In the movie Emperor Of The North, what part would you have played if you’d had the chance ?.
I personally would have wanted to be the lead hobo (#1) played by Lee Marvin…
Tracklayer
Worst “railroad” movie ever!
I wouldn’t want to be any of the 1 dimensional characters in the story, and I wouldn’t wish being involed with the production of the movie on my worst enemy!
nuff said,
George
Actually I just watched that movie, again, over the weekend.
I’m not sure what year this movie came out, but it’s one of the best I’ve seen.
Very well filmed and Lee Marvin and Ernie Borgnine do an excellent job of acting.
I really loved the steam action on the old O.P.& E.
To answer your qyestion, I would like to have been the engineer!
George, maybe you should stick to cartoons???
gtr
You’re absolutely right snickbuilder (George)!. What was I thinking… From now on I’m going to contact you before posting anymore topics about train movies because I want you to be 100% in agreement with things. One dimensional characters. I love this guy.
Tracklayer
Never ask for an opinion unless you are prepared to hear one that disagrees with yours. [;)]
But then, I have an unfair advantage. I have read the short story on which the movie is based - The Road - by Jack London. The movie doesn’t even come close.
Sorry,
George
I think it was first released in 1973… and if I had my choice of characters to play, I would be the engineer on ole number 19. It is my all time favorite RR movie !!!
Bob
After considerable thought, I’d like to be the guy back at the roundhouse holding the bets.[swg]
Best. Movie. Ever.
The Preacher dunking chicks in a creek with sheer white gowns wouldn’t be so bad of a part to have would it? [;)]
A no. 1:
“You ain’t stopping at this hotel, kid. My hotel! The stars at night, I put 'em there. And I know the presidents, all of them. And I go where I *** well please. Even the chairman of the New York Central can’t do it better. My road, kid, and I don’t give lessons and I don’t take partners. Your azz don’t ride this train!”
Yes, it was released in 1973.
Good choice, I forgot about that one.[:p]
Very good movie, purchased it, off ebay
Several folks come to mind that I’d like to see in the part of the hobo that gets cut in half by the cars at the opening of the movie…[xx(]
After reading this thread and never hearing of the movie I will have to go out and rent it!
Once again Mark B. you’ve inspired me, Many Thanks
Fergie[:D]
now where did I put that bag of salt…
Ah the ongoing struggle of “Good and Evil” portrayed by one demensional characters, just the kind of thing a Senator from Wisconsin (or was it Minnesota?) would love to investigate.
Will
I would play the engineer. Who could resist running a steamer?
I think it’s one of the very best train movies made. Great actors, superb scenery, neat story and really cool trains. Maybe it didn’t compare to the Jack London book but on it’s own it’s a super flick that no self-respecting railfan should miss.
My favorite train flick is Boxcar Bertha. A really crappy bunch of acting but the scenes of the Reader RR make the cost of admission worth it!
Roger
Be prepared. The violence in this movie is very graphic – one of the reasons I object to it so much. In the opening sequence that you talk about the camera actually follows to “bo” under the train and out back end.
Perhaps I would have liked the movie better if there were more movies out there that painted a more realistic view of the lives of hobo’s and trainmen. But there aren’t and this moive paints all trainmen as being heartless and cruel and hobos as being noble “Knights of the Road” forced to wonder the country by Evil Corporate America and frankly, I get sick of that Marxist tripe.
However, I will admit that the train footage is great.
Cheer,
George
But George, the violence of the movie is part of what makes it so great. It has a gritty feel which makes it so realistic for the depression era in which it is set. Forget about the political aspect, those were tough times.
It has great trains, great acting, great action, laughs, and drama, which is why Trains Magazine voted it one of the top 10 train movies of all time.
Shame on you Fergie.[swg] In your honor, I’m putting the tape in now.
Mark, I shudder to think who is of your list to suffer the hobo’s fate, but now that you mention it, I suppose I could create my own list.[:0][;)]
George,That movie is set in the “Great Depression”-why do they call it that anyway? What was so “Great” about it?-when times was lean and mean on everybody…And yes,Hobos was NOT welcome on any railroad and would be thrown off trains moving or stop…
Now,I doubt if any brakeman or conductor would deliberately cause the death of a 'bo…BTW…The Great Depression was the high point of the hobo era.
And above all when did Corporate America care about anybody?[}:)] That would be a CNN breaking news story.[:0]
I love that movie. Good train stuff!
I’ll let Jack London, who actually “rode the rails” answer that one:
“A bad road is usually one on which a short time previously one or several trainmen have been killed by tramps. Heaven pity the tramp who is caught “underneath” on such a road — for caught he is, though the train be going sixty miles an hour.”
My father in law rode the rails during the Great Depression and never witnessed violence on the scale of what is depicted in Emperor of the North.
Actually, no it wouldn’t. While Robert F. Kennedy Jr was blaming hurricane Katrina on the Bush Administration’s “failure” to ratify the Kyoto Protocol’s (never mind 99 Senator of a Democrat controlled Senate voted it down) Walmart pledged over 15 million in hurricane relief - that didn’t make CNN news.
BTW we have this very nice forum and website, great trains and supplies for our layouts etc, etc all due to “Corporate America”. Unless you are on welfare, work for the government, are unemployed, or self-employed Corporate America puts food on your table, provides the cars you drive and the computers (and associated infrastructure) that you complain about Corporate America on.
I’d much rather see a movie version of Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged.
Cheers,
George
Great Train Movie, grit and violence sure, but not nearly as heavy as most of the PG-13 stuff comming out today. My only bad opinion of this flick, (and YES, I’m hoping someone agrees with me) is the title track. Frankly ,it sucks.
bobt