Watched a Train movie on FX. Emperor of the North.

Best railroading movie ever filmed.

My favorite railroad movie!

I think much of the hobo character in Polar Express is a rip off of Lee Marvin's role in Emperor of the North, which was originally to be called Emperor of the North Pole.

Love the movie.  The locomotive, McCloud River No. 19, now resides at the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Ohio where it is being restored to operational condition (supposedly).  I saw it in a somewhat disassembled state there a couple of years ago.  If it does run again, and they do some rides with it, they need to sell T-shirts that read "I rode Shack's train."

Andy

@MichRR714 posted:

My favorite railroad movie!

I think much of the hobo character in Polar Express is rip off of Lee Marvin's role in Emperor of the North, which was originally to be called Emperor of the North Pole.

He does yell at the end "you coulda been emperor of the north pole kid..." They probably renamed it so parents could bring their kids to see a Christmas movie LOL.  It is by far the best railroad movie out there.

Saw it when it first came out in 1973 and have the DVD.

One of the best railroad movies ever made. 👍

Loved it.

In the minority on this movie, evidently, yet I found the story very weak. Great actors in Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine, and some great RR scenes and action makes me tune into it every and again just for that.

I can remember many years ago (early 90s) when Starz/Encore was launched, this was one of the films that would air repeatedly late at night. I was a young teenager at the time, but I would stay up and watch it on weekends because… well, trains.

It’s an interesting film that documents a difficult time for many in American history, and bases the characters and settings on significant literary works of the late 19th century.

I always knew it as “Emperor of the North” because that’s what it was billed as on home media and TV at the time. It was indeed renamed from “Emperor of the North Pole” upon re-release so  that it wasn’t mistaken for a holiday film.

It’s one of my favorites, and I think it should be part of our National Film history if it isn’t already.

"That's not a chicken! It's a dog."

Never seen it.

@Andy Hummell posted:

Love the movie.  The locomotive, McCloud River No. 19, now resides at the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Ohio where it is being restored to operational condition (supposedly).  I saw it in a somewhat disassembled state there a couple of years ago.  If it does run again, and they do some rides with it, they need to sell T-shirts that read "I rode Shack's train."

Andy

I might travel there just to earn that tee-shirt!

My personal favorite railroad movie.  Not much in the way of plot, but the railroading action and period of Americana is great, anchored by two fantastic actors in Borgnine and Marvin.

It would be better with a different Director and blood that doesn't look like Rustoleom Fire Engine Red.

Jon

@jhz563 posted:

I might travel there just to earn that tee-shirt!

If you are ever in the area and can make one of their tours, the AOS Roundhouse is an awesome place to visit.

Back to the movie, I agree that the directing and production values are a little dated or primitive by today's standards, but I don't judge anything from the past based on today's standards -- everything must be looked at in context.  The plot is the most simple, and probably the oldest plot in human history -- the conflict/competition between two strong-willed individuals with opposing goals.  That being said, I enjoy it at least once a year for Borgnine, Marvin, Carradine, the train action and the scenery.

Andy

@KOOLjock1 posted:

It would be better with a different Director ...

One and the same with the guy who directed The Flight of the Phoenix, The Dirty Dozen, and The Longest Yard?

I really enjoy movies, books, etc. when I can relate to at least one of the main characters or identify some aspect of humanity in them. However, the only characters I could relate too were the engineer and fireman, and their roles were very limited. With that said, Ernest Borgnine's excellent portrayal as the malicious conductor was spot-on.

What ultimately sunk this movie (for me as a steam-era movie critic ) was excessive violence and Keith Carradine's character - "kid" and the story's attempt to make him an antagonist of Bull played by veteran actor (and WWII veteran of the USMC) Lee Marvin. That relationship came across as contrived or simply phony-baloney.

Here is the trailer from 1973.

I saw this movie and if you like action movies, this is for you!

Hope to see you out rail-fanning: Gary 🚂

If it's on FX I'll have to set my DVR.  Thanks @eddie g

@MichRR714 posted:

My favorite railroad movie!

I think much of the hobo character in Polar Express is a rip off of Lee Marvin's role in Emperor of the North, which was originally to be called Emperor of the North Pole.

I went to see the movie at the theater when it first came out, I have seen the movie on TV (years ago), I have the DVD and I have only known the movie to be called "The Emperor of the North". Where this naming "...North Pole" stuff comes from I don't know.  I have only seen you folks here on the OGR Forums refer to it that way!

I like the movie.

I purposely called it a "railroading" movie, and not a "train" movie. Simply because when we get into these discussions, folks bring up their favorite "train" movie that might have a train scene or two.

This movie captures "railroading." Working in the pit in the roundhouse, sitting in the cupola having a sandwich, pulling the throttle, running through switches. It's the grittiest, most realistic depiction of "railroading" I have seen. The scene of the trains just barely missing each other at the passing siding seems to have been filmed in real time--amazing.

I especially love the costuming--everything is simply spot-on, especially Hogger and Coalie's gear.