THE GREAT LOCOMOTIVE CHASE

US, 1956, 85 minutes, Colour.
Fess Parker, Jeffrey Hunter, Jeff York, John Lupton, Eddie Firestone, Kenneth Tobey, Don Megowan, Claude Jarman Jnr, Harry Carey Jnr.
Directed by Francis D. Lyon.

The Great Locomotive Chase is based on an actual Civil War story (which was used for comedy effect by Buster Keaton in The General).

The film opens with a group of Unionists being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the first presentation in history. The film then goes into flashback to illustrate the episode for which they are being honoured. The episode focuses on the work of undercover agent James J. Andrews. He is played by Fess Parker, a rather tall, stolid screen presence who achieved success in film and television as both Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone. He is the leader of the Unionists penetrating into Georgia and Confederate strongholds in order to seize a train and help the taking of Chattanooga. There is an odd bunch of men who go with him, ranging from William Pittinger (John Lupton) who wrote up the events and is supportive, and Jeff York as William Campbell who is a continual danger because of his irascibility against the Confederates. The Confederates are played more sympathetically even though they are highly critical of the Union, especially the man in pursuit of the train, William A. Fuller played by Jeffrey Hunter. Kenneth Tobey is Anthony Murphy, the manager of the railroad.

Audiences unfamiliar with the story may think it is predictable. However, the locomotive chase is often very desperate, the Unionists only a few kilometres ahead of the Confederates, trying all their devices to get the train moving by taking up tracks, blocking the tracks, cutting down telegraph wires. However, there is a surprise when the train is taken and the Unionists are imprisoned. James J. Andrews is presented as a very loyal and upright man, supportive of his men, failing ultimately in taking the train and condemned to death by the Confederates. His final gesture is to respect Fuller and ask for him to shake his hand.

The film was made in the mid-50s, at a time when the Disney Studios were developing full-length live action stories like this one.

1. An entertaining Civil War story? As perceived in the 1950s? The patriotic American perspective on the Civil War? The attitudes towards the North, towards the South?

2. The cast, Fess Parker as the solid and stolid American hero? Noble and right-minded? Loyal and patriotic? Jeffrey Hunter as the Confederate, committed to the cause, committed to his pursuit of the train? Also an honourable man? The range of men in Andrews’ Raiders, Campbell and his criticisms, Pittinger and his leadership?

3. The Washington sequences, Georgia, Tennessee? The atmosphere of the 1860s? Sets and décor, costumes? Georgia and the South? The households? The countryside? The towns and prisons?

4. The locomotive, the tracks, the countryside? The action sequences for the pursuit?

5. The Congressional Medal of Honour, its being presented to the men, Pittinger’s memories? The tribute to Andrews?

6. Andrews in himself, cover, penetrating the South? Getting information? The pressure on him as a double agent, the strains on his sense of honesty and integrity? Deceiving people? This continuing throughout the episode with the locomotive, how it affected the other men – and the reflections on the demands, emotionally and in conscience for spies?

7. The mission, the military value? Getting weapons? Preventing the South moving weapons? The taking of the train, the reinforcements at Chattanooga? The progress of the war? The particular perspective on battles, defeats and victories?

8. Fuller, a gentleman, meeting Andrews on the train, their discussions? The discovery that the train had gone, his running in pursuit, getting the wagon, with Mr Murphy? The relentless pursuit, getting all kinds of help, trying to telegraph? The ultimate taking of the train? His success? His visiting Andrews in the prison, Andrews’ respect for him, wanting to make peace before he died?

9. The group of men, their military background and criticism of Andrews for being a civilian? Pittinger and his loyalty? Their wanting adventure? Their travelling over land, their cover story, meeting up, with the family, the meal, Campbell in danger of anger? Having to sing the songs, the toasts, to rejoice about the defeats of the North? On the train, the danger from Campbell giving things away? Diplomacy? Andrews and his leadership, the discussions amongst the men, their following him? The devices for stopping the pursuing train, the tracks, logs, the bridge – and the bridge not being fired and so their mission not being fully successful? The different personalities? Their finally being captured, using their cover story, all in the prison together?

10. The prison sequences, the attitude of the guards? Their plan, military techniques? The escape, some being recaptured, Andrews and his saving Campbell? Andrews and his execution?

11. A satisfying adventure? Played rather literally – in the straightforward style of the 1950s, and