, stars as the female lead Marsha Scoville. Richard Crenna plays the secret carrying Governor Fairchild. Charles Durning portrays the Governor's aid O'Brian. Ed Lauter plays Sergeant Bellows. Rounding out this cast is the boxer Archie Moore as the company cook. They all come together for an intrigue filled 200 mile train ride to Fort Humboldt, to deliver much needed medical supplies. As with all of MacLean's work nothing is as it seems and this is especially true aboard this suspense train. All the ingredients are there for top notched action and this film delivers the goods. Bronson's puts in one of his better performances and the rest of the cast sell the story very well. This movie definitely bridges the two genres of Western and Conspiracy Thriller.

MacLean wrote the screenplay and the movie stays relatively well with his book. This is one of those times where it is better to watch the movie before reading the book. Filmed in Northern Idaho on the winding trestle filled short line Camas Prairie Railroad, it is well worth adding to the action movie collection.

My All-Time Favorite Western.......2007-01-06

I remember going to the drive-in with my dad (Neal Clark Reynolds, a top 500 reviewer on Amazon), where this movie was the second of a double header. I was not really interested in seeing a Western, but Dad talked me into watching it, and I was hooked through watching it.

The back-drop is the West, but this is a pure adventure/mystery. It is based on Alistair MacLean's excellent novel (I think MacLean worked on the screenplay). There are changes: there is a triangle between John Deakin (Charles Bronson), Gov. Fairchild (Richard Crenna) and Marcia Scoville (Jill Ireland) in the movie; in the book, Marcia was the niece of the governor, eliminating the triangle facet. Also, the ending differs between the two. But for the most part, it is faithful to the book.

This is an exciting movie, with some plot-twists and hidden identities that would keep you guessing.

A Mystery/Western well done.......2006-12-16

This movie is more a mystery/ whodunit that happens to have a western backdrop. Bronson is excellent in the lead as a mysterious petty criminal and the whole cast is well chosen.Not as much action as some other Bronson flicks as the mystery is the priority. 4.5 Stars.

No Guns of Navarone.......2006-08-03

This movie was OK, but totally formulaic...a cast full of familiar faces and I always enjoy watching Ben Johnson. Suitable to pass the time but not particularly memorable...you've seen it before in different settings and will see it again.

Average customer rating:

There `s a lot of action
Catch the Governor's Train to Fort Humboldt!
My All-Time Favorite Western
A Mystery/Western well done
No Guns of Navarone

Breakheart Pass [Region 2]
Starring: Charles Bronson , Ben Johnson , Richard Crenna , Jill Ireland , and Charles Durning
Director: Tom Gries
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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