Chuck.Weinstock@a.sei.cmu.edu (01/20/86)
I saw the new Disney movie, "The Journey of Natty Gann" this weekend. It was an interesting story set in the Depression, made more interesting by the presence of lots of railroad photography. Natty's journey is mostly by train, riding the rails. I'm not sure which railroad it was filmed on, but it had several operating steamers. Other commercial movies with interesting railroad photography: The Grey Fox: about a stage coach robber who goes to prison in the 1800's, and when freed discovers that technology has passed him by (they no longer rob stage coaches, trains are the big thing) so he turns to train robbery. Excellent acting and photography. Danger Lights: A 1930's early talky set on the Milwaukee Road, with virtually all of the action on the railroad. Lots of action, and not too much stretching of reality. Silver Streak: A late 1930's railroad movie starring the original Zephyr in a story about getting an iron lung to the Boulder Dam construction project in time to save the railroad president's son's life. I would love to get a copy of this on video tape if anyone has it. Silver Streak: the 1970's comedy starring Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. Marred by some silly inaccuracies, including scenes of approaches to three different stations at the climax. North by Northwest: the Hitchcock movie staring Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint has a wonderful (and historically accurate) sequence on the 20th Century Limited. There are lots more of course. Anyone else care to list their favorites?
simon@biomed.UUCP (Simon Rosenthal) (01/22/86)
My railroad Oscars go to : "The Train". Burt Lancaster in a WW2 movie about
the French Resistance foiling (successfully) Nazi attempts to move valuable
paintings out of France by train. Also, the Czech film "Closely Observed
Trains" (Milos Forman ?).
Does anyone remember the English (1950's) Ealing Studios comedy
"The Ladykillers", with Alec Guinness? This has several shots of the
main line from London to Edinburgh just outside King's Cross station in
my native London, and I seem to remember that a critical part of the
plot was the frequent appearance of clouds of smoke from passing
locomotives which stopped various attempts at murderous wrong-doings.
There were no diesels on that line till 1959 or so ...
Simon Rosenthal
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA.
UUCP: {harvard,allegra,ihnp4,genrad}!wjh12!biomed!simonwolfram@sri-tsc.arpa (01/24/86)
How about The Railway Children shown on PBS a number of times? A super movie by any standards. Russ
msb@lsuc.UUCP (Mark Brader) (01/30/86)
Net.railroad (ARPA railroad list) has had what seemed to me a rather halfhearted series of articles on railway movies lately. I thought I could do better. Here are two lists of railway movies that I've seen that were good or excellent, in my opinion as a fan of both railways and movies. The first list is Railway Movies of the First Kind -- those where the train or railway (or *subway) occupies a major role throughout the movie. Rather than attempt to rank them, I'll just list them by date of release. The letter A or B after the date denotes American or British. 1927 A The General (silent comedy/suspense) 1934 A Twentieth Century (comedy) 1938 B The Lady Vanishes (thriller) (1979B remake not recommended) 1940 B Night Train to Munich (thriller) 1953 B The Titfield Thunderbolt (comedy) 1959 B Flame Over India, aka Northwest Frontier (suspense/drama) 1963 A The Train (suspense/drama) 1967 A The Incident (drama)* 1972 B The Railway Children (light drama) 1974 B Murder on the Orient Express (mystery) 1974 B The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (suspense)* 1976 A Silver Streak (comedy/suspense) 1979 B The Great Train Robbery (caper - this is the one about the 1855 theft) Hmm, looks like we ought to be due for another one. And now, some good or excellent Railway Movies of the Second Kind - movies that are basically about something else, but where a train or railway (or *subway/el) takes a major part in one scene. 1935 B The 39 Steps (thriller) (1959 B and 1978 B remakes not recommended) 1942 A The Palm Beach Story (comedy) 1943 B Shadow of a Doubt (suspense) 1955 B The Ladykillers (comedy) 1957 B The Bridge on the River Kwai (drama) 1959 A Some Like it Hot (comedy) 1963 A Charade (thriller)* 1966? B The Great St. Trinians Train Robbery (comedy) 1971 A The French Connection (thriller)* 1972 B Young Winston (bio/adventure) 1976 A The 7% Solution (mystery/thriller) 1982 Diva (French thriller)* I've given the nationality and classification of each film so that those of you who don't enjoy, say, British comedies, can avoid those. With that noted, I recommend the lot of 'em to all railway-and-movie fans. Mark Brader
mangoe@umcp-cs.UUCP (Charley Wingate) (01/31/86)
In article <1086@lsuc.UUCP> msb@lsuc.UUCP (Mark Brader) writes: >Net.railroad (ARPA railroad list) has had what seemed to me a rather >halfhearted series of articles on railway movies lately. I thought >I could do better. Here are two lists of railway movies that I've >seen that were good or excellent, in my opinion as a fan of both >railways and movies. >The first list is Railway Movies of the First Kind -- those where the >train or railway (or *subway) occupies a major role throughout the movie. >Rather than attempt to rank them, I'll just list them by date of release. >The letter A or B after the date denotes American or British. >1974 B The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (suspense)* I don't know who produced or directed this, but it was set and filmed in the NYC subway, and had almost nothing but american actors. C. Wingate
tollkuhn@drivax.UUCP (garret tollkuhn) (01/31/86)
The railroader's railroad movie is "Emperor of the North" with Ernest Borgnine and Lee Marvin. It has some really authentic scenes. _garret
keith@ssc-vax.UUCP (Keith Nemitz) (02/01/86)
> 1927 A The General (silent comedy/suspense) > 1934 A Twentieth Century (comedy) > 1938 B The Lady Vanishes (thriller) (1979B remake not recommended) > 1940 B Night Train to Munich (thriller) > 1953 B The Titfield Thunderbolt (comedy) > 1959 B Flame Over India, aka Northwest Frontier (suspense/drama) > 1963 A The Train (suspense/drama) > 1967 A The Incident (drama)* > 1972 B The Railway Children (light drama) > 1974 B Murder on the Orient Express (mystery) > 1974 B The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (suspense)* > 1976 A Silver Streak (comedy/suspense) > 1979 B The Great Train Robbery (caper - this is the one about the 1855 theft) > > 1935 B The 39 Steps (thriller) (1959 B and 1978 B remakes not recommended) > 1942 A The Palm Beach Story (comedy) > 1943 B Shadow of a Doubt (suspense) > 1955 B The Ladykillers (comedy) > 1957 B The Bridge on the River Kwai (drama) > 1959 A Some Like it Hot (comedy) > 1963 A Charade (thriller)* > 1966? B The Great St. Trinians Train Robbery (comedy) > 1971 A The French Connection (thriller)* > 1972 B Young Winston (bio/adventure) > 1976 A The 7% Solution (mystery/thriller) > 1982 Diva (French thriller)* > How about 'Von-Ryan's Express'? american when????
msb@lsuc.UUCP (Mark Brader) (02/02/86)
I (msb@lsuc.UUCP) wrote: > > > >The first list is Railway Movies of the First Kind -- those where the > >train or railway (or *subway) occupies a major role throughout the movie. > >Rather than attempt to rank them, I'll just list them by date of release. > >The letter A or B after the date denotes American or British. > >1974 B The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (suspense)* And Charley Wingate (mangoe@umcp-cs.UUCP) corrected: > I don't know who produced or directed this, but it was set and filmed in the > NYC subway, and had almost nothing but american actors. I slipped up; it should have been 1974 A. And I made the same error on another movie: "Shadow of a Doubt", in my second list, should be 1943 A, not B. Mark Brader
purtell@reed.UUCP (Lady Godiva) (02/02/86)
Good list. I'd like to add Strangers on a Train, a great Hitchcock suspense film. (I have no idea of the year.) elizabeth g. purtell (Lady Godiva)
reiher@ucla-cs.UUCP (02/03/86)
I beg everyone *not* to post every train-related movie they can think of
to the net. Spending 20 minutes on it, I came up with over 20 films which
I sent in a mail message to the original poster. I estimate that there
are several hundred (or perhaps thousand) films which fit these criteria
for railroad related films. Listing all the ones anyone on the net can
think of would generate incredible amounts of generally worthless traffic.
If you are interested in expanding the list, send a mail message to the
original poster.
--
Peter Reiher
reiher@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU
{...ihnp4,ucbvax,sdcrdcf}!ucla-cs!reiherlat@druil.UUCP (TepperL) (02/03/86)
I believe the following could be added to the list of
*** Railroad Movies of the First Kind *** :
197? A Breakheart Pass (thriller)
or possibly:
196? A Breakheart Pass (thriller)
--
Larry Tepper {ihnp4 | allegra}!drutx!druil!lat +1-303-538-1759
Back to you, Walter.leeper@mtgzz.UUCP (m.r.leeper) (02/04/86)
>Net.railroad (ARPA railroad list) has had what seemed to me >a rather halfhearted series of articles on railway movies >lately. I thought I could do better. Here are two lists of >railway movies that I've seen that were good or excellent, >in my opinion as a fan of both railways and movies. > >The first list is Railway Movies of the First Kind -- those >where the train or railway (or *subway) occupies a major >role throughout the movie. > >1927 A The General (silent comedy/suspense) . . . >1979 B The Great Train Robbery (caper - this is the one about the 1855 theft) > >Hmm, looks like we ought to be due for another one. Hmmm! I have heard good things about RUNAWAY TRAIN (1985). The problem here is what is considered a good film. I like much of HORROR EXPRESS (1972) but that is probably a minority opinion. There is also EMPEROR OF THE NORTH POLE (1973). > >And now, some good or excellent Railway Movies of the Second >Kind - movies that are basically about something else, but >where a train or railway (or *subway/el) takes a major part >in one scene. > >1935 B The 39 Steps (thriller) (1959 B and 1978 B remakes not recommended) . . . >1982 Diva (French thriller)* Films I could add are YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, THE WRONG BOX, THE BLACK CAT (1934), DR. ZHIVAGO, KNIGHT WITHOUT ARMOR, ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST, BRIEF ENCOUNTER, FOOLS' PARADE, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, 49TH PARALLEL, REDS, NIGHT OF THE DEMON, MIND BENDERS, RED SUN, MAN WHO WOULD BE KING, CAT BALLOU, SON OF FRANKENSTEIN, SOME LIKE IT HOT, THE GREAT ESCAPE, GANDHI, and CAT PEOPLE (1982). I can honestly say I admire each of these films. I know people who admire TRADING PLACES, 42ND STREET, PASSAGE TO INDIA, BOWANI JUNCTION, and BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK, DREAMSCAPE, and SUPERMAN. An odd digression. At one point is seemed that most of the films Maurice Jarre scored had trains in them. Condsider this list: LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, SUNDAYS AND CYBELE, DR. ZHIVAGO, THE TRAIN, IS PARIS BURNING, THE PROFESSIONALS, RED SUN, THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING, PASSAGE TO INDIA. It seems to me there were a lot more, but they don't come as readily to mind. Mark Leeper ...ihnp4!mtgzz!leeper
mrgofor@mmm.UUCP (Michael Ross) (02/05/86)
In article <530@ssc-vax.UUCP> keith@ssc-vax.UUCP (Keith Nemitz) writes: >> 1927 A The General (silent comedy/suspense) >> 1934 A Twentieth Century (comedy) . . . >> 1982 Diva (French thriller)* >> > >How about 'Von-Ryan's Express'? american when???? The Adventures of Mark Twain?
stu16@whuxl.UUCP (Pippin) (02/11/86)
> > >Net.railroad (ARPA railroad list) has had what seemed to me > >a rather halfhearted series of articles on railway movies > >lately. I thought I could do better. Here are two lists of > >railway movies that I've seen that were good or excellent, > >in my opinion as a fan of both railways and movies. > > > >The first list is Railway Movies of the First Kind -- those > >where the train or railway (or *subway) occupies a major > >role throughout the movie. > > > >1927 A The General (silent comedy/suspense) > . > . > . > >1979 B The Great Train Robbery (caper - this is the one about the 1855 theft) > > > >Hmm, looks like we ought to be due for another one. > > Hmmm! I have heard good things about RUNAWAY TRAIN (1985). > The problem here is what is considered a good film. I like much of > HORROR EXPRESS (1972) but that is probably a minority opinion. There > is also EMPEROR OF THE NORTH POLE (1973). > > > > >And now, some good or excellent Railway Movies of the Second > >Kind - movies that are basically about something else, but > >where a train or railway (or *subway/el) takes a major part > >in one scene. > > > >1935 B The 39 Steps (thriller) (1959 B and 1978 B remakes not recommended) > . > . > . > >1982 Diva (French thriller)* > > Films I could add are YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, THE WRONG BOX, THE BLACK CAT > (1934), DR. ZHIVAGO, KNIGHT WITHOUT ARMOR, ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE > WEST, BRIEF ENCOUNTER, FOOLS' PARADE, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, 49TH > PARALLEL, REDS, NIGHT OF THE DEMON, MIND BENDERS, RED SUN, MAN WHO > WOULD BE KING, CAT BALLOU, SON OF FRANKENSTEIN, SOME LIKE IT HOT, THE > GREAT ESCAPE, GANDHI, and CAT PEOPLE (1982). I can honestly say I > admire each of these films. I know people who admire TRADING PLACES, > 42ND STREET, PASSAGE TO INDIA, BOWANI JUNCTION, and BAD DAY AT BLACK > ROCK, DREAMSCAPE, and SUPERMAN. > > An odd digression. At one point is seemed that most of the films > Maurice Jarre scored had trains in them. Condsider this list: > LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, SUNDAYS AND CYBELE, DR. ZHIVAGO, THE TRAIN, IS > PARIS BURNING, THE PROFESSIONALS, RED SUN, THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING, > PASSAGE TO INDIA. It seems to me there were a lot more, but they don't > come as readily to mind. > > Mark Leeper > ...ihnp4!mtgzz!leeper What about Strangers on a Train, Oriental Express and the one with Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor (can't remenber the name - Silver Streak?). Parts of Hello Dolly was filmed on the Erie-Lackawanna in Morris County, N.J. I'm sure there're more. (The Three Stooges had at least one). -- Pippin Stuart whuxl!stu16