A good time is guaranteed when one sits down to watch this exhilarating blend of action, Western, and suspense - largely set on a train. Based on the novel by Alistair MacLean, and scripted by the author himself, it has an engaging plot with twists and revelations along the way.

Charles Bronson delivers a fine performance as John Deakin, a wanted man who is brought aboard a train headed to Fort Humboldt, which is supposedly experiencing an outbreak of diphtheria. We'll find that things are not as they seem, and the characters cannot be taken at face value, either.

The phenomenal supporting cast is a pleasure to watch; there are so many good actors in one place here. Ben Johnson, Jill Ireland (looking quite beautiful),Richard Crenna, Charles Durning, Ed Lauter, Bill McKinney, David Huddleston, Roy Jenson, Robert Tessier (who curiously seems to be dubbed by Paul Frees),and Sally Kirkland are all present and accounted for; the young trooper Rafferty is played by Paul Newmans' son Scott.

The action is first-rate and the movie, just like the prominent mode of transportation, races forward. Tom Gries directs first unit, with the legendary Yakima Canutt handling the second unit and the stunt coordination. Among the highlights are an intense fight between Bronson and boxing champ Archie Moore (who plays the dubious chef Carlos),and an incredible train crash. And it's all done in the classic tradition without the modern tendency to rely heavily on special effects.

We already know we're going to have some serious fun with the opening credits, courtesy of Phill Norman, accompanied by a majestic, powerful, catchy main theme by Jerry Goldsmith, which this reviewer can still hear in his head as he types this. The movie gets right down to business, with a good solid story that has no need for filler, and which moves right along to a nicely executed action climax. The movie's got something for a variety of tastes, and makes for mighty fine escapism, which manages to remain fun on repeat viewings.

Eight out of 10.

The plot to "Breakheart Pass" is really tough to believe. There are some twists and turns that just seem bizarre. But, despite this, it is a very entertaining film...and one that seems strange from author Alistair MacLean. MacLean was known for WWII and contemporary dramas....and "Breakheart Pass" is set in the old west...quite a departure from his other novels.

Most of the story is set aboard a train that is going through the Nevada mountains. Inside the train is the governor and a variety of military and civilians needed to take care of a Diphtheria outbreak at a far off army fort. A latecomer to this group is Mr. Deakin (Charles Bronson),a wanted man who was just apprehended by the Marshal and are on the way to this fort. But there is MUCH intrigue among this group and many people are not who they seem...and where all this goes is something I never could have predicted.

Like most of MacLean's stories, this one is action-packed. Dialog and characterizations just aren't as important here. The same could be said about his other stories, such as "The Guns of Navarone". And, as a mindless action film, the movie works very well...very enjoyable and among Bronson's better films.

By the way, if you do watch take note of the cook, as he's played by Archie Moore...a man who was the light heavyweight champion of the world for many years. In real life, I cannot imagine Bronson taking him on in a fight and winning...despite what you'll see in the film.

Based on a novel by spy-master Alistair MacLean, BREAKHEART PASS is one of those twisty suspense films in which nobody is really whom they first appear to be and there are bad guys everywhere you turn. I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery story, which benefits from a perfectly-cast Charles Bronson playing the film's hero. Although he wasn't the first choice for the role, Bronson is a breath of fresh air away from his grittier DEATH WISH-type films and his stoical turn here is one of the movie's best assets.

Making wonderful use of some bleak, snowbound locations, BREAKHEART PASS is a film set entirely on a train and, like the later B-movie UNDER SIEGE 2, the endless momentum of the train ploughing through the countryside is matched by a screenplay that is fast-paced and equally relentless. Veteran director Tom Gries really knows his stuff when it comes to film-making and it shows, as this is pretty much perfect on a technical level. Jerry Goldsmith's score is an exciting, driving piece of work and the photography is crisp and beautiful throughout, one of those films where every scene looks good.

The suspense story in itself is involving and thrilling, but on top of that there are a series of action set-pieces which really add to the film's impact. Bronson's train-top fisticuffs with real-life boxing legend Archie Moore is the bit everybody remembers, but there are also some fine, bloody shoot-outs on board the moving train as well as tense sneaking around in the carriages. Special effects for the time are very good, with one of the most horrifying train crashes I've seen on film, and I got a real kick out of seeing one of the villains fall to his death down a ravine! Things eventually culminate in a gung-ho climax using the convention of a tribe of Native American Indians as the villains of the piece, and somehow fresh life is put even into this tired plot element.

The film does feel a little clinical and coldly-detached in places and that's because the story is focused on over the characters throughout. I didn't let this bother me in the least; many '70s westerns are the same and this one feels right at home in the genre. Aside from Bronson, there are good turns from a range of willing character actors including Rambo's Richard Crenna, veteran actor Ben Johnson, Charles Durning, Paul Newman's son Scott, the ubiquitous Jill Ireland – Bronson's wife at the time – and finally a young-looking Ed Lauter, who would later team up once more as Bronson's gun-buddy in DEATH WISH 3. BREAKHEART PASS has all the right ingredients to be a top-notch, intelligent thriller and it never disappoints. An above-average treat.