Breakheart Pass (1975)

People are voting emotionally.

Excellent but underrated film

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Charles Bronson is a prisoner, being transported by a sheriff (Ben Johnson) on a train carrying vital medical supplies to an army outpost suffering from a diphtheria outbreak. Soon it becomes apparent that some of the people aboard are not what they seem to be, as more and more of the passengers disappear or are murdered. Tension climbs with the body count as the train winds through the mountains to Breakheart Pass. Bronson's star appeal always eluded me but he was a top box-office draw when he made this adaptation of the Alistair MacLean novel. The 'last act' is a bit weak, but otherwise the movie is pretty good, with beautiful scenery and cinematography, competent acting (especially by Johnson and Crenna), and an interesting story. The action sequences (especially the fight on top of the train) are well staged and the film manages to fit the period (the 1870's) more than many of its Hollywood contemporaries (despite a 1970s aesthetic that is abetted by Jerry Goldsmith's 'commercial' but catchy music). Overall, a good action film starring (IMO) one of Hollywood's least likely leading men.

Tom Gries is not a well known director and, judging from this effort, deservedly so. With a very limited actor, Charles Bronson, as the lead, the film begins with much too modern credits for its time, its soundtrack is equally anachonistic, and by and large all performers look uneasy.Screenplay does not help. Bronson begins by playing an alleged convict who is tied to a corner but, before you know it, he is going up and down the train conducting an in depth investigation without anyone apparently wising up to it, apart from a cook with whom he trades punches atop the train.Crenna is predictably the smooth villain, Edward Albert not so predictably the good soldier, and Jill Ireland is as beautiful as she is exceedingly limited as an actress, and the rest of the cast takes turns coming on and disappearing.I could not wait for the end of this totally forgettable flick.

Let me start by saying that this movie is pretty damn good, and original, westerns are usually your typical tired old formula that you've seen done a billion times.The thing I like about this film is that it was a mystery story, that involves your intellect and it was smart and treats it's audience as smart and not like idiots, also give us something new.Charles Bronson is great in this film as Deacon, also the rest of the cast was very good in this I don't want to say anymore with out ruining it for you but this film was awesome.Overall, a great mystery-western that was original and made completely fresh, which I think was a nice change of pace, hopefully we'll get more original westerns like this.I give it a 7/10. It was nice seeing an original western that wasn't dumb or indifferent. I highly recommend it.

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.