Train Movies

I recently saw a silly but amusing film called "End Of The Line" from 1989 that stars Wilford Brimley and Levon Helm. It's got some funny prototype action (a GP?) and a cool HO model as well.

 

Anyone else remember The Titfield Thunderbolt?? it was a British comedy about a community (Titfield) that was about to have its branch line abandoned. The villagers took matters into their own hands to run the line. When the protagonists wrecked the train inadvertently the museum piece in front of the station was resurrected. The whole thing was very "Monty Python" or Mel Brooks. One of the funniest movies I've ever seen. :shade:

 

I'll take a stronger position on that one. I place Runaway Train among my favorite movies. The real value for me is in the story and the commentary on what it means to win or lose in life. The acting and cinematography are first rate. The train scenes are just a terrific bonus! :thumbs_up:

If you are a rail fan, enjoy movies and haven't seen this one.... What are you waiting for?!mg:

 

Fellow rails,I'm new to TrainBoard, but just happened onto this thread..Not too long ago I took out a video(tape,not DVD)from the library(Glendale,Ca.)titled "Hurricane Express".This might be the very first movie with John Wayne.It's probably late 1930s.Wayne is an air pilot for Co. in direct competition with the railroad for passenger travel.. His dad,an train engineer, is killed by "the wrecker",a mysterious person causing train wrecks..Wasn't sure, but it looks to be a 2-8-4(w/Vanderbuilt tender) the dad climbs aboard in the opening scene..VERY FIRST shot of movie is view from the turntable,turning loco into position!!John says to dad.."Well,there she is dad,your pride and joy,the Hurricane Express !"...Go find this old black and white movie if you want to see GREAT 1940s American steam in action throughout entire reel..!!..MarkINLA

 

That film was released as a serial adventure. One would see a new chapter each week or so at the local "flick".

It was one of the first serials that was shown on early T.V. I remember
watching it in the early 50's when we got our first T.V.
Instantly became a favorite of mine. I was thrilled to see it come out on videotape, so I bought a copy. Dont know if it's on DVD yet.

CT

PS welcome to Trainboard

 

Well, I haven't seen it mentioned here but once and that was very early in the thread.....

"The Train" in black and white with Burt Lancaster. An excellent John Frankenheimer film from 1964.

I was lucky enough to find a DVD copy of it in Hong Kong a few years ago and watch it a few times a year just for the breathtaking shots of rolling trains through the yards.

The acting wasn't too bad either!!

If you can catch it on some Movie Channel special, be sure and Tivo it for the save!

AD

 

Charlie,in responce to your reply about "Hurricane";I did not know it was a serial in the 50s..I was in NY just starting with the hobby and completely missed that!!Do you mean all the episodes were on this same Hurricane express and thus one I saw was the final(because it exposes 'the Wrecker'..).? If so,are the others aorund?.Also,was it aired on TV or only in movie houses(which is how I may have missed it)?....Another(silent) movie not mentioned in thread is "The General"
Buster Keaton is an engineer during the civil war..Great footage of those old 4-4-0s and that very light rail in use,even up to the movie era it was shot in..The Disney movie "Great Locomotive Chase" is a near parellell to it but,in my opinion not as good...Mark

 

It was a movie serial in the 1930s and eventually played on TV in the early 50's. CRS exactly when we got our first TV, I think it was in 1952.
The VHS tape I have is the whole serial. It is really "hammy" but it's a
story about trains, and those were/are my heroes. Another benefit is
seeing a VERY YOUNG John Wayne. I dunno how widespread the TV
exposure was, but this was on a Chicago TV station. I dont remember
it being a network program.

CT

 

"The Train" Excellent movie. From what I hear and read and experienced, once, the SS yardmasters appear to have trained some of their American counterparts very well. The only question I have is do the Yank yardmasters get to carry Schmeiser (MP40) submachine guns? Do they count as a, "corrective measure" under Union rules?

There is one from the 30's called "Other Mens Women" that is a typical 30's romance (schmaltz, schmaltz, more schmaltz, and then a moralistsic ending). But, in the background, for most of the movie, is a collection of early SP (?) locomotives. Several high driver Atlantics (me thinks..it was back in '98 when I saw it, and it was about 0300 hrs.) and yard shots. It was by Vitaphone.

 

Not a major movie, but trains played a big part: The Railrodder. It is a Film Board of Canada production that was used as a tourism promotion. It stars Buster Keaton, riding a speeder across Canada. Great train shots and sight gags.

Dave G
Cache Valley & Northern RR

 

The Train is one of the best movies with trains in it that I have seen. I caught it on PBS of all places. Anyone remember the Disaster on the Coastliner? It was an old 70ish disaster style movie. William Shatner has to save a trainload of passengers from a crazed engineer. Also, the classic Narrow Margin with Gene Hackman and Anne Archer.

 

Can't believe this one hasn't come up.
What about the movie that takes place on a very famous train but is mostly interior shots. Murder mystery..... come on, you know it.
Agatha Christie. ------ on the ------ -------
Six Oscar nominations with Ingrid Bergman winning best supporting.

The Train Is my all time favorite with the Emperor of the North being second. I have not seen the Hurricane express but now I want to find it.
Steve F

 

Try any of the video catalogs. If you dont see it in the catalog, give
their custormer service # a call. They may have it in their vaults.
That is how I got my copy of "End of the Line".

CT

 

Don't forget "The General"

We can't forget one of the most classic train movies of American cinema. I'm talking about Buster Keaton's "The General." Great movie, and I saw a pretty good DVD release of it recently.

Adam

 

A real gem is "Denver & Rio Grande" with Sterling Hayden and Dean Jagger. Filmed in the early 1950's on the narrow gauge Silverton line. The line is now the "Durango & Silverton" tourist line.
Some excellent n/g steam action and in colour no less.

 

Steve F,

Murder on the Orient Express (i was waiting for it too)

And, how about:

Mission Impossible (Tom Cruise, first movie, TGV i believe)
The Peacemaker (George Clooney, in former USSR)
Midnight Run (De Niro etc)

The Great Train Robbery (Sean Connery)
(unless i missed it in an earlier post)

The Fugitive (at the beginning, where they wreck a train
without using any computer digital effects)

 

My turn:

Bridge Over The River Kwi (so cool when they blow up the bridge at the end)

Wild, Wild, West

 

Charles Bronson

The movie "Breakhart Pass" with Charles Bronson has a lot of train content. A real who dunit. People keep ending up dead on the train a Bronson trademark.