Movie Review – Breakheart Pass
A train carrying resupply troops and medicine for a stricken outpost gets an unexpected passenger, a man wanted for murder. As the journey begins, things start going wrong, and only the accused murderer seems to know whats happening.
What happens when an author known writing modern day, or wartime thrillers, turns his hand to westerns? Well you get Breakheart Pass. Alistair MacLean, perhaps best known for books that became movies such as Where Eagles Dare (I know, the book came after), Guns of Navarone, When Eight Bells Toll, The Golden Rendezvous, Fear Is the Key, wrote the screenplay for the movie which plays just like one of his books.
You have one of his most classic hooks, a character who is believed to be something, turns out not only to be different but also knows whats going on. For a western there is a lack of horses and general cowboy action but you never forget what genre of movie it is. Set almost continually onboard a steam train, the action is contained with a lot of things happening out of sight of the viewers and main characters.
To carry off such a movie where there is more than just guns firing takes a strong cast and Breakheart Pass does have one. The lead of Deakin is played by the perfectly understated Charles Bronson, perhaps one of the coolest actors ever. Various characters are played by Ben Johnson, Richard Crenna, Jill Ireland and Charles Durning, all perfectly suited to their roles.
There are flaws as there are with any movie. Saddles hidden under Indian blankets, rubber swords tend to break the spell a little but Breakheart Pass is a great look at a western from a different angle, rather than bad cowboys vs good cowboys, or cowboys and Indians, the movie mixes it all up and then puts it as the background to a thriller that would work in any genre.
Breakheart Pass is a great movie if you want a thriller, an OK movie if you want a traditional western, and a fun movie if you are looking for a way to pass some time!
Tags: Alistair MacLean, Breakheart Pass, Charles Bronson, Golden Rendezvous, Jill Ireland, Richard Crenna, When Eight Bells Toll, Where Eagles Dare
