I haven't seen this issue brought up in the 6 months or so since I've been lurking here, but I do enjoy movies where trains play a central role. There are 2 that are on the top of my list;
A runner up would be Silver Streak (1976) starring Gene WIlder and Richard Pryor.
Are there others that are on the 'must see' list?
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Clockers
Here’s a link from the past. https://ogrforum.com/...reatest-train-movies
I personally prefer “The Train” and my all time favorite is “ Emperor of the North”
I'm with Kevin. The Train is spectacular and Emperor of the North has some great characters and railroad shots.
@texgeekboy posted:I haven't seen this issue brought up in the 6 months or so since I've been lurking here, but I do enjoy movies where trains play a central role. There are 2 that are on the top of my list;
- Runaway Train (1985) starring Jon Voight and Eric Roberts
- Unstoppable (2010) starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine
Just my opinion but, both of those movies were a total farce, and are an insult to the intelligence of ANYONE who has ever worked in the professional railroad industry! Typical Hollywood fare.
A runner up would be Silver Streak (1976) starring Gene WIlder and Richard Pryor.
Pretty good funny movie.
Are there others that are on the 'must see' list?
See the suggestions below, i.e. the "Train" and "Emperor of The North". Plus, "Danger Lights".
I go to movies to be entertained and never view them as factual. I knew 'Unstoppable' was not accurate, but it was entertaining to me.
Thanks for the suggestions. I was not aware of either movie. The last post on the link you provided was 2 years ago, way before I got on OGR, so thanks for that too.
Thanks, I wasn't aware of that movie either.
Von Ryans Express featuring Burt Lancaster and Breakheart Pass with Charles Bronson.
I forgot about Von Ryan's Express, I should have had that as my #3. But, it wasn't Burt Lancaster, it was Frank Sinatra in the lead.
I was not aware of Breakheart Pass, thanks for the tip.
Let’s not forget any of the attempts of “Murder on the Orient Express”.
Human Desire (1954) Dir Fritz Lang with Glenn Ford, Broderick Crawford & Gloria Grahame. Film Noir - Great opening train scene. Ford is the engineer, Crawford the Yard Boss... Fantastic!
Here's the opening trailer...
I get entertained from "Taking of Pelham 123" both versions and the "French Connection". But dat's just da New Yorka in me!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAgfUbP7mMQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_Y8Fdp8Hf0
@prrhorseshoecurve posted:I get entertained from "Taking of Pelham 123" both versions and the "French Connection". But dat's just da New Yorka in me!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAgfUbP7mMQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_Y8Fdp8Hf0
OF course there is "Disaster on the Coastliner"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6e7XTkqlHE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BUopNYlyNg
And the Cassandra Crossing
Broderick Crawford, are you kidding me? I love that guy! His stuff on the old, old, old TV show 'Highway Patrol' was legendary! Thanks for the tip!
"Emperor of the North" has long been my all-time favorite. There are others that I really like, but this one is my special favorite. I have it in DVD, and enjoy viewing it several times a year.
Ok guys I don’t believe this one’s been mentioned in this thread, both educational regarding the Circus, and exciting due to a circus train, and big top drama.
The 1952 “The Greatest Show On Earth”.
Back in the day My father knew the model train gentleman who staged the train wreck with model gauged trains. He was from Huntington WV.
Heston was the show boss, Jimmy Stewart was a clown who wore his makeup 24/7.
I saw this in my early years and left a lasting impression with me about the circus. I was fortunate to be able to take my little girl to a huge circus in Evansville, Indiana, before they eventually disappeared.
@N&W 1218 posted:Here’s a link from the past. https://ogrforum.com/...reatest-train-movies
I personally prefer “The Train” and my all time favorite is “ Emperor of the North”
Bert and Earnie
The General (1926) Silent. Buster Keaton... considered a masterpiece ...and, he did all his own stunts.
Trailer...
Not really a train movie but there are several awesome train scenes in Hitchcock's North By Northwest including my favorite Dining Car Scene... ever!
"Tell me, what do you do other than lure men to their doom on the 20th Century Limited"
Dennis' suggestion of North by Northwest, which is in my top 10 movies of all time, reminded me of another Hitchcock classic, 1938's 'The Lady Vanishes'. All the excitement takes place in a train pulled by a steam locomotive somewhere in a fictitious country in, I guess, Eastern Europe. However, the beginning of the movie is amazing. This was way before CGI, but they had an incredible mountain village modeled with movable cars, smoke, and other things. The camera pans around the entire village and finally zooms into a window where they cut to live action around a hotel desk.
Yeah, it's really old stuff. My other favorite Hitchcock movie, though trains in it are minimal is 1935's 'The 39 Steps'. It's even way more old hat than 'The Lady Vanishes'.
Danger Lights...shot on the MILW not sure what year c.1930's...starring Jean Arthur,Louis Wolheim,Robert Armstrong...lots of action....worth seeing....
The 39 Steps has a scene on a train to Scotland. Winds up stopping on the Firth of Forth Bridge and the lead climbs out onto the structure. Fantastic bridge (love it better than **** Gate) and a great early Hitchcock thriller.
Don't remember the title or year but starred Earnest Borgnine as the Bad *** freight conductor trying to catch Lee Marvin the Hobo hiding on his train. Also had Eli Wallach as part of the train crew.
@Dan Kenny posted:Don't remember the title or year but starred Earnest Borgnine as the Bad *** freight conductor trying to catch Lee Marvin the Hobo hiding on his train. Also had Eli Wallach as part of the train crew.
I believe that is the movie "Emperor of The North".
Did some research the film was mentioned above, Emperor of the North. 1973 the year I graduated from high school. Not Eli Wallach but Charles Tyner.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN EXPRESS. An IMAX experience
@Hot Water posted:I believe that is the movie "Emperor of The North".
The original title was EMPEROR OF THE NORTH POLE 1973
Danger Lights is chock full of 1930’s real railroading! Engines, cranes, roundhouse, everything!!!
If you liked 'The 39 Steps' movie, for a hoot you need to see the play. It was reworked into a comedy with 4 people portraying all the roles, sometimes two at a time. It's been out for a while, so it might pop up now and then for a traveling production. I've seen it off-Broadway and here in Houston. It's hilarious.
BTW, the remakes of the movie were awful IMHO.
As usual, we need to make the distinction between "movies that have a couple train scenes" and "train movies."
As others have mentioned, I think "Emperor of the North" is about the best railroading/train movie available. Everything from the costumes, to the stunts, to the train scenes is spectacular. Hogger and Coalie, just absolutely look perfect in their parts. And the scene of the passenger train passing the freight that has just barely pulled into the hole has to be seen to be believed.
I agree with Dennis. North by Northwest is a great movie whether you consider it a train movie or not, and one of my favorites. Hitchcock's (not Howard Hitchcock of Lionel) best movie of all time, even when you consider Rear Window, Vertigo, Psycho and The Birds.
Erol
@smd4 posted:As usual, we need to make the distinction between "movies that have a couple train scenes" and "train movies."
As others have mentioned, I think "Emperor of the North" is about the best railroading/train movie available. Everything from the costumes, to the stunts, to the train scenes is spectacular. Hogger and Coalie, just absolutely look perfect in their parts. And the scene of the passenger train passing the freight that has just barely pulled into the hole has to be seen to be believed.
Good thing it was a spring switch.
Rusty
@Rusty Traque posted:Good thing it was a spring switch.
Rusty
Indeed. Watching that scene pretty closely, it doesn't look like it was done in slow motion and then the film sped up. Looks like real-time.
@smd4 posted:Indeed. Watching that scene pretty closely, it doesn't look like it was done in slow motion and then the film sped up. Looks like real-time.
All I know is Fast Mail or not, I'd be hitting quick service or emergency rather than blowing the whistle...
It was a white knuckler, though.
Rusty
Runaway Train and Unstoppable are at the top of my list, too.
If you can deal with sub-titles and the setting in France, give Jean Renoir's 1938 classic La Bête Humaine a try.
This pops up from time to time on TCM and features a lot of terrific and real steam railroading scenes, including much footage in and from engine cabs. There's a short but good synopsis and review here.
- Mike
@Dennis-LaRock posted:Not really a train movie but there are several awesome train scenes in Hitchcock's North By Northwest including my favorite Dining Car Scene... ever!
"Tell me, what do you do other than lure men to their doom on the 20th Century Limited"
And the rather suggestive final scene...
(25) "North by Northwest" (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959) -- The Happy End - YouTube
How about a couple Great Train movies?
The Great Train Robbery with Sean Connery
and
The Great Locomotive Chase
Charlie
Something must be wrong with me. My picks were either Buster Keaton's "The General" or "Silver Streak". "North by Northwest" gets an honorable mention. It isn't a train movie, but opening sequence of Pal Joey is great for the train coming into Oakland and then taking the ferry ride across the Bay to San Francisco.
I agree with Charlie "The Great Locomotive Chase". My dad took me to see in in the 1950s when I was about 4 years old and I think it was my first seeing movie in a Theater.
@Mike Casatelli posted:If you can deal with sub-titles and the setting in France, give Jean Renoir's 1938 classic La Bête Humaine a try.
This pops up from time to time on TCM and features a lot of terrific and real steam railroading scenes, including much footage in and from engine cabs. There's a short but good synopsis and review here.
- Mike
Excellent Choice! a train movie with a lot of legs...
La Bête humaine is an 1890 novel by Émile Zola. Film Adaptations
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