Customer Reviews

Breakheart Pass

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Breakheart Pass is a suprisingly good mystery/thriller from a genre you might not normally expect; a western. Based on the novel by Alistair MacLean, the movie begins with a train loaded with troops and medicine stopping in a small town called Myrtle City. The train takes on two passengers, John Deakim, a gambler accused of murder, and Nathan Pearce, a U.S. Marshal. It is revealed the train is traveling to Fort Humboldt to deliver some much needed medical supplies. But soon, dead bodies start appearing, and we realize something more sinister is going on. I was suprised by how much I enjoyed this movie. There are enough plot twists and suprises to keep you entertained, and several good action scenes. Throw in a very catchy Jerry Goldsmith score and how can you lose?

I've said this in other reviews of Bronson movies, but moviegoers often assume Charles Bronson is a one-trick pony, that he can't play anything other than his Paul Kersey Death Wish character, but here is another role that proves otherwise. Bronson plays John Deakim, a gambler accused of murder who knows more than he is letting on during the train trip. Ben Johnson co-stars as U.S. Marshal Pearce, a deputy marshal who finds his way onto the train with Deakim. The strong supporting cast includes Richard Crenna as Governor Fairchild, the governor of the unnamed territory, Jill Ireland as Marica Scoville, a young woman visiting her father, Charles Durning as O'Brien, the railroad represenative, Ed Lauter as Major Claremont, the officer in charge, and Bill McKinney as Peabody, a travelling reverend. The DVD offers a pretty nice looking widescreen presentation and trailers. Don't judge this book by its cover. I didn't think a murder mystery western on a train sounded very good, but I really enjoyed this movie. So for a good mystery/thriller western with a great cast, a good Goldsmith score, and plenty of twists and turns, check out Breakheart Pass!

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.

This is a very intruiging and effective action thriller on board a train. Charles Bronson star's as John Deakin who is arrested for cheating at poker. But Bronson in reality is an undercover agent. The train is occupied by Richard Crenna who is (Governor Fairchild) , Jill Ireland who is on her way to visiting her father , Ben Johnson who is a U.S. Marshall and Ed Lauter who is the Army Major. The plot of this film is this train is carrying medical supplies to an army outpost in Utah and also carries many army soldiers who are to replace soldiers who have been wiped out by a medical disease. However as People start disappearing and dead bodies turn up Bronson begins snooping around and discovers a plot that is in reality a way for the train to get to the Utah outpost so that awaiting Indians can take over boxes of medical supplies but in reality the boxes contain rifles and ammunition and there is a group of outlaws also waiting at the outpost who plan to steal Gold and Silver which happens to be distributed through that particular outpost. There are some holes in the plot but the film is full of action and suspense along with a terrific musical score. The beautiful snow covered landscapes for which the train travels through is astonishing. Great acting from Bronson ,Jill Ireland who was never one of the greatest leading ladies so to speak actually does a very good job here , Robert Tessier who Plays the Lead Outlaw (Calhoun) is solid and Ed Lauter really standsout and he has always been an underated actor who has never really gotten his Due.There is a Fight scene involving Bronson and Former Boxing Champion Archie Moore who plays the train's Chef . This fight scene Between Bronson and Moore takes place on top of the moving train covered with snow and is without a doubt one of the greatest fight scenes you will ever see.

I first saw this movie in early 1976 when released, and have viewed it many other times. Also being a fan of Alistair MacLean's writings, have the book in my library. As most movie fans could guess, significant differences exit between the story in book form and the story brought to the screen. One item especially, in the book two train cars hold nothing but the cavalry horses later needed, but on the screen horses have no role to play in the action aboard the train. And that is interesting because Mr. MacLean wrote the screenplay. However, both the book and the movie, each in it's own venue are still very interesting and entertaining. Was Mr. MacLean rewriting his own novel or did they not want to contend with horses while filming? Who can say, but it works out fine either way.

A couple standout items for me in this movie: the muscial score from Jerry Goldsmith helps to heighten the action and acting performances. Another item is the photography, which captures the deep ravines and tall trail tressels, all backdropped by the green trees and scenic views. A very well managed production, a delight for the eyes of the viewer.

A mystery set in the west using ole #9 tall stack locomotive is a movie almost anyone can enjoy. Especially since so many of these actors have now died. After 30 some years, this picture is still an enjoyable parcel of entertainment for movie viewers.

Watch it and enjoy.

Semper Fi.

this is one of those movies that i came to love in the 70's,a great score,well written,acted,and directed.
bronson is a small time crook who is caught and put aboard a train going through the rocky's to take help to a fort that is being hit with a plague. but all isn't as it seems and bronson is going to find out what is going on. the mood of the movie is great and the passager's start to die and disapear one by one.
one of bronson's better movies and a fun western adventure. check it out.

Trust no one and believe only half of what you see. At least that's what the trailer said. This is an odd little action film that takes place aboard a train full of mysterious characters that traverses snow covered landscapes (beautifully photographed by Lucien Ballard) and leaves bodies along the way. Charles Bronson plays the stoic John Deakin a secret service agent who tries to uncover the plot hidden aboard the train to Breakheart Pass. Once again director Tom Gries delivers a good action Western. The good cast includes Ben Johnson, Richard Crenna, Jill Ireland, Charles Durning and Ed Lauter. However I thought the real star of this film was Jerry Goldsmith's score. The powerful theme he composed for this movie advances the plot like a runaway steam engine.

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 board 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.

I was given this movie as a Christmas present this past year by my mother, who knows I am a huge Charles Bronson fan. Sadly, it took me quite a while to watch this film until the other day. I have to say that I was very impressed. I for one love Mr. Bronson's vigilant films and "Breakheart Pass" isn't a gritty urban revenge film, but isn't a total departure from the Charlie we all know and love.

As for the rest of the cast, "Breakheart Pass" had Richard Crenna, Ed Lauter (who was also in Death Wish 3), Charles Durning and Jill Ireland (Bronson's wife and in many of his other films). Ultimately, the acting in this movie was really good.

The premise of the movie is rather simple; a train is bringing medical supplies to an area that is infested with disease. On this locomotive are a Governor and other high status individuals whose mission is to bring these medical supplies to aid the land and replace the soldiers who fell to the disease.

Now you might be wondering where good old Charlie fits in, well he plays a (somewhat) scoundrel who is wanted by law enforcement in San Francisco and since the train is going that way, the "good Samaritans" figure they will bring him to "the law" in California. Yet during the journey, people start turning up dead. This sets the stage for a great movie.

I will admit, the movie starts out a bit slow but picks up quickly. I was surprised how this movie was more mystery than western. Of course the movie has that western flare due to the time period, but I felt the mystery really drove this motion picture.

There was lots of adventure and action, also a couple of dummies (which in many cases looks better than CGI in modern movies). Also I felt this movie was quite brutal despite the PG rating.....times have changed. Look for the fight sequence on top of the train, one of the best scenes in the film. I would love to know just where this movie was filmed, absolutely beautiful landscape.

Overall "Breakheart Pass" was a great mystery, a great western, a great adventure and a great performance by Charles Bronson. Now if only I could be a smooth as Charlie B, I wouldn't have to work full time.

Charles Bronson plays a convicted murdered who is being transported on a military train that is carrying medical supplies to an Army fort that is in the midst of a diphtheria epidemic. Other passengers on the train include the governor, his fiance, a US marshal, a priest, a doctor, and an army officer. Things are not what they seem as a complex plot is slowly revealed. This is the kind of Western that anyone who likes Westerns or action films can watch over and over again. Is this a `great' film? No. Is this film making some profound statement about the human condition? No. Is a train ride to Breakheart Pass exciting? Hell Yes! There is so much to like about this film. The plot contains lots of interesting twists and turns that'll keep you guessing (assuming you haven't watched it a zillion times already). Lots of great actors (Charles Bronson, Ben Johnson, Jill Ireland). One of the best fight scenes ever filmed with Charles Bronson duking it out with former World Champion prize fighter Archie Moore on the top of a snow covered train as it rambles through the mountains. Several good gunfights, and a great love story to boot! The score is also outstanding, every time I watch this film I can't get the music out of my head. The cinematography is great too. Highly recommended.

I'm a Bronson fan, and this is definitely one of my favorites. A very fine ensemble cast, great story line, and, as mentioned in my title, the scenery is definitely breathtaking. Highly recommended western.