1 / 8
MONEY
Did you know
Earned back only 36% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Breakheart Pass
"Revenge Mystery Danger Ambush"
1975 1h 35m EN
👍
6.6
SOLID
🍅
68%
FRESH
⭐
6.7
IMDB
★6.6TMDB · 241🍅68%Rotten Tomatoes★6.7IMDB · 9,575
ThrillerWesternMystery
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
At the height of the frontier era, a train races through the Rocky Mountains on a classified mission to a remote army post. But one by one the passengers are being murdered, and their only hope is the mysterious John Deakin, who's being transported to face trial for murder.
“Revenge Mystery Danger Ambush”
Cast
Charles Bronson
John Deakin
Ben Johnson
Deputy U.S. Marshal Nathan Pearce
Richard Crenna
Gov. Richard Fairchild
Jill Ireland
Marica Scoville
Charles Durning
Frank O'Brien
Ed Lauter
Major Claremont
Bill McKinney
Reverend Peabody
David Huddleston
Dr. Molyneux
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Tom Gries
- Writers
- Alistair MacLean
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
ERA
Did you know
51 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Tom Gries, shot by Lucien Ballard. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
ERA
Did you know
Original score by Jerry Goldsmith. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Byron 'Buzz' Brandt shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Charles Bronson and Ben Johnson and Richard Crenna carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "Revenge Mystery Danger Ambush".
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0072735 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Tom Gries directs. Lucien Ballard behind the camera. Jerry Goldsmith scores. Byron 'Buzz' Brandt cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Earned back only 36% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
- 251 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
- 3Directed by Tom Gries, shot by Lucien Ballard. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 4Original score by Jerry Goldsmith. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 5Editor Byron 'Buzz' Brandt shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 6Charles Bronson and Ben Johnson and Richard Crenna carry the top of the cast.
- 7Marketing tagline: "Revenge Mystery Danger Ambush".
- 8IMDB entry: tt0072735 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Lucien Ballard
- Original score
- Jerry Goldsmith
- Editing
- Byron 'Buzz' Brandt
- Makeup / hair
- Vivienne Walker
- Stunt coordinator
- Yakima Canutt
- Runtime
- 95 min · 1h 35m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $6,000,000
- Box office
- $2,130,000
- Return
- 36% of budget
- Original language
- EN
- Rotten Tomatoes
- 68% 🍅 Fresh
- IMDB rating
- 6.7/10 · 9,575 votes
- MPAA
- PG
Also by
Tom Gries
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Community reviews
What people are saying
- JPV852★ 8/10
Really solid western-thriller with Charles Bronson in his element as usual with movies like these. Features a nice supporting cast that includes Richard Crenna, Charles Durning, Ben Johnson and Jill Ireland. Just an all around entertaining film from beginning to end. 3.75/5
Production companies
Who made it
United Artists
US
- JE
Jerry Gershwin Productions
- EL
Elliott Kastner Productions
Key crew
- EditorByron 'Buzz' Brandt
- ProducerJerry Gershwin
- Executive ProducerElliott Kastner
- CastingLouis DiGiaimo
- Art DirectionTambi Larsen
- Set DecorationDarrell Silvera
- NovelAlistair MacLean
- Producer's AssistantAlleen N. Nollmann
- Key Hair StylistVivienne Walker
- HairstylistEvelyn Preece
- Sound Effects EditorDavid Horton Sr.
- Boom OperatorDon Merritt
- CostumerPaula Lynn Kaatz
- Set DesignerR. Gilbert Clayton
- Special EffectsA.D. Flowers
- Property MasterSam Gordon
- Assistant Art DirectorKim Swados
- HairstylistAlma Johnson
- Special EffectsLogan Frazee
- Key Makeup ArtistPhil Rhodes
- Production ManagerDon Guest
- Key CostumerThomas S. Dawson
- Sound MixerGene S. Cantamessa
- Assistant EditorGeorge C. Villaseñor
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- governor
- army
- prisoner
- u.s. marshal
- train
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical1976-05-05
Also known as
International titles
- Nevada ExpressES
- Nevada PaßDE
- Le solitaire de Fort HumboldtFR
- Mot Fort HumboldtSE
- O Trem do InfernoBR
