this was a criminally under rated film...great acting, great music, great scenery....and the fight at the end between Shack and A no.1 is one of the best fights ever filmed.....
8:36 I've actually heard that in a much older film. "The Train"1964. I could care less if it's Thomas or not. I actually thought that the apperence of Yreka Western 19.
The one from The Train (1964) were recordings of old brakes from the late 30s and present day used in late Thomas era episodes. The ones from the early 1900s to the 1920s were used in the first two seasons of Thomas as well as the first appearance in The French Connection (1971), Chattanooga Choo Choo (1984) and Emperor of The North (1973).
Having watched the movie several times I can definitely agree with Chris that this movie is worth checking out. You also have to appreciate some of the extra work that went into the movie, for example: The 19 was an oil burning loco, however to add tension during certain scenes, like the near head on collision, the crew took out the oil tank, put in a smaller one and added a small coal bunker on top of the oil tank. I am sad the movie didn't do so well upon release but I am glad knowing that it's becoming more popular with time.
I didn't know #19 was actually an oil burner, modified to look like a coal burner. Thanks for that fascinating fact! You can see that the engine that stalls on the greased rails is definitely an oil burner.
8:36 the early 1920s brakes were used in early seasons of Thomas And Friends but also Tora, Tora, Tora, The French Connection (1971) and Chattanooga Choo Choo (1984). Emperor of The North Pole (1973) still has iconic notion. The later series of Thomas has brakes from the late 30s and beyond.
Train 19 is a Baldwin 90 ton Mikado, I got that info from islandpond r.r. The guy has a 1/8 scale version of #19. Edit: 1:39 in that scene he was escaping Cigarette and the group of thuggish kids with the chicken, and he keeps trying to ride the 19 because cigarette is trying to steal his title as "king of the road" which is a highly respected title among hobos for most of the 1900's.
I really need to see this film because, like both the 1940 and 1992 adaptations of John Steinbeck's the Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice & Men, it seems to be one of the few films more focused on the dark side of 1930s America with a great amount of landscape, character, and unique dialogue that audience can recognize years later it comes out. Another thing that'll make me watch the film is my fascination of films from the '70s to early '80s, mostly one's that feature backwoods and forested areas. They have this tone that's strangely pleasant to look at, even if the story can be dark at times. Also, it's nice to see the Oregon, Pacific, & Eastern Railroad operations in a way that's almost like either the real world of the '30s and the railfan events that try to recreate that world. In my humble mind, it's like Titfield Thunderbolt; there's no real need to remake this film, because certain looks, effects, and performances can not be recreated or replaced.
"Hard Times", directed by Walter Hill and starring James Coburn and Charles Bronson, is another terrific Depression era flick that would meet your criteria.
Christopher Knopf, the screenwriter, is responsible for the film's unique dialogue, very specific to the depression and steam railway eras. I wonder where he got those words and phrases, perhaps from literature of that period.
EoTN typically holds a spot in my heart due to how it’s *basically* one of the films my great uncle had ever given me. Plus, I absolutely loved its I just watch it every day lol Loved seeing your video and hearing your part on it Chris.
Definitely one of my favorite classics, most memorable to me with that near collision scene. Also the late Ernest Borgnine, God rest his soul. And I get what you mean with that brake sound effect, I hear that sound effect in almost every classical railroad involved movie I've yet seen.
It's nice to see a review of a rather well-known railroad film from the perspective of rail buff/movie buff as well versed as yourself. After viewing this video, among others, I'm really looking forward to any new videos in this particular series. Hopefully you consider reviewing other classic rail related films, such as Breakheart Pass (1976) and The Great Train Robbery (1978), in the not too distant future. All in all, this was such a great video.
Thanks for sharing with us your thoughts about one of the most interesting railroad films ever produced! Despite being a fan of Thomas myself, I've been meaning to watch "Emperor of the North" as a film in it's own right. It looks amazing, and not to mention that the locomotive used in the film, McCloud River Railroad #19, survived into preservation, and now sits on display at the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek, Ohio.
Originally, I was drawn to this movie because it was a train movie with Ernest Borgnine in it, not because it uses the same stock brake sound as in the first few seasons of Thomas the Tank Engine. In my opinion, I actually love that stock brake squeal sound that was used in both Emperor of the North and Thomas the Tank Engine. To me it sounds realistic for steam era equipment. Yeah sure this movie has its graphic gory scenes in it to the point where you could use that footage in a PSA about railway safety, but at least it tried to and successfully showed America in the Great Depression with its focus on hoboes who traveled the country on freight trains in search of work, a better life, or perhaps getting involved with criminal activity.
Perhaps the most disturbing part of the Thomas fandom seems to be the age of most of its members. I've encountered one too many people over the age of 16 who love Thomas like they're 4. When i turned 8, I got my first Lionel train set and that was that for the little blue abomination for me. More to the topic, I truly enjoyed this movie. How much of a mindf**k is it that Shack is the very same guy who voiced the bumbly cooky old "Mermaid Man" in Spongebob? RIP Ernest Borgnine and Lee Marvin. Brilliant performers of their time.
as a Toy Train and Train enthusiast this film is probably the best film out there in terms of depicting "life on the road" for a Bo (Hobo).. Love this film and watch it all the time.. have it on 16mm film and digital..
Wait you are telling me that this train sound was used for Thomas?!?!? WHAT!???!??!? Holy shit! This is actual News to me!!! What a cool neat fact thank you for including it even though you were really disgruntled in doing so.
I'm glad you decided to take a look at this. I think it may have been one of the ones I requested. I guess it take someone with a very eclectic interests like myself to find a faithful Railway Series adaptation and this film equally interesting. Even though don't have the same rewatch value that used to I waited over 10 years for the the last one. And nothing is as as bad a they way the brand takes over not just that it does but the way it does it.
This is the third production that I know of now that reuses that well known foley from ‘The Train’, the other two being the obvious stated in the video and ‘Origin: Spirits of the Past’ I shall be looking into watching this film to take in the rest of it.
My dad introduced me to this film when I was younger since he remembers going to the movie theathers to see it. Thank goodness I grew out of the blue scrapheap before I realised that's where his wheel squealing came from. I was more attached to the movie because it didn't involve so much Hollywood exaggeration on the train itself like Atomic Train or Unstoppable. Every event that happened to the train has happened somewhere, sometime in railroad history so it's actually pretty accurate. Not only that, how could you not love a tiny Baldwin 2-8-2 like the 19? She's perfect, yet not a very popular locomotive with the exception of her being used again in Stand by Me, when they played chicken with her (not the bridge scene). Now when anyone sees her, EoTN is the movie they recognize her by. Sadly, she was retired in 2009 and was put up for auction. She was bought by famous private locomotive collector, Jerry Joe Jacobson last year, but would be his last locomotive before passing in September of 2017.
Hello, Chris. (I'm presuming you're still around since this video is only five years old). I've been a fan of Emperor Of The North [premiered as 'Emperor Of The North Pole' in the US of A] since just after its release. In fact I waited so long to see it a second time on the telly that I had to seek out a version on VHS tape, which I still have. Problem is, I no longer have a VHS-player, so I'll have to either get it transferred to disc, or buy a DVD version (if available). My younger brother and I used to watch it so frequently in the 1980s that we could recant most of the (very funny) dialogue verbatim. I think I like it because of its quirkiness and the fact that the main characters evidently enjoyed playing their respective rôles while keeping straight faces amid all the hokum. Just as I am obliged to re-read Mike Tomkies' book 'Alone In The Wilderness' (also released as 'A World Of My Own') every five years-or-so, similarly I have to re-watch this excellent piece of escapism within the same time frame. Thanks for the video, it proves I'm not the only fan of this wonderful film still kicking around.👍🏻 I talked with FDR. I fought with Pershing. Slept with Harlow. Tamed tigers. Drunk poison. Seen the elephant. And gone over the falls.
You can basically sum up this as: "two guys who don't give a dang of what they do yet have complex drives to them, deal through simple-minded laybys to reach their fixed match." That, and the physical stunts of the film, are the real standouts. Keep in mind, Cigaret was ultimately just an audience stand-in to all the goings-on like so many minor representations in media, an effect of the common misconception made back in those days where rookie/minor characters were generally literalised as being unable to carry an arc compared to a grown character, which is still prevalent to a degree in the business to this day, although minor-position character arcs are becoming more appreciated in practice now than they used to be. (Ignore the Thomas rant section.) Regards, Samuel Farris.
Wow... that brake screeching sound effect me from this? MIND OFFICIALLY BLOWN. This movie does indeed sound quite interesting. Haven't seen too many movies lately taking place in the 30's, let alone on the railway. Anyhow, do you think you could cover 'The Railway Children' in this series eventually?
Chris, I love you, you're great, and I seriously think you're one of the best railroad youtubers, but what do you have against Thomas the Tank Engine? (I'm not being funny, ok maybe a little, I'm genuinely curious as I find the Thomas Fandom and Railroad Fandom to have a very tumultuous relationship, less so here in the USA, but I am curious, as a Railfan and Thomas fan.). Also, if you want another great Lee Marvin film, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is fantastic, with excellent performances from John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart as well.
Wow. Not gonna lie, I was not expecting this one. I finally got around to watching this film from end to end not too long ago, and honestly... aside from the scene in the fog of the No.19 racing the Mail, I found it to be pretty boring. Shack being a villainous psychopath who even the other railroaders hate was an interesting touch that I haven't seen done very often in movies, but personally I found that rather off-putting, making me question why I should care about anything other than his eventual death, which even that wasn't as satisfying as it should have been because I'd wanted it to come so many times sooner. Not denying he's the stand-out role of the film, because he certainly is. It's just that... I dunno, having a villain that I hate so much that it almost puts me off the film as a whole, that feels like a bit of a problem for me. I do agree that Shack didn't need much, or perhaps any explanation or justification, but maybe even a single scene or two to show why he's so ruthless to the point of insanity wouldn't have hurt; passing another freight with hobos visible on it, or another conductor getting a public reprimand and the boss reminding everyone what would happen to them if a tramp was caught on their line. As for Cigarette, you hit the nail on the head with your assessment. And on the one hand, I get the intentions and one could say that the director & writers carried it off effectively. On the other hand, that very effectiveness damaged the film for me because I was constantly just wanting to punch Cigarette in his smug, stupid face. I can't care about a character that I only want to see suffer for his arrogance, and doubly so when even at the end of the film that character has clearly learned NOTHING. Cigarette has no character arc in this story because he ends it exactly the same character as he started, and a straight, flat line is not an arc. In short, why should I give a shit about this punk-ass chump who learns nothing and never will learn? It's Anakin in the Prequels all over again. Lastly, Chris, mate, seriously. You really should back off with the Thomas hate. I totally get where you're coming from, and I agree that it does get obnoxious when the only point of reference anyone links to anything related to trains is the Little Blue... Puffer. But seriously, where have you seen people picking apart Emperor of the North for no other reason than a single related sound effect? That's pedantic and nitpicky even for me. I say this as a friend: Whatever forum you read that on, might be best not to frequent that one anymore, and otherwise take a deep breath, simmer down, let off some... frustration. You and I can't stop the Tumarse "fandom" from being derpy little twatwaffles, so the best course of action is to take the high ground and ignore them.
Not to mention some Thomas fandom members are rail enthusiasts themselves, and take interests in actual railways. If I'm to be completely honest, I'm more interested in the plot/characters than the sound effect. The Thomas Brake Squeal is just a cool tidbit, nothing more, nothing less.
I quite agree. I share Chris' frustration sometimes with everything railfan related being referenced back to Thomas in some capacity. But I think he's referencing Thomas these days as much as the Thomas fans do, and his forced anger is getting somewhat grating! Yes, some railfans will reference back to nostalgic childhood shows. Get over it!
@@brennenbalsamo9013 I only watched the video because I like Chris himself, plus his view may give me a reason to WATCH the damn movie one day, not to listen to him complain about Thomas fans or them liking a sound effect, even though I do agree with his point on the movie only being liked for a sound bit.
I was unaware that this film uses the famous wheels squealing sound effect used in that show, nor I actually heard about this film! I might check this out someday since this looks interesting!
A great film, Ernest Borgnine is a natural for the psychotic evil antagonist, he just has the... face for it! Felt terribly bad for Hogger (the driver) though. And I honestly made no foley connection to the blue.... thing, despite having grown up with it.
I've watched EOTH about 1.7 billion times, and I'd never caught the similarities between the brake squeal of the 19 and the cheeky blue box until you mentioned it.
For anyone wondering, it may seem unclear at the end but the Shack actually did not die. I guess it sends a message that A no. 1 isn’t going to stoop to his level. To give you a perspective on how bad of a state the railroads were in in 1933, at least the United States, only one class of engines over hundreds of class 1 railroads was built in that year. Just 1.
To be fair, the squealing brakes sound was one of those stock sound effects you could pay for and use in your movie. That was incredibly common in anything featuring trains in the 1970s and ‘80s.
SovietOnion actually, that sound effect was a part of 20th Century Fox's own sound effects collection from back in 1966, The Sand Pebbles was the first to use it.
Chris I love the film because of the 19, steam locomotives always have an interesting story behind them like n&w 475 cotton belt 819, santa fe 2926, union pacific 3985 and 844 etc. It's why I like trains. It's the story behind them!
I've never seen Thomas fans explicitly stating they LIKE this movie because of the sound effect, though you're right in that's primarily what they acknowledge about it.. I'd like to see this film myself, has it been released on DVD?
Actually, speaking of the Thomas bit, I honestly think that's a bit hypocritical for you. You've talked about how problematic it is that people don't think of railway enthusiasm without Thomas, yet here you are going on a tangent about how Thomas links to a railway film. I know that's kinda the point you were making anyway but i feel it may have been better if you'd have just said *GEEEE, I WONDER WHERE I'VE HEARD THAT SOUND BEFORE...* and left it at that. You use the sound effect in your video, so it's pretty likely people would have known what you were talking about.
Iv'e seen this many times, as I grew up watching mostly vintage action and adventure films than modern works. Bullet, The Dirty Dozen, Gone in 60 Seconds, The Bond Films, Where Eagles Dare, Tobruk, Raid on Rommel, Attack(1956), The Italian Job, Easy Rider. The problem is people are looking too much into it for messages that are not really there. Now it can be said that Shack was a tyrannical authoritarian who ordered people about no matter what their position was. He demonstrated this when the yard manager advised him not to highball out of the yard. But as far as him being a symbol of... governmental might or some extremist political group is absurd. A-#1 was a vagabond that did whatever he pleased and used the Depression as a metaphor to justify his way of thinking. That's all. He's not a symbol of anti-oppression. If anything, Cigarette is the only character that can be made into a symbol. For he is a prickish loudmouth that thinks he knows everything just by having three months of experience. Why else would kids be his only accomplices before he met A-#1? Those kids looked up and believed his tripe. Whereas A-#1 never believed a word.
I don't think he'll review fan content, even if it's good or bad, but he did say that Reverend W Awdry was a respectable man, and he hasn't made or said anything negative about the books, apart from their dark look on scrapping. So I believe he's ok with the Railway Series.
Yes, I agree here, and I think some sort of look into the factual aspect of some of the stories, for example James spinning at high speed on the turn table (Garsdale), The brake van getting smashed by a banking engine (Lickey incline) and so on
I'm pretty sure the one train-centric episode of New Adventures of Winnie The Pooh also used that one brake squeal sample and not just...the thing that shall not be named.
I honestly had never seen this film and when you brought up the bit about the brake shoe sound that was used from the little blue bugger's show, I rolled my eyes so much they are practically stuck doing so.
Oh my goodness I got to see this movie not too long ago when I was on RUclips and I got to see the engine in real life engine 19 it's at the age of steam roundhouse in Sugarcreek Ohio being restored the last time I was there they just gave it a new coat of paint and it looks just exactly like the original from the movie and it will be running again soon as what I heard but she is in maculate condition and looks good where the movie was taken place that's where they brought her to their and restored
In my opinion, that “establishment vs. anti-establishment” idea seemed to be ruined on both sides. Shack ignores his own boss and forces his train to fly through a yard at full speed. A-No.1, meanwhile, seems to follow a special code of rules that were set up by the society of hoboes itself. However, I find this result to ultimately be for the better as this makes the characters feel more human and, thus, more believable. Overall, I love how accurate this film is to the time period it is trying to set; it is far from afraid to show a truly gruesome part of American railroad history.
The brake squeal…is weird in hindsight. I agree, that's both an awkward and disappointing reason to like the movie. As for the movie itself, I'd give it a watch. Considering I keep using this decade to remember the early days of the streamliners, I keep forgetting that the 30's overall was a pretty low point for railroads around the world.
I really only started to like the movie when Chris started talking about it and I got more and more interested. Though when that brake sound came into my mind I knew exactly what he would say.
MAN, Don't get so fed up of Thomas. I understand that your kinda annoyed with people clamoring for Thomas in your videos, but you don't have to treat the show itself like it's bad. It's just the people who clamor about the show in the comments of your videos.
Does he have a criminal record? Are the police and the railroad company turning a blind eye to every story they hear about him? The police were underfunded back then, and even if they werent, there were no DNA tests back then so you couldnt link Shack to the murders. Whats better is that Shack is wearing gloves and hitting the guy with a hammer (so it would be hard to do a DNA test anyways). As for the railroad company, Im sure everybody knows who the Shack is. They know he does his job and gets everything done despite his methods. Shack knows how valuable he is to the company, and he isnt afraid to get fired or to quit because he could easily get a job elsewhere, even with the high unemployment during the depression. However, with him not driving a fast mail engine or a passenger rail engine (he probably was in the past), its likely the railway division gave him an old freight car engine just to keep around a guy with a lot of seniority. When you think about it, the passenger car crew were wearing professional clothing, but only Shack has that clothing on his crew, the others didnt. Shack wasnt afraid to get the job done by any means necessary, even if it went against company rules. Shack has his own code of conduct.
Never heard of this film, but it sounds like quite a ride! One criticism of this video, Chris; Can you please not use ableist terms like "Spastic", considering how it's derogatory to anyone with mental health issues? I have Dyspraxia and Autism, and have been called "Spastic" for most of my life. It'd be nice if I didn't have to be reminded of how I'm considered to be an idiot when I watch your videos.
Not that I'm aware of. The video has been edited now. The term has been removed. Again, my deepest apologies. I hope it doesn't spoil the rest of your day. Thanks again for your support.
In theory, yes, but not for very far. While the *track* gauge is the same, the *loading* gauge is much smaller in Britain than in America, so the _19_ wouldn't be able to travel too far before it either knocked down signal posts or had whole chunks torn off of its person by platforms or tunnels.
One thing I've noticed about Ernest Borgnine is that he's known for playing a character with a bad temper, also in seasons 5 through 12 used the brake squeal from, "The Train," with Burt Lancaster, when the engine raced into the tunnel and screeched to a stop to hide from a spitfire
Why are you so against Thomas and Friends? It's not a bad show, the early seasons especially. Sure it's target demographics are young, but it.still holds up well.
Comparing Cigarette to Trump is like comparing Obama to Trump. Obama and all the rest of the Left would end up having us all jobless and riding the rails. Leave it to the Hollywood leftists to totally screw up the flange squeal sound effect that seemed to screw up the whole movie for you. Get real. This is one of the best "tough guy" movies ever made. Probably too rough for most of the little cry baby lefty snowflakes out there though.
For your information Robert Aldrich and Lee Marvin were both left wing liberals. It was the right wing nut jobs who brought on the great depression in America and it took left wing liberals i.e. Franklin D. Roosevelt to bring the country out of the great depression. I'm amazed at how uninformed people like you are in our day and time - when so much information is available if you look for it.
It was made 48 years ago and you want modern effects? Please stick to your Avengers crappe with no great story to go with and I'll be happy watching this.
Emperor of the North is a fantastic train film. Great actors, and wonderful shots of the trains, loved it from beginning to end.
#19 is now at the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugar Creek, Ohio
I watched this movie in English class! It was awesome! I recommend it to anyone who loves trains!
English Class?! Lucky! For what reason exactly though?
Owen Meschter Great depression probably I learnt about the great depression in English
this was a criminally under rated film...great acting, great music, great scenery....and the fight at the end between Shack and A no.1 is one of the best fights ever filmed.....
8:36 I've actually heard that in a much older film. "The Train"1964. I could care less if it's Thomas or not. I actually thought that the apperence of Yreka Western 19.
Yea me too
The one from The Train (1964) were recordings of old brakes from the late 30s and present day used in late Thomas era episodes. The ones from the early 1900s to the 1920s were used in the first two seasons of Thomas as well as the first appearance in The French Connection (1971), Chattanooga Choo Choo (1984) and Emperor of The North (1973).
Having watched the movie several times I can definitely agree with Chris that this movie is worth checking out. You also have to appreciate some of the extra work that went into the movie, for example: The 19 was an oil burning loco, however to add tension during certain scenes, like the near head on collision, the crew took out the oil tank, put in a smaller one and added a small coal bunker on top of the oil tank. I am sad the movie didn't do so well upon release but I am glad knowing that it's becoming more popular with time.
I didn't know #19 was actually an oil burner, modified to look like a coal burner.
Thanks for that fascinating fact!
You can see that the engine that stalls on the greased rails is definitely an oil burner.
At least the guy getting split in half is one of those B-movie deaths that looks cheap and unrealistic.
8:36 the early 1920s brakes were used in early seasons of Thomas And Friends but also Tora, Tora, Tora, The French Connection (1971) and Chattanooga Choo Choo (1984). Emperor of The North Pole (1973) still has iconic notion. The later series of Thomas has brakes from the late 30s and beyond.
8:29 well actually that sound affect came from a war film called Tora Tora Tora
Don't forget The French Connection (1971) and Chattanooga Choo Choo (1984)
Love that movie; it's my godmother's father's all-time favourite movie so I thank him for introducing it to me 5 years ago. Lovely video by the way.
Train 19 is a Baldwin 90 ton Mikado, I got that info from islandpond r.r. The guy has a 1/8 scale version of #19.
Edit: 1:39 in that scene he was escaping Cigarette and the group of thuggish kids with the chicken, and he keeps trying to ride the 19 because cigarette is trying to steal his title as "king of the road" which is a highly respected title among hobos for most of the 1900's.
If Chris ever goes on a US tour and 19 is fully restored in Sugarcreek, I’d *love* to see a Sole SLIP on 19.
I really need to see this film because, like both the 1940 and 1992 adaptations of John Steinbeck's the Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice & Men, it seems to be one of the few films more focused on the dark side of 1930s America with a great amount of landscape, character, and unique dialogue that audience can recognize years later it comes out.
Another thing that'll make me watch the film is my fascination of films from the '70s to early '80s, mostly one's that feature backwoods and forested areas. They have this tone that's strangely pleasant to look at, even if the story can be dark at times.
Also, it's nice to see the Oregon, Pacific, & Eastern Railroad operations in a way that's almost like either the real world of the '30s and the railfan events that try to recreate that world. In my humble mind, it's like Titfield Thunderbolt; there's no real need to remake this film, because certain looks, effects, and performances can not be recreated or replaced.
"Hard Times", directed by Walter Hill and starring James Coburn and Charles Bronson, is another terrific Depression era flick that would meet your criteria.
Christopher Knopf, the screenwriter, is responsible for the film's unique dialogue, very specific to the depression and steam railway eras. I wonder where he got those words and phrases, perhaps from literature of that period.
EoTN typically holds a spot in my heart due to how it’s *basically* one of the films my great uncle had ever given me. Plus, I absolutely loved its
I just watch it every day lol
Loved seeing your video and hearing your part on it Chris.
Definitely one of my favorite classics, most memorable to me with that near collision scene. Also the late Ernest Borgnine, God rest his soul. And I get what you mean with that brake sound effect, I hear that sound effect in almost every classical railroad involved movie I've yet seen.
One of my favorite movies. Thanks.
a damn good film saw it 23 years ago when my dad recorded it off the telly Good insight Chris
It's nice to see a review of a rather well-known railroad film from the perspective of rail buff/movie buff as well versed as yourself. After viewing this video, among others, I'm really looking forward to any new videos in this particular series. Hopefully you consider reviewing other classic rail related films, such as Breakheart Pass (1976) and The Great Train Robbery (1978), in the not too distant future. All in all, this was such a great video.
A No.1 is a legend to us hobos but he was the real deal. Made books and wrote are history.
Thanks for sharing with us your thoughts about one of the most interesting railroad films ever produced! Despite being a fan of Thomas myself, I've been meaning to watch "Emperor of the North" as a film in it's own right. It looks amazing, and not to mention that the locomotive used in the film, McCloud River Railroad #19, survived into preservation, and now sits on display at the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek, Ohio.
On of my favorite railroad movies
Always remember, nobody rides Shack's train
I need to look for this movie as it looks amazing.
Originally, I was drawn to this movie because it was a train movie with Ernest Borgnine in it, not because it uses the same stock brake sound as in the first few seasons of Thomas the Tank Engine. In my opinion, I actually love that stock brake squeal sound that was used in both Emperor of the North and Thomas the Tank Engine. To me it sounds realistic for steam era equipment. Yeah sure this movie has its graphic gory scenes in it to the point where you could use that footage in a PSA about railway safety, but at least it tried to and successfully showed America in the Great Depression with its focus on hoboes who traveled the country on freight trains in search of work, a better life, or perhaps getting involved with criminal activity.
Very nice critique of this cult favourite, considered by many one of the great railroad films.
Perhaps the most disturbing part of the Thomas fandom seems to be the age of most of its members. I've encountered one too many people over the age of 16 who love Thomas like they're 4. When i turned 8, I got my first Lionel train set and that was that for the little blue abomination for me.
More to the topic, I truly enjoyed this movie. How much of a mindf**k is it that Shack is the very same guy who voiced the bumbly cooky old "Mermaid Man" in Spongebob?
RIP Ernest Borgnine and Lee Marvin. Brilliant performers of their time.
as a Toy Train and Train enthusiast this film is probably the best film out there in terms of depicting "life on the road" for a Bo (Hobo).. Love this film and watch it all the time.. have it on 16mm film and digital..
Do you use a film projector to watch the 16mm film?
@@garyhersemeyer2642 yes
Wait you are telling me that this train sound was used for Thomas?!?!? WHAT!???!??!? Holy shit! This is actual News to me!!! What a cool neat fact thank you for including it even though you were really disgruntled in doing so.
8:33 At this point, something is making me wonder if Chris really hates Thomas.
I'm glad you decided to take a look at this. I think it may have been one of the ones I requested. I guess it take someone with a very eclectic interests like myself to find a faithful Railway Series adaptation and this film equally interesting. Even though don't have the same rewatch value that used to I waited over 10 years for the the last one. And nothing is as as bad a they way the brand takes over not just that it does but the way it does it.
10:44 Ooooohhhhh, I think people will need to go to a hospital because that is one serious burn!
This is the third production that I know of now that reuses that well known foley from ‘The Train’, the other two being the obvious stated in the video and ‘Origin: Spirits of the Past’ I shall be looking into watching this film to take in the rest of it.
8:18
Man, Clearwater & Britt Allcroft Co. borrowed a lot of sound effects, didn't they?
(eyes roll)
I guess that's how the cookie crumbles, I suppose.
My dad introduced me to this film when I was younger since he remembers going to the movie theathers to see it. Thank goodness I grew out of the blue scrapheap before I realised that's where his wheel squealing came from. I was more attached to the movie because it didn't involve so much Hollywood exaggeration on the train itself like Atomic Train or Unstoppable. Every event that happened to the train has happened somewhere, sometime in railroad history so it's actually pretty accurate. Not only that, how could you not love a tiny Baldwin 2-8-2 like the 19? She's perfect, yet not a very popular locomotive with the exception of her being used again in Stand by Me, when they played chicken with her (not the bridge scene). Now when anyone sees her, EoTN is the movie they recognize her by. Sadly, she was retired in 2009 and was put up for auction. She was bought by famous private locomotive collector, Jerry Joe Jacobson last year, but would be his last locomotive before passing in September of 2017.
I love that movie
Hello, Chris. (I'm presuming you're still around since this video is only five years old). I've been a fan of Emperor Of The North [premiered as 'Emperor Of The North Pole' in the US of A] since just after its release. In fact I waited so long to see it a second time on the telly that I had to seek out a version on VHS tape, which I still have. Problem is, I no longer have a VHS-player, so I'll have to either get it transferred to disc, or buy a DVD version (if available). My younger brother and I used to watch it so frequently in the 1980s that we could recant most of the (very funny) dialogue verbatim. I think I like it because of its quirkiness and the fact that the main characters evidently enjoyed playing their respective rôles while keeping straight faces amid all the hokum. Just as I am obliged to re-read Mike Tomkies' book 'Alone In The Wilderness' (also released as 'A World Of My Own') every five years-or-so, similarly I have to re-watch this excellent piece of escapism within the same time frame. Thanks for the video, it proves I'm not the only fan of this wonderful film still kicking around.👍🏻
I talked with FDR.
I fought with Pershing.
Slept with Harlow.
Tamed tigers.
Drunk poison.
Seen the elephant.
And gone over the falls.
Don’t ask me how... but I just KNEW that the Trump reference was coming. Well done 🤣
You can basically sum up this as: "two guys who don't give a dang of what they do yet have complex drives to them, deal through simple-minded laybys to reach their fixed match." That, and the physical stunts of the film, are the real standouts. Keep in mind, Cigaret was ultimately just an audience stand-in to all the goings-on like so many minor representations in media, an effect of the common misconception made back in those days where rookie/minor characters were generally literalised as being unable to carry an arc compared to a grown character, which is still prevalent to a degree in the business to this day, although minor-position character arcs are becoming more appreciated in practice now than they used to be.
(Ignore the Thomas rant section.) Regards, Samuel Farris.
Wow... that brake screeching sound effect me from this? MIND OFFICIALLY BLOWN.
This movie does indeed sound quite interesting. Haven't seen too many movies lately taking place in the 30's, let alone on the railway.
Anyhow, do you think you could cover 'The Railway Children' in this series eventually?
I see that the #19 is a Mikado (2-8-2 Wheel configuration). Does that mean the Shack won't simply "LET THE PUNISHMENT FIT THE CRIME"?
LMAO
the best (not mentioned) fight scene of all time.
3:32 😨
Nice One Chris plus it was Brilliant to meet you and I was a fan of Earnest Borgnine as you know he stared as Dominic Santini in Airwolf
Chris, I love you, you're great, and I seriously think you're one of the best railroad youtubers, but what do you have against Thomas the Tank Engine? (I'm not being funny, ok maybe a little, I'm genuinely curious as I find the Thomas Fandom and Railroad Fandom to have a very tumultuous relationship, less so here in the USA, but I am curious, as a Railfan and Thomas fan.).
Also, if you want another great Lee Marvin film, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is fantastic, with excellent performances from John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart as well.
Wow. Not gonna lie, I was not expecting this one. I finally got around to watching this film from end to end not too long ago, and honestly... aside from the scene in the fog of the No.19 racing the Mail, I found it to be pretty boring. Shack being a villainous psychopath who even the other railroaders hate was an interesting touch that I haven't seen done very often in movies, but personally I found that rather off-putting, making me question why I should care about anything other than his eventual death, which even that wasn't as satisfying as it should have been because I'd wanted it to come so many times sooner. Not denying he's the stand-out role of the film, because he certainly is. It's just that... I dunno, having a villain that I hate so much that it almost puts me off the film as a whole, that feels like a bit of a problem for me. I do agree that Shack didn't need much, or perhaps any explanation or justification, but maybe even a single scene or two to show why he's so ruthless to the point of insanity wouldn't have hurt; passing another freight with hobos visible on it, or another conductor getting a public reprimand and the boss reminding everyone what would happen to them if a tramp was caught on their line.
As for Cigarette, you hit the nail on the head with your assessment. And on the one hand, I get the intentions and one could say that the director & writers carried it off effectively. On the other hand, that very effectiveness damaged the film for me because I was constantly just wanting to punch Cigarette in his smug, stupid face. I can't care about a character that I only want to see suffer for his arrogance, and doubly so when even at the end of the film that character has clearly learned NOTHING. Cigarette has no character arc in this story because he ends it exactly the same character as he started, and a straight, flat line is not an arc. In short, why should I give a shit about this punk-ass chump who learns nothing and never will learn? It's Anakin in the Prequels all over again.
Lastly, Chris, mate, seriously. You really should back off with the Thomas hate. I totally get where you're coming from, and I agree that it does get obnoxious when the only point of reference anyone links to anything related to trains is the Little Blue... Puffer. But seriously, where have you seen people picking apart Emperor of the North for no other reason than a single related sound effect? That's pedantic and nitpicky even for me. I say this as a friend: Whatever forum you read that on, might be best not to frequent that one anymore, and otherwise take a deep breath, simmer down, let off some... frustration. You and I can't stop the Tumarse "fandom" from being derpy little twatwaffles, so the best course of action is to take the high ground and ignore them.
Not to mention some Thomas fandom members are rail enthusiasts themselves, and take interests in actual railways. If I'm to be completely honest, I'm more interested in the plot/characters than the sound effect. The Thomas Brake Squeal is just a cool tidbit, nothing more, nothing less.
I quite agree. I share Chris' frustration sometimes with everything railfan related being referenced back to Thomas in some capacity. But I think he's referencing Thomas these days as much as the Thomas fans do, and his forced anger is getting somewhat grating!
Yes, some railfans will reference back to nostalgic childhood shows. Get over it!
Mystic Mind Analysis I'm in the Thomas fanbase myself and I've never heard anyone praise the movie just for that one sound effect
@@brennenbalsamo9013 I only watched the video because I like Chris himself, plus his view may give me a reason to WATCH the damn movie one day, not to listen to him complain about Thomas fans or them liking a sound effect, even though I do agree with his point on the movie only being liked for a sound bit.
Yeah, that brake squealing thing has been used since 1970.
I forgot about this film. I remember this from when I was younger. Looking at it now, I can see why I forgot it so easily.
I was unaware that this film uses the famous wheels squealing sound effect used in that show, nor I actually heard about this film! I might check this out someday since this looks interesting!
Isn’t that Magma Arizona 5 from emperor of the north? I’ve seen it in person more times than i could count.
Yes. It's featured several times throughout the film.
OP&E No 19 is one of the best looking trains
Prior to this editorial, it went to Ohio
A great film, Ernest Borgnine is a natural for the psychotic evil antagonist, he just has the... face for it! Felt terribly bad for Hogger (the driver) though. And I honestly made no foley connection to the blue.... thing, despite having grown up with it.
I felt bad for Coalie too (the fireman). No respect from Shack and then gets badly burned.
I love the black and white footage. Where did you find them, mind if I ask?
I've watched EOTH about 1.7 billion times, and I'd never caught the similarities between the brake squeal of the 19 and the cheeky blue box until you mentioned it.
For anyone wondering, it may seem unclear at the end but the Shack actually did not die. I guess it sends a message that A no. 1 isn’t going to stoop to his level. To give you a perspective on how bad of a state the railroads were in in 1933, at least the United States, only one class of engines over hundreds of class 1 railroads was built in that year. Just 1.
3:51 Simple cuts?! He's cut in half!!! Great pun work man!
To be fair, the squealing brakes sound was one of those stock sound effects you could pay for and use in your movie. That was incredibly common in anything featuring trains in the 1970s and ‘80s.
SovietOnion actually, that sound effect was a part of 20th Century Fox's own sound effects collection from back in 1966, The Sand Pebbles was the first to use it.
Oh. So how was Britt Allcroft allowed to use it?
Have you seen "La Bete Humane" by Jean Renoir? Some great shots of French steam in that!
Chris I love the film because of the 19, steam locomotives always have an interesting story behind them like n&w 475 cotton belt 819, santa fe 2926, union pacific 3985 and 844 etc. It's why I like trains. It's the story behind them!
The 19. Yreka and western #18, I've driven one of that class. Also they all sound like they are rushing to a passing siding.
Went to Ohio before this editorial came
I haven’t seen this film since the 80’s, can’t find it to watch again. Anyone have a suggestion where to find it?
I've never seen Thomas fans explicitly stating they LIKE this movie because of the sound effect, though you're right in that's primarily what they acknowledge about it.. I'd like to see this film myself, has it been released on DVD?
Thankfully, yes. It was released on Region 2 in 2007 and on the US market shortly before then
Actually, speaking of the Thomas bit, I honestly think that's a bit hypocritical for you. You've talked about how problematic it is that people don't think of railway enthusiasm without Thomas, yet here you are going on a tangent about how Thomas links to a railway film. I know that's kinda the point you were making anyway but i feel it may have been better if you'd have just said *GEEEE, I WONDER WHERE I'VE HEARD THAT SOUND BEFORE...* and left it at that. You use the sound effect in your video, so it's pretty likely people would have known what you were talking about.
@@twofacedtwitproductions6154the sad ingredient of an exfan
Iv'e seen this many times, as I grew up watching mostly vintage action and adventure films than modern works. Bullet, The Dirty Dozen, Gone in 60 Seconds, The Bond Films, Where Eagles Dare, Tobruk, Raid on Rommel, Attack(1956), The Italian Job, Easy Rider.
The problem is people are looking too much into it for messages that are not really there. Now it can be said that Shack was a tyrannical authoritarian who ordered people about no matter what their position was. He demonstrated this when the yard manager advised him not to highball out of the yard. But as far as him being a symbol of... governmental might or some extremist political group is absurd.
A-#1 was a vagabond that did whatever he pleased and used the Depression as a metaphor to justify his way of thinking. That's all. He's not a symbol of anti-oppression. If anything, Cigarette is the only character that can be made into a symbol. For he is a prickish loudmouth that thinks he knows everything just by having three months of experience. Why else would kids be his only accomplices before he met A-#1? Those kids looked up and believed his tripe. Whereas A-#1 never believed a word.
I’m not asking for you to promise anything, but I would like to see a “Gauge The Issue” on your opinion of Thomas The Tank Engine.
i think he did that with his April Fools edition of SLIP.
I mean the books, fanfics and other such things. I know he doesn’t like the TV show.
I don't think he'll review fan content, even if it's good or bad, but he did say that Reverend W Awdry was a respectable man, and he hasn't made or said anything negative about the books, apart from their dark look on scrapping. So I believe he's ok with the Railway Series.
Yes, I agree here, and I think some sort of look into the factual aspect of some of the stories, for example James spinning at high speed on the turn table (Garsdale), The brake van getting smashed by a banking engine (Lickey incline) and so on
@@TotoDGa 2017 q&a might hinder your hopes
I didn’t even know that’s where that damn wheel screeching sound came from. Well ya learn something new everyday.
I'm pretty sure the one train-centric episode of New Adventures of Winnie The Pooh also used that one brake squeal sample and not just...the thing that shall not be named.
Pretty good analysis. Pretty good film too.
I honestly had never seen this film and when you brought up the bit about the brake shoe sound that was used from the little blue bugger's show, I rolled my eyes so much they are practically stuck doing so.
You should do one about "The Train" with Burt Lancaster
Who knew Mermaidman was a conductor before he became a superhero?
Oh my goodness I got to see this movie not too long ago when I was on RUclips and I got to see the engine in real life engine 19 it's at the age of steam roundhouse in Sugarcreek Ohio being restored the last time I was there they just gave it a new coat of paint and it looks just exactly like the original from the movie and it will be running again soon as what I heard but she is in maculate condition and looks good where the movie was taken place that's where they brought her to their and restored
In my opinion, that “establishment vs. anti-establishment” idea seemed to be ruined on both sides. Shack ignores his own boss and forces his train to fly through a yard at full speed. A-No.1, meanwhile, seems to follow a special code of rules that were set up by the society of hoboes itself. However, I find this result to ultimately be for the better as this makes the characters feel more human and, thus, more believable. Overall, I love how accurate this film is to the time period it is trying to set; it is far from afraid to show a truly gruesome part of American railroad history.
I think I might have watched EoTN before I even watched TTTE&F honestly.
HoBo
This was a good movie, but a much better railroad story is The Boomer by Harry Bedwell.
The brake squeal…is weird in hindsight. I agree, that's both an awkward and disappointing reason to like the movie.
As for the movie itself, I'd give it a watch. Considering I keep using this decade to remember the early days of the streamliners, I keep forgetting that the 30's overall was a pretty low point for railroads around the world.
I really only started to like the movie when Chris started talking about it and I got more and more interested. Though when that brake sound came into my mind I knew exactly what he would say.
I'm upset.
Thank you for that.
being un-upset was starting to get boring.
I'm sorry to hear that. What caused you to be upset?
Thomas got me started on loving Railways I've learned a lot about them and I'd love to find this film. It looks like fun
MAN, Don't get so fed up of Thomas. I understand that your kinda annoyed with people clamoring for Thomas in your videos, but you don't have to treat the show itself like it's bad. It's just the people who clamor about the show in the comments of your videos.
The sad reality of exfans
Does he have a criminal record? Are the police and the railroad company turning a blind eye to every story they hear about him?
The police were underfunded back then, and even if they werent, there were no DNA tests back then so you couldnt link Shack to the murders. Whats better is that Shack is wearing gloves and hitting the guy with a hammer (so it would be hard to do a DNA test anyways).
As for the railroad company, Im sure everybody knows who the Shack is. They know he does his job and gets everything done despite his methods. Shack knows how valuable he is to the company, and he isnt afraid to get fired or to quit because he could easily get a job elsewhere, even with the high unemployment during the depression. However, with him not driving a fast mail engine or a passenger rail engine (he probably was in the past), its likely the railway division gave him an old freight car engine just to keep around a guy with a lot of seniority. When you think about it, the passenger car crew were wearing professional clothing, but only Shack has that clothing on his crew, the others didnt. Shack wasnt afraid to get the job done by any means necessary, even if it went against company rules. Shack has his own code of conduct.
Good old Thomas
I wish you wouldn't keep showing that expressive face, it really spoils it for me, otherwise good.
Never heard of this film, but it sounds like quite a ride! One criticism of this video, Chris; Can you please not use ableist terms like "Spastic", considering how it's derogatory to anyone with mental health issues? I have Dyspraxia and Autism, and have been called "Spastic" for most of my life. It'd be nice if I didn't have to be reminded of how I'm considered to be an idiot when I watch your videos.
Hi Mystic.
My apologies, no harm was intended.
I've PM'ed you on the matter.
PM? Are you referring to Google+ or something else? I haven't used a youtube PM system in Donkeys Years.
RUclips PM. I haven't used them in ages either, but then this isn't a regular occurrence. And I don't use Google+
Does it require being on old youtube mode? I can't see an option for PMs anywhere on "new" youtube.
Not that I'm aware of.
The video has been edited now. The term has been removed.
Again, my deepest apologies. I hope it doesn't spoil the rest of your day.
Thanks again for your support.
Can en engine like the 19 run on British rails?
In theory, yes, but not for very far. While the *track* gauge is the same, the *loading* gauge is much smaller in Britain than in America, so the _19_ wouldn't be able to travel too far before it either knocked down signal posts or had whole chunks torn off of its person by platforms or tunnels.
Can she be modified?
@@vincentberkan605it happened to Scotty it can happen to anything
I'm pretty sure all of the nagging ''fans'' that mention thomas are really just young kids anyways.
Mentally
One thing I've noticed about Ernest Borgnine is that he's known for playing a character with a bad temper, also in seasons 5 through 12 used the brake squeal from, "The Train," with Burt Lancaster, when the engine raced into the tunnel and screeched to a stop to hide from a spitfire
Slaps for saying baby in a sentence about Thomas *
Some exfans are like that
That little blue basted will always crop up. :/ But I want to see this film.
Why are you so against Thomas and Friends?
It's not a bad show, the early seasons especially.
Sure it's target demographics are young, but it.still holds up well.
I refer you to 56:40 of this video:
ruclips.net/video/nXRQ1Z5nggA/видео.html
Exfans are like that
I did not like this film when released but then I do not violence in any film.
Comparing Cigarette to Trump is like comparing Obama to Trump. Obama and all the rest of the Left would end up having us all jobless and riding the rails. Leave it to the Hollywood leftists to totally screw up the flange squeal sound effect that seemed to screw up the whole movie for you. Get real. This is one of the best "tough guy" movies ever made. Probably too rough for most of the little cry baby lefty snowflakes out there though.
For your information Robert Aldrich and Lee Marvin were both left wing liberals. It was the right wing nut jobs who brought on the great depression in America and it took left wing liberals i.e. Franklin D. Roosevelt to bring the country out of the great depression. I'm amazed at how uninformed people like you are in our day and time - when so much information is available if you look for it.
When you watch British content in America and find an American video
My response:⁉️
It was made 48 years ago and you want modern effects? Please stick to your Avengers crappe with no great story to go with and I'll be happy watching this.
Pretty sure I said simple effects like these were more than effective enough
HOW DARE YOU INSULT THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE
He used to be a elite fan, but grew out of it
I stopped watching after you took a shot at the President.
#notmypresident
On of my favorite railroad movies