Breakheart Pass (1975)

We'll be at Breakheart Pass in about 20 hours

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. August 27, 2008

"And you must be Mr. Deakin, the murderer."

So I dig it muchly when the film takes place on a train. And if that same film also crosses over into the whodunit genre, well, so much the better. BREAKHEART PASS, released in 1975, is actually a western mystery, starring Charles Bronson, he of the rugged frame and the tough, careworn features. And, because what's a Bronson flick without lovely Jill Ireland, she shows up, too, looking all nice.

Alistair Maclean offers up the screenplay (adapted from his novel), about a train in the Old West conveying replacement troops and medicine to Fort Humboldt, a distant military garrison stricken with diphtheria. The trek is quite a ways, four hundred miles of freeze and isolation. So it's even more harrowing when the passengers begin to be picked off, one by one. "Trust no one," the movie trailer warns ominously, "and believe half of what you see. Because nothing is as it appears, and nobody is who they seem to be." But could the surviving passengers' only hope lie in the mysterious prisoner in their midst?

A year before, Charles Bronson knocked it out of the park with his blockbuster flick Death Wish. So the viewing public was high on him when this one was released. BREAKHEART PASS doesn't let his fans down. It's thrilling and suspenseful and culminates with a slam bang finish. This flick isn't your typical, straightforward western; it's got some twists. While the film doesn't quite bowl you over with jaw-dropping reveals, the frequent plot shifts do keep you involved and guessing. Meanwhile, the imposing snowy backdrop of the Rockies lend greatly to a feeling of deadly danger and isolation.

While Charles Bronson will never be considered a consummate actor, he does maximize his talents. His biggest strength is that tough persona he's built up for the cinema. He's absolutely ideal for those roles calling for a man of action (but of few words). Having said this, Bronson does play his John Deakin with enough complexity that you're never quite sure what he's up to, although we don't quite buy Deakin's assertions of pacifism, never mind that he's a former university lecturer. Is he trying to unearth a conspiracy, or is he part of it? Honestly, can you be sure he's the good guy?

Backed by a reliable bunch of acting veterans (Ben Johnson, Richard Crenna, Charles Durning) and graced by an oft-partnered actress (and wife), Bronson confidently carries the film. Even though 54 years old when this movie debuted, with those lines on his face sinking in ever deeper, dude was still spry and athletic enough to pull off his action sequences. And for a man of action but few words, well, that's almost everything. July 23, 2008

breakheart pass

Good, but not as good as other A.McLeans stories. Bronson has had much better parts. July 19, 2008

Great story, action, and beautiful location scenery

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. July 14, 2008

Breakheart Pass

Breakheart Pass is a solid western that stars Charles Bronson. The supporting cast is excellent & includes Ben Johnson, Richard Crenna, Jill Ireland (Mrs. Bronson), Charles Durning & Eddie Little Sky. the cast also has two actors, in small roles, better known for being sports personalities: Joe Kapp (former quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings) & Archie Moore (former light-heavyweight world champion boxer). The film was directed by Tom Gries, one of Bronson's two favorite directors. The movie is based on the Alistair MacLean novel of the same name, he also wrote the screenplay. MacLean is famous for writing the novels The Guns of Navarone, Where Eagles Dare & Ice Station Zebra. Breakheart Pass was his only western ; what makes this so unique is MacLean was from Great Britain.

Breakheart Pass is actually a Western-mystery. It centers on a train bound for Fort Humboldt where a diptheria epidemic has broke out. The train is carrying medical supplies for the living & coffins for the dead. Leading this expedition is the governor of Colorado, Richard Fairchild (Richard Crenna). He's accompanied by Marcia Scoville (Jill Ireland) with whom he's having a not-so-secret relationship with, she's also the daughter of Col. Scoville, commander of Fort Humboldt. Being the daughter of the commander is the only reason she's on the train because it's restricted to only military personnel or those involved directly with the humanitarian mission. John Deakin (Charles Bronson) is there only because he's an outlaw who's been arrested & the U.S. Deputy Marshall doesn't want to leave him behind. Marshall Nathan Pearce (the venerable Ben Johnson in a rare major role) is on the train because he's supposed to be picking up a civilian prisoner at Fort Humboldt. Major Claremont (Ed Lauter) has a detachment of about 30 or so soldiers on the way to Fort Humboldt as replacements.

The outbreak of diptheria at Fort Humboldt isn't common knowledge to everyone on the train. Maj. Claremont isn't told this until they're less than a day away from Fort Humboldt & is told by the Governor this information; & he's only told this because two of his officers had disappeared & been left behind in town. In actuality, they've been murdered & have been stashed in the locomotive's woodpile. The mystery gets deeper as the cars that contain the soldiers are loosened from the train & end uo crashing to death. The locomotive looses its fireman because he fell off the train on a bridge & plummeted to his death. The doctor dies mysteriously (murdered) & the preacher disappears (murdered).

We finally learn that Deakin is an undercover agent for the Secret Service. He's been tracking a stolen shipment of rifles & has found them hidden in the coffins, he's also found dynamite hidden in the so-called cases of medicine. The diptheria outbreak at Fort Humboldt is only a ruse; the guns & dynamite are being delivered there to the not-really captured outlaws & a band of Indians. Before the movie is over we find out almost everyone left alive on the train is part of the conspiracy, including the Governor & the Deputy Marshall. The climax is exciting &well done. Breakheart Pass is done in the vein of the traditional Western except we can't tell the good guys from the bad guys until near the end. July 6, 2008

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