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Western Railroad Discussion > 100 Greatest Railroad MoviesDate: 01/26/10 14:45 100 Greatest Railroad Movies Author: funnelfan Train's movie critic made a really screwed up list, missing some notable movies in their special issue. I was thinking we could make our own list here. First I'll need to compile a list of at least 100 true railroad movies where railroading played a key part of the movie. I'll start off with the movies I know. Add any that I miss.
Emperor of the North The Train (Burt Lancaster) Silver Streak Danger Lights Breakheart Pass Ring of Fire Union Pacific Denver & Rio Grande Under Siege 2 Tough Guys Runaway Train (1980's) 3:10 to Yuma The General (Buster Keaton) Broken Arrow Switchback I've probably missed some obvious ones. After we compile a list, I'll figure out a way to poll the movies, by having everyone pick their top ten. Ted Curphey Ontario, OR Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/10 14:46 by funnelfan. Date: 01/26/10 15:10 Re: 100 Greatest Railroad Movies Author: zuco74 Here is my list of fav train films (with rating) most of which I own on DVD:
Silver Streak 5/5 - We all pretty much know this classic film starring Richard Pryor & Gene Wilder The Taking Of Pelham 123 5/5 - (The Original) - Quality film! The Train 5/5 - Excellent World War II film from 1964 starring Burt Lancaster Emperor Of The North 5/5 - Another classic film from 1974 The Station Agent 4/5 - Pretty good indi flick about a dwarf foamer who inherits an old depot in NJ! Breakheart Pass 4/5 - Some good shots in this western starring Charles Bronson Terror Train 2/5 - Unfortunately I think I do have this somewhere. Might be on VHS! Runaway Train 4/5 - Used to love this film as a kid! Tough Guys 4/5 - Also loved this one as a kid. Great train chase at the end with SP 4449 North By Northwest 5/5 - Love the secens on the old Twentieth Century Limited! Strangers On A Train 5/5 - Really enjoy this film! Recently watched it again! Tony Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/10 15:13 by zuco74. Date: 01/26/10 15:35 Re: 100 Greatest Railroad Movies Author: 3rdswitch foew more not memtioned;
Kansas Pacific Night Freight original Silver Streak End of the line Canadian Pacific Best Friends [not really a railroad movie but much of movie takes place on train] JB Date: 01/26/10 16:10 Re: 100 Greatest Railroad Movies Author: px320 I agree with just about everything on your list.
I would add Iron Will. A Disney film shot during the winter of 1992-93 in and around Duluth, Minnesota. The train is an essential ingredient in the film. Throw Momma From The Train is also one of my favorites. Date: 01/26/10 16:15 Re: 100 Greatest Railroad Movies Author: RRmemories Going to print this out for sure and see if Netflix has any of them. I saw Switchback and that will have you sitting on the edge of your caboose. Aaron 22
Date: 01/26/10 16:30 Re: 100 Greatest Railroad Movies Author: rschonfelder There was a film done by the National Film Board of Canada in 1964 with Buster Keaton. I do not recall the film but it involves a British fellow who literally walks into the Atlantic ocean from somewhere in the UK and comes out at the Nova Scotia shore. He spies a RR worker and highjacks his speeder and proceeds to cross Canada on it. I recall seeing it in school at the time and IIRC it was shown as part of Canada's Centennial celebrations while we were in school.
I have seen that this is available on DVD and need to gain a copy for my library. http://blog.nfb.ca/2009/12/11/buster-keaton-rides-the-rails-in-canada/ Rick Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/10 16:33 by rschonfelder. Date: 01/26/10 17:01 Re: 100 Greatest Railroad Movies Author: DeadheadFRED The Great Locomotive Chase takes place during the Civil War.
Fess Parker was a star in it Disney film I believe DHF Date: 01/26/10 17:11 Re: 100 Greatest Railroad Movies Author: MacBeau Please add:
Bad Day at Black Rock (1955), Spencer Tracy Flashback (1990), Dennis Hopper & Kiefer Sutherland Murder on the Orient Express (1974), Albert Finney Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Paul Newman & Robert Redford —Mac Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/10 17:18 by MacBeau. Date: 01/26/10 17:15 Re: 100 Greatest Railroad Movies Author: CFWRRCEO Add "Where the Hells that Gold" with Gene Hackman and "Timberjack" to the list.
Date: 01/26/10 17:18 Re: 100 Greatest Railroad Movies Author: sp8270 If we're counting CG movies, I would have to say that "The Polar Express" impressed me because of all of the loud, realistic steam engine sounds echoing through the theater. :)
Date: 01/26/10 18:04 Re: 100 Greatest Railroad Movies Author: webmaster One of my favorites is Narrow Margin with Gene Hackman. Anyone remember this one:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrow_Margin Todd Clark Canyon Country, CA Trainorders.com Date: 01/26/10 18:04 Re: 100 Greatest Railroad Movies Author: bobs The Grey Fox, with Richard Farnsworth, 1981. Canadian train robberies.
Date: 01/26/10 18:41 Re: 100 Greatest Railroad Movies Author: kd0086 Disaster on the Coastliner in the 80's
Date: 01/26/10 18:43 Re: 100 Greatest Railroad Movies Author: CalZephyr Western Pacific Agent
Date: 01/26/10 19:06 Re: 100 Greatest Railroad Movies Author: HomerBedloe One you don't see mentioned a lot; 1959, It Happened to Jane. Doris Day, Jack Lemmon, and the evil railroad guy, Harry Foster Malone (I forget who played him).
Just did an IMDB search - Ernie Kovacs was the evil Foster Malone, and it was filmed in Chester, CT. Couldn't find what railroad was actually used - supposed to happen in Bangor, Maine, but was not shot there. Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/10 19:13 by Railfool03. Date: 01/26/10 19:45 Re: 100 Greatest Railroad Movies Author: railstiesballast Union Station, filmed at Los Angeles but called Chicago IIRC.
Date: 01/26/10 20:07 Re: 100 Greatest Railroad Movies Author: DNRY122 Just got my copy of "100 Greatest RR Movies"; of course selecting the 100 Greatest of anything will start a discussion. I would have added "Tough Guys" (in addition to 4449 on the big screen, the former Pacific Electric Toluca Substation building has a "cameo") and "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" (admittedly, the PE cars are studio mockups) and subtracted two of the more obscure foreign films. There was also a "B-minus" flick from the 50's ("Night Freight"?) that starred Modesto & Empire GE 70-ton switchers "playing" main line locomotives. One quibble I have with the commentary is the use of "Hollywood" lingo such as "helmed" for "directed" and "lensed" for "photographed" or "shot". They are listed as legitimate verbs in my dictionary, but they still look like they belong in "Daily Variety". That said, the book is fascinating, well worth the price and should send many railfans off to the video rental or an on-line DVD mart. It's truly amazing how many rare and unusual movies are available with a few clicks of a computer mouse.
Date: 01/26/10 20:07 Re: 100 Greatest Railroad Movies Author: 90mac My favorites are: Other Men's Women
Human Desire Hurricane Express Danger Lights The Train Zentropa Closely Watched Trains The Station Agent And of course Terror Train(cough). Tom Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/10 20:09 by 90mac. Date: 01/26/10 20:29 Re: 100 Greatest Railroad Movies Author: JBRioGrande "Emperor of the North" gets my top vote. Classic railroad stuff with Marvin and Borgnine at their best! "End of the Line", with Wilford Brimley was a real stinker of a movie if you could call it that.
Date: 01/26/10 20:32 Re: 100 Greatest Railroad Movies Author: SilvertonRR100 A Ticket to Tomahawk
Denver & Rio Grande Night Passage. Frozen Passage (Runaway here) Rob |