Aldrich did this film. And it's really pretty darned good.
I'm a train guy, riding them, and building two layouts even today to accent the mega 150 sq ft Xmas village the wife spends a month putting up. Replete with operating carnival rides, electric cars, 135 village pieces. A very active set up. Not static.
But the trains are awesome. It's fun being a kid at nearly 70, and using the excuse it's for the grandkids.
Saw this flick at the drive-in when I was 19. Hadn't seen it anywhere ever since it came out. So, a couple years ago, I found a new, affordable DVD and bought it on Amazon. Great pic quality too.
The locations are glorious. We retired to Grants Pass Oregon about 11 years ago, and sure enough, this movie was shot right North of us in Cottage Grove OR, same RR used by Buster Keaton in 'The General' so very long ago. Anyway, it's filled with lakes, rivers, stream, wildlife and endless flowers and flora here, and you'll see some of that virgin beauty in this film.
The other reviews spell out the plot in great detail (collectively.).
Borgnine? They paint him as mean and sadistic as a man gets. Lee Marvin (for me), makes the film. He's A#1: The most successful of all hoboes when it comes to hitching rides on trains. Particularly if it's Borgnine's, who regularly bludgeons hoboes with hammers and chains, knocking them senseless as they ultimately fall under the train, where many are cut in 1/2.
It's a bit hokey sure, but what the hell. Marvin is to train-riding hoboes; what Bronson was to bare fisted boxing in "Hard Times" (a great, even far superior flick!)
It's kinda of a guy flick but my wife of a million years is still a Tomboy and she likes it ok.
So that's it. If it's not your bag, if nothing else, the scenery is gorgeous.
Thx
Bob R.
I'm a train guy, riding them, and building two layouts even today to accent the mega 150 sq ft Xmas village the wife spends a month putting up. Replete with operating carnival rides, electric cars, 135 village pieces. A very active set up. Not static.
But the trains are awesome. It's fun being a kid at nearly 70, and using the excuse it's for the grandkids.
Saw this flick at the drive-in when I was 19. Hadn't seen it anywhere ever since it came out. So, a couple years ago, I found a new, affordable DVD and bought it on Amazon. Great pic quality too.
The locations are glorious. We retired to Grants Pass Oregon about 11 years ago, and sure enough, this movie was shot right North of us in Cottage Grove OR, same RR used by Buster Keaton in 'The General' so very long ago. Anyway, it's filled with lakes, rivers, stream, wildlife and endless flowers and flora here, and you'll see some of that virgin beauty in this film.
The other reviews spell out the plot in great detail (collectively.).
Borgnine? They paint him as mean and sadistic as a man gets. Lee Marvin (for me), makes the film. He's A#1: The most successful of all hoboes when it comes to hitching rides on trains. Particularly if it's Borgnine's, who regularly bludgeons hoboes with hammers and chains, knocking them senseless as they ultimately fall under the train, where many are cut in 1/2.
It's a bit hokey sure, but what the hell. Marvin is to train-riding hoboes; what Bronson was to bare fisted boxing in "Hard Times" (a great, even far superior flick!)
It's kinda of a guy flick but my wife of a million years is still a Tomboy and she likes it ok.
So that's it. If it's not your bag, if nothing else, the scenery is gorgeous.
Thx
Bob R.