In a message dated 8/13/01 5:34:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< "The Train", and
he had never seen it before. He said that it was a MUST SEE for any
steam locomotive nut. Several in cab shots, nice run bys, train wrecks,
car coupling (German style), and some shots from underneath the
locomotive while it was being re-railed. It' black and white film stock,
but filmed in 1964. I'm figuring that the B&W aspect will really add to
the "feel" of the movie, and probably be of rather good quality by it
being filmed so late in the B&W years. It apparently features mostly(?)
German locomotives since it concerns, "The French Resistance tries to
stop a Nazi train". (According to my cable guide.)
It doesn't appear that it will air again this month on TCM, but maybe
it'll be available in video rental shops.
I hadn't heard of it (or seen it yet) and thought others may enjoy a
good steam locomotive film as well. >>
This is the best and it is available on DVD. The movie stars Burt Lancaster
doing most of his own stunts. They wreck 3 locomotives big time. All in black
and white with NO model train stand ins. The big scene is when the Brits
bomb a French rail terminal and they actually buried many tons of TNT under
the yard and BLEW it up, trains and all.
The story is good, the acting is good and the train stuff is very authentic.
Burt and the boys actually operate the train. In one scene Burt pours babit
into a main rod bearing on a Mogul and then lifts (he be stronger than me)
the rod and carries it to the engine.
Another shot is the Spitfire straffing the train. Real Spit and some wild
stopping of the engine at the end inside a tunnel.
Be sure to view the making of on the DVD. Everytime I have an open house this
movie gets played in its entirety.
Another train flick that just hit the DVD shelves is Von Ryans Express. Not
as good, but it is railroading. Now if they would put Bite The Bullet on DVD,
what a great world it would be.
Roger Cutter
