ROBERT PETRICK Do movies in which trains have only a very small bit part count? The Untouchables: Dead eye Andy Garcia punching a bad guy's ticket in Chicago.
Do movies in which trains have only a very small bit part count?
The Untouchables: Dead eye Andy Garcia punching a bad guy's ticket in Chicago.
Sure! Some of the films already mentioned above have only small roles for trains. I should have included The Untouchables for the classic stairway scene. I used to take those stairs every morning to get Metra when I lived in downtown Chicago.
Andy
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Milwaukee native modeling the Milwaukee Road in 1950's Milwaukee.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/196857529@N03/
The Sting: Scene in the station, and poker playing and pick-pocketing on board The Century Limited.
A League of Their Own: Two girls, one long-legged and one regular-legged, chasing down and boarding a passenger train out in the sticks. Jon Lovett giving a lady in the observation parlor car a small thrill.
Witness: Young Amish boy standing under the rescuing angel in Philly's 30th Street Station.
Small bits, great scenes.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
A great film noir from NFB Canada is Paul Tomkowicz: Street Railway Switchman (1953).
In this film, Paul Tomkowicz, Polish-born Canadian, talks about his job and his life in Canada. He compares his new life in the city of Winnipeg to the life he knew in Poland, marvelling at the freedom Canadians enjoy. In winter the rail-switches on streetcar tracks in Winnipeg froze and jammed with freezing mud and snow. Keeping them clean, whatever the weather, was the job of the switchman.
https://www.nfb.ca/film/paul_tomkowicz_street_railway_switchman/
"Twenty-three year now in Winnipeg, sweeping the switches. Sweep 'em up — sweep 'em up".
There's a few blurry copies on YouTube but the best resolution print is at the NFB.
Regards, Ed
As long as we are letting some later films in, I recommend the powerful 2003 Czech film "Most." Nominated for an Oscar, it centers on a man who operates a railway bridge. It's only about 1/2 hour long. The first part - with subtitles - is here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6kvV2qGWIg
October Sky is a fantastic movie. But just about anything with Chris Cooper is...
Still need to see Matewan.
Two depicting Coal Country: (sorry, I didn't see the disclaimer "pre 1970")
Matewan: 1987
Great scenes around Thurmond and the New River area.
Mingo County, West Virginia, 1920. Coal miners, struggling to form a union, are up against company operators and the gun thugs of the notorious Baldwin-Felts detective agency. Black and Italian miners, brought in by the company to break the strike, are caught between the two forces.
October Sky: 1999
The true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner's son who was inspired by the first Sputnik launch to take up rocketry against his father's wishes.
Chris Cooper again. Based on "The Rocket Boys". Features O. Winston Link in the engineer's seat of the Southern 4501.
Has anyone mentioned Von Ryan's Express 1965 ? I remember seeing that in the theater!
dti406 White Christmas has the stars going from Miami to Vermont first on the Santa Fe to New York and from NewYork to Vermont on the SP showing them arriving at the Dunsmir CA station. Rick Jesionowski
White Christmas has the stars going from Miami to Vermont first on the Santa Fe to New York and from NewYork to Vermont on the SP showing them arriving at the Dunsmir CA station.
Rick Jesionowski
The one train is a mail train too.
Is that really the station? I've tried to track it down and the older station (not the current Amtrak one) has different canopies and platforms.
"La bete humaine" ("The Human Beast"), a French classic by Jean Renoir, has a number of train scenes, as the main character (played by Jean Gabin) is a train engineer on a Pacific. It is interesting that in France (at least at that time) the engineer was on the left-hand side (when looking in the direction of travel), as the signals were placed on that side.
The link below shows the longest scene involving trains in the movie. It includes taking up water from a track pan from the view of the engineer and fireman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XpkR6sV_tg
York1 "The plan was to shoot the train hurtling toward the audience, almost like a 3-D movie, but it would have been deadly to attempt a helicopter maneuver into the path of a speeding locomotive. Stunt flier Paul Mantz offered the perfect solution: have the train running backwards, fly the copter over the retreating engine, then project the footage in reverse." "Southern Pacific Railroad agreed to run the train to Lone Pine, CA, for $5,500 and the cost of 265 round-trip passenger tickets. According to John Sturges, the train had to be run backwards--light cars first, engine in the rear--and slowly, due to concerns about some old bridges, taking about 18 hours to get there from the city." https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047849/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
"The plan was to shoot the train hurtling toward the audience, almost like a 3-D movie, but it would have been deadly to attempt a helicopter maneuver into the path of a speeding locomotive. Stunt flier Paul Mantz offered the perfect solution: have the train running backwards, fly the copter over the retreating engine, then project the footage in reverse."
"Southern Pacific Railroad agreed to run the train to Lone Pine, CA, for $5,500 and the cost of 265 round-trip passenger tickets. According to John Sturges, the train had to be run backwards--light cars first, engine in the rear--and slowly, due to concerns about some old bridges, taking about 18 hours to get there from the city."
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047849/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
I have never seen "The Titfield Thunderbolt." In fact, before today, I've never even heard of it. I will have to check to see if it is scheduled on any American channel.
I read the background info on "Bad Day at Black Rock".
This is from IMDB:
York1 John
Possibly not released in the US, "The Titfield Thunderbolt" a 1953 British comedy. Cheers, the Bear
Possibly not released in the US, "The Titfield Thunderbolt" a 1953 British comedy.
Cheers, the Bear
I should point out that "The Titfield Thunderbolt" was in colour (Technicolour, using three separate negatives photographed through different filters, for those interested). I saw it on TV only last week on aq weekday afternoon -who says there no advantages to isolation...
It is a classic movie. I think it was the first movie I ever saw in a cinema at age 5.
The opening sequence is, like many of these movies, absolutely amazing.
Peter
York1 How about this great train opening of "Bad Day at Black Rock"? This is a Spanish version but the train is great.
How about this great train opening of "Bad Day at Black Rock"? This is a Spanish version but the train is great.
Having just watched the clip, there are two trains...
The earliest scenes show SP 6151 plus B unit, three articulated car sets and an observation. The train that arrives at "Black Rock" is SP6386 plus B unit, a diner, two articulated car sets and an observation.
To address the "North by Northwest" ending, the train heading into the tunnel is also headed by SP F units. Presumably this is the couple returning to New York from Rapid City (or wherever the FBI let them go).
White Christmas is great for its train scenes. Really gives a flavor for railroading in the post WW2 era.
If I remember right, Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) has Cagney's family either waiting in the depot for a train, or riding a train, or both.
I have added Human Desire to my list. I'm a huge noir fan; can't believe I haven't seen that one yet..
In the "short film" category I recommend the classic Twilight Zone episode "Stopover in a Quiet Town" (1964), where a train ride and station play a key role.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
For James Bond fans, From Russia with Love has a long sequence on the Orient Express from Istanbul.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
This Property is Condemned has lots of L&N and The Flim Flam man L&N also.
Russell
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
"In The Heat of The Night" starring Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger and GM&O E-7A 103. Rail scenes also include some MOPAC action on the banks of the Mississippi River and a fight in a deserted shop area. Closing credits feature aerial shots of a GM&O short passenger consist leaving "Sparta".
Here's a fun one: The Railrodder. One of Keaton's last films from the mid-60s shows him cruising around Canada on CN trackage thru the country, city, yards etc on a MoW hand cart of sorts, avoiding F units and switchers in a sequence of typical sight gags. Stumbled on this one this morning (along with "Portable House" from 1920 which has a famous scene of a steam train demolishing his home).
The guy really did seem to have a thing for trains.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYmcN12M97o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ni2aAhjaMI
...and just for fun:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Moh2l7udjio
Bad Day at Black Rock. Oh my gosh. So embarrassed I forgot this great film! Beautiful footage.
York1 If I remember, didn't they fly on a Northwest plane from Chicago to Rapid City?
If I remember, didn't they fly on a Northwest plane from Chicago to Rapid City?
Yes you are correct!
Human Desire with Glenn Ford and Gloria Grahame.
Gary
tstageActually, that would the NYC 20th Limited passenger cars with "window scenes" along the east side of the Hudson, between Harmon and Albany, NY. The "Great Hall" would be the famous NYC Grand Cental Station in downtown Manhattan. Obviously the NYC didn't go as far as South Dakota so another appropriate locomotive would have needed to be used for the west of St. Louis shots.
Stand My Be (1986),but set in the 1950s.
The TRAIN! scene is one of the iconic moments in the movie.
There is some foul language in the clip, so I did not post the video.
The engineer is sounding the whistle, but he is running that locomotive on full bore and not touching the brakes.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Will add those to the list. Have not seen either, but always enjoy Jack Lemmon.
The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit (1956) with Gregory Peck has some Long Island RR commuter train action.
Holiday Affair (1949?) with Robert Mitchum (one of my favorites) and Janet Leigh (looking impossibly good), has both model trains and a real train as part of the plot.
The silent films of Helen Holmes often featured dangerous stunts involving trains of that era - some priceless views. The Hazards of Helen. I believe she did her own stunts. The Perils of Pauline and some of the Keystone Kops films also have great train sequences. Trains feature in more than one Buster Keaton silent as well.
Dave Nelson
The Out of Towners (1970) - An Ohio sales executive accepts a higher position within the company and travels to New York City with his wife for his job interview but things go wrong from the start. Starring Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis.
It Happened to Jane (1959) - Jane Osgood runs a lobster business, which supports her two young children. Railroad staff inattention ruins her shipment, so with her lawyer George, Jane sues Harry Foster Malone, director of the line and the "meanest man in the world". Starring Doris Day, Jack Lemmon, and Ernie Kovacs.
D'oh, yes you are right. It has been too long since I've watched NxNW or I would have remembered that!
I also forgot to mention two post-1970 films that have a special place in my heart:
The Taking of Pelham 123
and
The Warriors.
The Milwaukee Road WarriorNorth by Northwest (1955) - Hitchcock classic with extended sequences on an ATSF (I believe), and a great scene inside a classic era station's Great Hall.
Andy,
Actually, that would the NYC 20th Limited passenger cars with "window scenes" along the east side of the Hudson, between Harmon and Albany, NY. The "Great Hall" would be the famous NYC Grand Cental Station in downtown Manhattan.
Obviously the NYC didn't go as far as South Dakota so another appropriate locomotive would have needed to be used for the west of St. Louis shots.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
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