Review of Breakheart Pass (1975) by Jesse Z — 21 Dec 2010
*** out of 4 stars.
Charles Bronson stars as a mysterious man with few words. The film's main weakness is its thinly drawn characters. Eventually all identities are revealed and explained but the characters are merely props for the plot. No real depth is added to the characters. The film is a cross between "The Cassandra Crossing" (1976) and "Murder on the Orient Express" (1974). What is impressive though is its costumes, settings, props and the train itself that reflect the period of the late 1800s. Most of the film is set onboard the train and suspense and tension are generated when several murders are committed. The claustrophobic and dark interiors of the train add onto the tension. There are several impressive performances, including Ed Lauter as a no-nonsense general and Richard Crenna as the Nevada govenor. The plot is mainly a whodunit, and at times quite convoluted. I am not sure I understand the reason for why or how certain things happen. The last twenty minutes is a cowboys and Indians shootout that is commonplace for this kind of semi-western film.
This review of Breakheart Pass (1975) was written by Jesse Z on 21 Dec 2010.
Breakheart Pass has generally received positive reviews.
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