Breakheart Pass
Breakheart Pass
| 09 December 1975 (USA)
Breakheart Pass Trailers

At the height of the frontier era, a train races through the Rocky Mountains on a classified mission to a remote army post. But one by one the passengers are being murdered, and their only hope is the mysterious John Deakin, who's being transported to face trial for murder.

Reviews
Pluskylang Great Film overall
Breakinger A Brilliant Conflict
Nessieldwi Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.
Yash Wade Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.
NateWatchesCoolMovies Breakheart Pass is a wicked tough, badass Charles Bronson action vehicle steeped in the macho charm on the 1970's, and filled with ever changing photography as a train hurtles across the Nevada and Idaho mountains during a snowy winter. Onboard is John Deakins (Bronson), a dangerous outlaw being transported as prisoner to a remote, well guarded fort somewhere deep in the wilderness. Deakins isn't who he seems though, and neither is anyone else onboard for that matter. When a murder occurs, he takes it upon himself to wage a bloody crusade on everyone else in order to find the truth about what's going on, and the truth about their frozen voyage. Bronson is nails tough, doing some deliriously sketchy stunts and engaging in blessedly R rated, pretty intense violence for 70's standards. The cast is stacked, other passengers include Ed Lauren, David Huddleston, Richard Crenna, Charles Durning and Ben Johnson as the ruthless federal marshal in charge of Deakin's transport. A rock solid genre picture, thrilling, decked out in western production design and filled with savage, bullet ridden, bone breaking set pieces.
Syxiepoo I was surprised to find that I had never before seen this movie, nor read the book. At first glance at the schedule, I had Heartbreak Ridge in mind, but it was clearly not that one. It's not an overly complex story-line, but it's a nicely structured screenplay, the photography and effects are excellent, and the cast, so many of whom are very well known from movies of the 70s, translate it into a very enjoyable cinematic event. It has several worthwhile twists and turns along the way, and concludes very satisfactorily. I have quite varied tastes in movies, ranging across all genres and styles. In the case of this movie, I must have found it to be very good, because I'm now about to order the DVD.
Maziun The biggest problem with this movie is the rather uninteresting beginning. The movie doesn't introduce us to the characters in the interesting way. It simply lacks hook for the first twenty minutes. Thankfully with time the movie slowly gets more and more interesting. It's not strange , because the story is an interesting mix of western , thriller and action.There are some nice dialogues here and plenty of action in the last 30 minutes. There is also quite many twists and nice mystery along the way. Good old Alistair MacLean. "Breakheart pass" feels like a book , although I'm not sure if there was a book under the same title.Charles Bronson ("Death wish") is a typical silent bad ass hero that is easy to like. I was delighted to see Richard Crenna ("Rambo : First blood") as the governor. Other actors are OK.Action scenes feel real. The special effects are sometimes a little outdated. The music by Jerry Goldsmith is really nice.Good and underrated western. I give it 7/10.
Spikeopath Breakheart Pass is directed by Tom Gries and adapted to screenplay by Alistair MacLean from his own novel. It stars Charles Bronson, Ben Johnson, Richard Crenna, Jill Ireland, Charles Durning and Ed Lauter. Music is by Jerry Goldsmith and cinematography by Lucien Ballard.A train apparently loaded with medical supplies is heading through the mountains towards plagued Fort Humboldt. On board is a small U.S. Army unit and an assortment of passengers, all of whom are about to be in the middle of murder, mystery and dastardly plotting.Not exactly loved by the critics of the time, but liked well enough by the paying public, Breakheart Pass is a thoroughly enjoyable movie. True enough to say it's a blend of Murder On The Orient Express and Ten Little Indians, only with a gorgeous Western backdrop, but so what? Just exactly what is wrong with that anyway? The plot is a little too tricky for its own good and characterisations are not rich in detail, but there's so much else to enjoy regardless.It's a fine cast playing a number of desperate/cunning/dubious characters, with Bronson leading from the front at a time when he was hot at the box office. The reasoning behind all the murders, as passengers start getting bumped off one by one, keeps the mystery element strong, while Gries (Will Penny) directs without fuss and filler. The action sequences are impressive (the train roof fight is as great as you have heard it is), with stunt coordinator Yakima Canutt (in his final assignment) once again excelling.Elsewhere, Jerry Goldsmith's score is wonderfully robust and chest thumping, a real triumph from the great man. Ballard (also Will Penny/The Wild Bunch) beautifully captures the snowbound Lewiston locale whilst ensuring the gorgeous Camas Prairie Railroad is a must see for locomotive enthusiasts. All told it's a very entertaining hybrid picture that is well constructed, technically smart and pulsing with good honest intentions. 7/10