This 1970s classic has hardly aged a day. Viewed in 2010, it looks like it could have been released last week. Bushy-browed Ernest Borgnine stars as a Depression-era railroad conductor who'll be damned if he'll allow hoboes to ride his train. Lee Marvin is a hobo and Borgnine's main nemesis, who decides late in the film to take on Borgnine. A very young Keith Carradine is Marvin's unwanted "student." Borgnne is incredibly ruthless dealing with not just the hoboes, but his fellow workers as well. Marvin is an unusual hobo,an introspective fella who is not like his fellow rail riders. Carradine's character is wet behind the wears, and due for a lesson in harsh reality, which he gets. The stunt fights are amazing -- no CGI crap back then -- and the interludes between fights are very entertaining. They are reminiscent of scenes from "Cool Hand Luke," at least to me. The location photography is magnificent. Director Aldrich draws the line at any graphic gore -- the blood looks like plain old red paint -- but the fights are damned convincing nonetheless. A real joy, and truly ageless.
Review of Emperor of the North
