BREAKHEART PASS

US, 1975, 94 minutes, Colour.
Charles Bronson, Ben Johnson, Jill Ireland, Richard Crenna, Charles Durning.
Directed by Tom Gries.

Breakheart Pass is fairly action-packed and this, despite the fact that it has one of the most rapidly diminishing casts in recent films. This is quite a train ride amid spectacular scenery (with bridges for men and trains to plunge from), a political, military and business group of passengers, many of whom are not what they seem. But Charles Bronson is there and naturally, despite some initial apprehensions, he is what he seems, only more so. Alistair Mc Lean wrote it (with the usual mystery ingredients) and seems determined to make sure that murder, the secret service and the American West will provide as much adventure as possible.

1. Audience expectations from the ingredients of this film: the western background. Alistair Mc Lean and his style, a murder mystery. Charles Bronson adventure? How well are these ingredients blended? Audience expectations fulfilled?

2. The title and the emphasis on a place: the use of locations. Nevada, its look and its atmosphere. towns, the railroad, mountains and snow. bridges and passes? The location as background for the journey. dangers. death? The effect of being immersed in the atmosphere?

3. The structure of the train trip. a sense of direction, a developing mystery? How plausible? Audience interest and involvement? The portrayal of the train. its detail? The achievement of the journey? The audience sharing the trip?

4. The use of western conventions for the atmosphere of the film? Nineteenth Century America. remoteness and isolation, the use of the railroad. the Governor and his entourage. troops. the way of life in the towns, marshals and criminals? The conventions of deaths. the Indians. guns. gold?

5. The quality of the murder mystery? The use of the train trip. the two soldiers disappearing initially, the Reverend, the doctor? The massacre of the troops. the fireman? Were sufficient clues provided? The building-up of suspicions. the range of suspects? Was this a satisfying puzzle. the interests of the twists?

6. The theme of appearance and reality? How credible the characters and the events? The appearance of the clues? The story of the epidemic, the remote town, the various inconsistencies?

7. The character of Fairchild.. seemingly a good Governor,, the gradual revelation of his villainy? The conventional marshal doing his job. his character. his participation in the plot? Marica. as heroine, under suspicion. helping John Deakin?

8. The contribution of the doctor. the minister. the real identity of these men? The fireman, the leader of the troops. their contribution as characters?

9. The film's emphasis on Deakin as hero? Charles Bronson and his style, audience liking of this? His seemingly bad. the transition to good. his varying skills. tricks? His fights and confrontation of danger? (All done in suit and tie). What kind of hero was he? How plausible the heroics?

10. The emphasis of brutality in the town of Humboldt? The massacre of the soldier? The main criminal?

11. The role of the Indians. used by corrupt Governor and brutal murderers. their wanting guns. the clash with them at the end?

12. Comment on the presentation of the set danger pieces: the murders, falling from trains. the bridges. troops etc., battles?

13. Comment on the impact of the finale, the Indians,, the Cavalry, John Deakin's heroics? Appropriate for this film or a bit much?

14. Why do adventure ingredients like this always appeal? The atmosphere of legend and stories larger than life and their interest?