Movie Reviews for Breakheart Pass

Breakheart Pass

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Movie Reviews of Breakheart Pass

Movie Review: Breakheart Pass DVD Review
Summary: 4 Stars

This is an interesting and different Western with a fine cast. The 1.85:1 widescreen DVD is enhanced for 16:9 TVs; however, the picture quality is just of average quality.

Movie Review: An atypical western...
Summary: 3 Stars

A tale of mystery and suspense in a western setting is rather uncommon, making Breakheart Pass an unusual film. It is based on the novel by Scottish author Alistair MacLean, who also wrote the screenplay. The story is centered on an army troop train on its way to Fort Humbolt, where there is apparently a medical emergency. The train is loaded with medical supplies and relief troops to replace those suffering from an epidemic. The cast is headed by Charles Bronson, as John Deakin an accused killer, and fugitive from the law. Also on board are the arresting marshal (Ben Johnson), the army troop commander (Ed Lauter), a trainman (Charles Durning), and a governor (Richard Crenna) and his mistress (Jill Ireland aka Mrs. Bronson).

While at a train stop, Deakin is arrested, and put on board the train for transport to the stockade at Humbolt. Already strange things have begun to happen, as two soldiers have disappeared. With an urgent mission to complete, the train must get under way. Trouble and misfortune begin to mount. A passenger is found dead, and then a train worker has a fatal fall. Next a whole carload of soldiers suffers a catastrophe. The survivors push on towards the fort, but find themselves with no way to communicate, as their telegraph set is mysteriously missing. What is happening, and who is behind it? Deakin investigates to try get to the bottom of the dark and deadly plot. Outlaws, Indians, guns and gold all figure into the mix. Deakin takes command of the train as it heads for a showdown in Breakheart Pass.

Breakheart Pass was written when MacLean's best works were already behind him. While it doesn't rank as one of his best books, it does make pretty good material for the big screen. The film is not outstanding, either as a western or as an action-adventure. It does however offer a different slant on the standard western story, and is presented in an easily accessible way. MacLean's script is handled capably by the large distinguished cast, under the direction of TV veteran Tom Gries. Charles Bronson's performance is very solid, and he competently carries the film. A couple of ex-athletes are also part of the train crew. Former boxer Archie Moore, plays the cook and gives Bronson all he can handle in a battle on the roof of the train. And former California and Viking QB Joe Kapp plays a train steward working for more than just tips.

Jerry Goldsmith's rousing theme music starts the movie, and then his score continues to effectively add to the enjoyment of the film. The transfer to DVD is good, but in certain scenes the poor quality of the original material shows. The DVD edition provides both widescreen and fullscreen versions, but no other extras except a tattered copy of the original trailer for the film.

Movie Review: Good for a rental on a rainy afternoon!!
Summary: 3 Stars

Well, what do you get when you take one-third standard Western movie, one-third standard Charles Bronson action and a third of the usual twisted plot from Alistair MacLean, full of sabotage and secret agents ?

"Breakheart Pass", that's what!!

Made while Bronson was still a major draw at the box office with his action flicks, this is a Western with a twist, featuring Bronson as a mysterious petty criminal put on a train carrying a cargo of what appears to be medicines for a frontier fort in the grip of a diphtheria epidemic.

And oh yes, there are the obligatory Red Indians and some very nasty baddies.

But since this is based on a book by Alistair MacLean (who also wrote the screenplay), nothing is what it seems.

What you do get is a ripping good adventure yarn and some pretty hairy action scenes on the train. Western veteran Tom Gries provides good direction and keeps things moving at such a fast pace that you miss most of the gaping holes in MacLean's script.

The beautiful snow-bound locales and shots of the train gliding through valleys and over gorges add to the package, and another plus is the stellar cast featuring character actors like Charles Durning, Ed Lauter (one of the most under-rated stars of the 1970s, in my humble opinion), Richard Crenna and Ben Johnson.

The film borrows liberally from Hitchcock's "The Lady Vanishes" as people keep mysteriously disappearing or getting killed on the train, before it builds up to a nice big shoot out.

The print used for the DVD (which is anamorphic) is pretty good and free of noticeable blemishes while sound comes in the form of a plain vanilla two-channel mono track that is surprisingly good, showing up the strengths of Jerry Goldsmith's score.

Overall, this one's not a keeper, but it's definitely good for a rental on a rainy afternoon.

Movie Review: No Guns of Navarone
Summary: 3 Stars

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.