Product Details

• Actors: Lee Marvin, Robert Shaw, Linda Evans, Maximilian Schell, Joe Namath
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: January 1, 1998
• Average Customer Review: 1.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302732751
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #239,464 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Excitement rides the rails across Europe as an undercover U.S. agent escorts a defecting scientist-with a renegade Soviet general in pursuit. Robert Shaw, Lee Marvin and Linda Evans star. Year: 1979 Director: Monte Hellman, Mark Robson Starring: Robert Shaw, Lee MArvin, Linda Evans

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Okay story but,...., July 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Avalanche Express [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This could have been a good movie if Robert Shaw hadn't died while they were making it. In Leonard Maltin's review he says that most of Robert Shaw's voice had to be re dubbed. As far as i could hear ALL of it was. It was just too hard to enjoy because it obviously wasn't Robert Shaw's Voice. There are some good performances in this film though. And a good plot. But if you're planning to buy it because you're a fan of Robert Shaw,...Prepared to be dissapointed. I'm sure he gave a good performance but the emotions displayed by the actor who dubbed him were lacking. Sad. Could have been a classic movie if it weren't for that.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The Word "Mediocre" was Made for this Film, November 20, 2011

By 

Gary P. Cohen (Staten Island, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Avalanche Express (DVD)

One of my favorite adventure writers of the 1970s was Colin Forbes, and this was one of my favorite Forbes' novels. The film version has a fine cast but is a highly mediocre affair.
The plot concerns a high-level Soviet defector that a group of American agents must get out of Switzerland before the Soviets can kill him. They decide to try to get him out on a railroad train that the Soviets will do anything to derail including creating an avalanche (hence the title of this film.) The train is portrayed by a highly unconvincing miniature.
The Soviet defector is played by Robert Shaw in his last role. He does not look well and died after shooting was completed. Most of his dialogue appears (poorly) dubbed. The lead agent is portrayed by a bored-looking Lee Marvin. He is assisted by gorgeous Linda Evans, (this film was made right before "Dynasty.") Evans is also Marvin's nominal love interest and she appears way too young for him. Mike Connors is also on hand in a poorly-written role as Marvin's boss (I think.) Connors had just come off 8 years in the highly successful "Mannix" series. You would think he could have returned to films in a better role than this. Maximilian Schell is the main Russian baddie, a rather ridiculous character and Horst Bucholz (one of the original "Magnificent 7") is also wasted as a good guy who comes aboard near the end of this film. And finally theres "Broadway" Joe Namath as another American agent, wandering around is a large cowboy hat.
The many shootouts in this film are totally uninteresting and unexciting. The music is terrible and constantly swells up to punctuate each serious or action scene. As stated before, the miniatures of the train being menaced by the avalanche are also totally unconvincing.
I really liked most of the actors in this film: Marvin, Shaw, Evans, Connors. However this is just a totally mediocre action film. The Director, Mark Robson, did much better the previous decade in another action film regarding a train, the great "Von Ryan's Express" in 1965.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good mix of Lee Marvin, Linda Evans & Robert Shaw, July 29, 1999

By 

Mary (PA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Avalanche Express [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This film has a good plot and real characters. The scenes of Milan and Europe in winter are good. Dysktra's avalanche special effects are not quite Star Wars but very good. If you like trains, travel with Cold War under tones, you like this movie.