Unlike other disaster films, this film was an original set on a train with a plague ridden passenger. Personally, I feel The Cassandra Crossing has been rather hard done by. Dr. Chamberlain argues that they can be spared, but Colonel MacKenzie refuses, and as the train rushes toward the collapsing Cassandra Crossing bridge, Chamberlain struggles to disconnect the cars and save the passengers from their appointment with doom. Burt Lancaster is the full colonel who wants to destroy the train. As when the train carrying plague approaches a weakened bridge the events go wrong . | Although one would have to admit that The Cassandra Crossing is not a work of art and has been left unsung for a reason, at the same time, anyone in their right mind would feel obliged to recognise that it’s just so much fun. George P. Cosmatos. Like most disaster films of the 1970's, the name of the game was to play "Can you find that star?" Fair use rationale for Image:Cassandra crossing 04.jpg Image:Cassandra crossing 04.jpg is being used on this article. Nobody will let them off the train. Like many disaster films of the 1970's, it follows the formula of giving the token role to the many once great but now fading stars of the time. Simpson, Lee Strasberg, are OK. Sophia Loren and Ava Gardner, just big names, give more importance to the movie. British producer Lew Grade also contributed $3 million for a joint presentation credit on the same line with Carlo Ponti. Anne Turkel plays a young woman who's a real hottie -- she was Richard Harris's wife at the time. A bomber on board an airplane, an airport almost closed by snow, and various personal problems of the people involved. *pg. The Cassandra Crossing (1976) IMDB 6.4 "Outbreak" meets "The Runaway Train" as a motley group of passengers are quarantined on a train destined to prevent the spread of the disease at the cost of their lives. The Cassandra Crossing is a 1976 disaster thriller film directed by George Pan Cosmatos and starring Sophia Loren, Richard Harris, Ava Gardner, Martin Sheen, Burt Lancaster, Lee Strasberg and O. J. Simpson about a disease-infected Swedish terrorist who infects a … Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. This FAQ is empty. Yanni (Renato Romano) returns to his homeland on a Greek island after several years in London. A lot of the characterizations and dialogue in this movie are risible, as are some of the effects shots - watch for when Martin Sheen gets on top of the train - but the piece is mildly entertaining for all that. What the passengers don't know is that they have to cross "The Cassandra Crossing" which is poorly constructed bridge in Poland that can't handle the train's weight. However, a passenger rebellion is organized that's quite exciting, as OJ Simpson (a cop) teams with Richard Harris (a doctor) and Martin Sheen (a heroin addict and the companion of Ava Gardner), to free the train, and somehow disconnect the cars. Passengers on a European train have been exposed to a deadly disease, and nobody will let them off the train. | If only modern disaster films were more like this one! The Cassandra Crossing (292) IMDb 6.4 2 h 8 min 1977 R Passengers on a European train have been exposed to a deadly disease. Sophia Loren, Richard Harris, Ava Gardner, Burt Lancaster, Martin Sheen, and O.J. This film, which seems even longer than the train it deals with, is strictly routine. Apr 04, 2010...from back in the 70's when disaster movies were all the rage. External Reviews It's also fun to see Loren in a film of this type, pitching in and holding her own with Harris in the action scenes. Aside from the formula, they were bad because they hung flimsy plots and characterizations on spectacle and hoped we wouldn't notice. Don't miss it! To make fun of it would be too easy, like parodying a karaoke amateur night. The Cassandra Crossing is a 1976 Technicolor Italian-British disaster/thriller film in Panavision directed by George Pan Cosmatos and starring Richard Harris, Sophia Loren, Martin Sheen, Burt Lancaster, Lee Strasberg, Ava Gardner and O. J. Simpson about an infected Swedish terrorist who plagues a train's passengers as they head to a derelict arch bridge. She fights for the rights and lives of the passengers. Also on board: an infected terrorist who is spreading a horrific plague everywhere he goes (which is hilariously punctuated by ominous sounds and scenes of him coughing in the train's food, etc...) Lancaster as a stern army colonel and Thulin (who exists as a verbal punching bag for Lancaster) as a doctor argue over the best course of action. 5 1 vote. At other times, as here, they are merely scared of all the noise, shooting, sealing of windows, and other assorted mishigas. Loren toplines as a divorcee and author who happens to be boarded on the same train as her ex-husband (twice!) Simpson is cast in an unusual role. It's done entirely by the numbers. What's with Martin Sheen doing headstands as he plays of Ava Gardner's dandy, and also happens to be young enough to be her grandson? Wow! Production began several months earlier, in Nov 1975, at Rome’s Cinecitta studios. Synopsis: Passengers on a European train have been exposed to a deadly disease, and nobody will let them off the train. "The Cassandra Crossing" took a different tack, eschewing spectacle to tell a good tale. Roughly forty percent of The Cassandra Crossing’s $5 million budget was being financed by German investors, according to the 3 Mar 1976 Var. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. A disaster movie in more ways than one – but I like it! By most definitions, this is a pretty bad, crass, melodramatic, ludicrous film, but it's more fun than many a Good Movie I can think of. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Action ... to a deadly disease. All were formulaic and most were pretty bad. Independently made outside of the big Hollywood studios at the height of the 1970s disaster film cycle, this is actually one of the better efforts in the genre concerning a trainful of passengers dealing with both an outbreak of pneumonic plague thanks to a terrorist stowaway and a political conspiracy to cover it up by sending them all to their deaths via a condemned railway bridge. I haven't watched anything with Simpson since 1994. gets her share of close-ups too, and also the pithiest lines. The Cassandra Crossing(1976) is an action thriller directed by George P. Cosmatos(Rambo: First Blood Part II,Tombstone,Cobra). Turkel (doubtlessly on board due to her offscreen relationship with Harris) is a hippie singer who warbles a truly awful song which stops everything in its tracks (pun intended.) Sometimes they need kidney transplants. Strasberg is excruciating as a sort of male Estelle Getty from "The Golden Girls", omnipresently appearing everywhere trying to sell watches to the passengers. Don't be put off by the first section of the film, in which the characters and their relationships are established - this is crucial to the understanding to the plot as it develops. I was eleven years old when I first saw THE CASSANDRA CROSSING, and even though at that time I only saw the last five minutes or so (from where the old man sacrifices his life in order to save the train) it stayed with me and kept nagging at me to watch the whole thing. The Cassandra Crossing (1976) - Trivia - IMDb Production on the movie in Switzerland was delayed, due to vandalism. Nobody will let them off the train. Use the HTML below. The Cassandra Crossing 1976. Passengers on a European train have been exposed to a deadly disease. The situation is the film is serious and threatening and isn't relieved until almost the fade out, so a few missteps along the way can be forgiven. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. "Outbreak" meets "The Runaway Train" as a motley group of passengers are quarantined on a train destined to prevent the spread of the disease at the cost of their lives. A blackmailer threatens to sabotage roller coasters at various American amusement parks if he isn't paid a huge ransom. Now here's a value for money film. The Cassandra crossing is one of the better offerings from the Disaster movies of the 1970's. 6 of 7 people found this review helpful. These are just normal people unfortunate enough to board this unlucky train. From the iconic to the eclectic, relive the most memorable moments from the Oscars red carpet. Be patient, and you will be well rewarded. Nobody will let them off the train. Given a little more drama and attention, the rebellion could have really made this film great, but the film fits into a suitable conclusion that doesn't do much justice to the issues it deals with. There is an awfully cute little red-headed girl. In my opinion, a first-rate movie, with a spectacular finish. As passengers on a European train have been exposed to a deadly disease . This disaster movie is both fun and thrilling at the same time, and does not rely at all on computer graphics unlike recent efforts like ARMAGEDDON. Naturally, some of the characters are more interesting than others, and some of the performances carry more weight than others. What made it interesting for me was the bizarre casting. This 1976 entry in the genre divides critics and the public like no other disaster movie - on the one hand you have Maltin giving it his nod of approval, while on the other you have Halliwell dismissing it as a totally undistinguished potboiler. Perhaps most shocking of all for a commercial film of this genre is that it doesn't offer a complete happy ending in that most of the passengers do end up at the bottom of the gorge when the bridge falters. Certainly it's one of the best films on the late director George P. Cosmatos's resume; it's very well directed and really holds your attention, with a reasonably absorbing tale to tell (it's scripted by Cosmatos, Tom Mankiewicz, and Robert Katz, based on a story by Cosmatos & Katz) and a sufficient amount of action. "Outbreak" meets "The Runaway Train" as a motley group of passengers are quarantined on a train destined to prevent the spread of the disease at the cost of their lives. A very current topic even now, in 2017, after 41 years. Lt. Col. Herbert Kappler is ordered to execute ten times that Italians. A potential deadly virus rides the rails, and the only prevention may be an unsafe bridge crossing at Cassandra. Airport (1970) - 6.6. So what happens next? Easy to see why, most of the passengers seem as fatigued as the plot. Gardner in particular gets some belting comic lines. This entry was Italy's answer to the genre and, though it is far-fetched and occasionally ridiculous, it is a thrilling and tense movie. With Sophia Loren, Richard Harris, Martin Sheen, O.J. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Harris himself is the requisite doctor who has the skills necessary to interpret what's going on for dummies like us in the audience. Under-rated disaster entry, well worth catching. Didn't they read the script? She is a married woman now... See full summary ». Add the first question. It's a good, well-made, sporadically exciting film with a first-rate cast. The Cassandra Crossing is a 1976 disaster thriller film directed by George Pan Cosmatos and starring Sophia Loren, Richard Harris, Ava Gardner, Martin Sheen, Burt Lancaster, Lee Strasberg and O. J. Simpson about a disease-infected Swedish terrorist who infects a … Aside from the action, you get a distinguished cast featuring Sophia Loren, Martin Sheen, Richard Harris, Ava Gardner and more, plus great scenic train footage. Thrilling disaster movie with spectacular scenes , nail-biting action and big name cast, Sir Lew Grade strikes again; this one could be called "Railway of the Damned". Had they fallen on hard times? 4, route des Morillons, 1211 Genève 22, Switzerland. The IMDb staff came together to round up their favorite crime movies, shows, and documentaries. Furthermore , a suspicious priest called Haley (James Coburn turned down the role of Haley which was in the end played by 'O J Simpson') , a millionaire spouse (Ava Gardner) , her lover (Martin Sheen) , among others . Immeasurably helpful is Goldsmith's Italian-flavored, chug-chug score which wrings every ounce of excitement it can out of the visuals. The movie is all about a train ride into hell - not only is the Geneva to Stockholm express heading for a collapsing bridge, it has plague on board - no antidote - and nobody will allow the passengers off! The Cassandra Crossing Smalling-2 24 March 2000 An infected terrorist escapes from a Geneva chemical institute and carries a deadly plague to a European express train. The Cassandra Crossing, Movie, 1976 Pictures provided by: sixcyl Display options: Display as images Display as list Make and model Make and year Year Category Importance/Role Date added (new ones first) Episode Appearance (ep.+time, if avail.) Producer Carlo Ponti (via Lew Grade) employs a large group of famous faces for the guest-star roles, ensuring that his wife, Sophia Loren, gets plenty of Movie Star Close-Ups. I happened to catch this film today on a cable channel. As far as 1970s disaster movies go, it's a solid example of the genre. Doctors and military men are onto him, however, and soon the train is re-routed--towards a Polish bridge on the verge of collapse! We've got helicopters, shoot-outs, explosions, songs, heroic sacrifices, Martin Sheen as Ava Gardner's kept boyfriend, Lee Strasberg emoting nobly and Burt Lancaster as an Army General who is Not To Be Trusted. Eventually, it is decided to direct the train to an old concentration camp in Poland, but first it must traverse the title bridge---The Cassandra Crossing! Soon he is searching for his teenage passion, Elena (Raquel Welch). Play Trailer; The Fear Is Spreading Overview. Coliseum football championship game and the police race against time to eliminate him. If this is your things, than be absolutely sure not to miss such horizon-widening, chock-full-o-fame such as Poseidon Adventure, Airport, Earthquake and Meteor. The cinematography is quite impressive, and Jerry Goldsmith's score is enjoyably melodramatic, but the writing, editing, and direction are each lousy. The Cassandra Crossing Film Online Subtitrat in Romana HD The Cassandra Crossing (1976) Film Online Subtitrat - Pasagerii dintr-un tren european au fost expuși la o boală mortală. What was going on in their minds is all too clear. Go to the Internet Movie Database Laserdisc Database Amazon.com Buy posters from Allposters.com buy posters from moviegoods buy this soundtrack from cdandlp.com Search eBay for Cassandra Crossing, The : Cassandra Crossing, The (1976) Composer(s): Jerry Goldsmith Released in: 1976 Country: Great Britain, Italy, Germany Genre: The film builds up the tension well as the passengers realise their imminent fate and predicament. Everyone, and I mean everyone, was just off kilter for their part. Ava Gardner, quite a babe in real life, should have sued the make-up department for trying to glamorize her instead of simply letting the beauty of her aging features shine by themselves. Big stars on a train headed for a condemned bridge. Rome, March 23, 1944: 33 German soldiers are killed by a bomb. Simpson (in another subpar performance) is a mysterious priest. We have suspense, some picturesque landscapes in Switzerland at the beginning and some good effects at the end, the train wagon models and the bridge collapsing very well done. Lou Castel, Ingrid Thulin, John Philip Law, Ann Turkel, Lionel Stander, Ray Lovelock, O.J. Gallery of 24 movie poster and cover images for The Cassandra Crossing (1976). Harris is the husband, a noted neurosurgeon. Every one of these children in every one of these movies should be struck until they ring like gongs. There is always a cute little girl. Awards at Script City ($) Other Links: The Cassandra Crossing ( tt0074292 ) at IMDb; The Cassandra Crossing ( 32037 ) at TheMovieDB.org George Pan Cosmatos directs at a fair lick, the setpieces are staged with relish, there's some neat bits of dialogue (courtesy of Tom Manciewiez, one suspects) and a spectacular climax. Martin Sheen in an echt-70s mop of hair is a heroin-smuggling gigolo. The Cassandra Crossing is a 1976 Technicolor disaster/thriller film in Panavision directed by George Pan Cosmatos and starring Richard Harris, Sophia Loren, Martin Sheen, Burt Lancaster, Lee Strasberg, Ava Gardner and O. J. Simpson about an infected Swedish terrorist who plagues a train's passengers as they head to a derelict arch bridge. The Fear Is Spreading but nobody will let them off the train . Find trailers, reviews, synopsis, awards and cast information for The Cassandra Crossing (1976) - George Pan Cosmatos on AllMovie - This bizarre entry into the disaster film genre… Burt Lancaster is great as Colonel MacKenzie, the army intelligence officer in charge of operations, who has a decision to make - should he sacrifice the passengers to prevent a Europe-wide epidemic? The two lob sarcastic and occasionally poignant barbs at each other and attempt a sort of 1970's, updated Nick & Nora Charles thing. TMDb Rating 6.3 114 votes. Various interconnected people struggle to survive when an earthquake of unimaginable magnitude hits Los Angeles, California. Government intrigue, international smuggling, and the legend of the Cassandra Crossing add to the suspense. The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue Comes to Blu-ray for the First Time Ever This Fall, Synapse announce new ‘The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue’ Ltd Edition Steelbook, Synapse Films to Release The Living Dead At Manchester Morgue on 3-Disc Steelbook September 1st, Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Rebel Set. A trainload of European and American travelers becomes doomed when a medical terrorist infected with bubonic plague stows away and brings the deadly disease on board. In fact, the visuals here, especially at the breath-taking climax, still look hot! Metacritic Reviews. The plot of this film is only secondary to the real reason it was made. The Cassandra Crossing es una de las dos películas del denominado “cine catástrofe” en las que Goldsmith se involucró en los 70. Audience Reviews for The Cassandra Crossing. Suspenseful and intriguing disaster movie with all-star-cast and well-directed . Director. He gets better toward the end, but his appearance is mostly embarrassing. I thought this film has a lot of thrilling sequences even with the seventies music and score by Jerry Goldsmith. FAQ (1976). Some decent performances by Ava Gardner, Richard Harris and Martin Sheen help too (although some of Burt Lancaster's lines seem a little convoluted) However these are all minor quibbles. User Ratings As a way of taking care of the mess, the military solution, which wins out over the medical one, in your typical heated and ongoing debate between a colonel and a doctor, is to seal the train shut, occupy it with well-armed soldiers dressed in white jumpsuits and gas masks, and then send them all to the "Cassandra Crossing", a high metal bridge spanning a river far below, that's just waiting for a reason to collapse. A lawman from Bannock arrives in Sabbath to arrest all the cattlemen whose wild celebration the year before resulted in the accidental death of an old man. Tried-and-true disaster actors Burt Lancaster and Dean Martin shine in Airport, a … The Cassandra Crossing [Katz, Robert] on Amazon.com. Spoilers. The most natural are Burt Lancaster, Martin Sheen and Richard Harris. | It is hard to think of anything positive to say about this movie except that it came to an end. Gardner looks stunning. Even the former residents have left living there because of the bridge's danger. As a motley group of passengers are quarantined on a train destined to prevent the spread of the disease at the cost of their lives . A crazed sniper is set to kill spectators at an L.A. The Fear Is Spreading Dec. 18, 1976 UK 129 Min. Marcus W Super Reviewer. . Lee Strasberg must have been searching for parts to take this one. Directed by George P. Cosmatos | Starring: Burt Lancaster, Sophia Loren, Richard Harris, Martin Sheen. Government intrigue, international smuggling, and the legend of the Cassandra Crossing add to the suspense. 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