Phonearl Good start, but then it gets ruined

Billie Morin This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Portia Hilton Blistering performances.

Cheryl A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

John T. Ryan AS WITH ANY Walt Disney Production, we boomers felt that we had an obligation to see it. Just the same responsibility was inherent in an picture that was previewed & promoted on ABC TV's DISNEYLAND Show as was attending Sunday Mass.BUT THEN, ALTHOUGH we are having a little fun in reliving those days, it was in so many ways superior to these days of bizarre change and extreme uncertainty. Sure, we were just kids; but we knew that we were expected to behave and toe the line, or else. Walt Disney entertainments, be they animated, live action or the new area of Theme Parks all showed the way.AS FOR THE story of THE GREAT LOCOMOTIVE CHASE, Mr. Disney turned to American History and our Civil War/War Between the States or whatever name that you prefer. This incident really occurred. It was the story of a plan by raiders of the Union Army to destroy railroad lines and hence disrupt supply lines to the West of the Confederate States. The leader was one James Andrews; who was executed as a Spy by the Southern forces.AS WE HINTED earlier, the story had been adapted to the Silver Screen once before; albeit in a far different genre and mood. It was "the Great Stone Face" of Silent Film iconic Comedian, Buster Keaton who wrote, produced and co-directed THE GENERAL (Buster Keaton Prod./Joseph Schenck Prod./United Artists 1927).ALTHOUGH THERE ARE so many differences between the two (including 30 years of Hollywood), they are both worth watching and re-watching and comparing.WHEREAS BUSTER KEATON chose to do the highly fictionalized story from the point of view of the Southern cause and the heroic actions of the railroad engineer who pursued the Yankee Train-nappers, the Disney production played it both close to Historical Fact and from the side of the Union loyalists.ONE POINT THAT we must make for the Keaton version (outside of his dry, dead-pan humor) is the spectacular battle scenes that are committed to film and the outstanding use of the Steam Engines; including what was surely a very Expen$I've scene that sacrifices an iron horse attempting to cross a burning bridge, only to fall into the river below.BUT WE DIGRESS, for our subject is the 1956 production. We do believe and heartily endorse this historical saga. We would all do well to view THE GREAT LOCOMOTIVE CHASE again and to encourage the young school kids to do the same.IT MAY WELL serve to whet their young appetites for American History; being a subject that is extremely under-taught these days. Isn't that right, Schultz?

denis888 Excellent film! I enjoyed every minute of this rather short, but greatly superb film on Great Locomotive Chase of 1862 near Chattanooga. The real story makes this film even more interesting, and the whole work is awesome. Excellent musical score, great scenery, decent performance of all actors, very thrilling trains, shoot-outs, North and South clashing, real drama, real feelings, very good details, very accurate depiction of moral and habits of people of those times.All of these makes this Old Style Hollywod film a very good watch. I do recommend this to all Civil War buffs!And even common film viewers will like this film and find it very brisk and very cool

fom4life The Great Locomotive ChaseWhile watching "TGLC" with my mother, she informed me that her father was a brakeman for the railroad. "A brakeman is a train board rail transport worker in the U.S. Historically, the brakeman was the person who would walk the length of a train atop the cars while the train is in motion and turn the brake wheel on each car to apply the train's brakes" from Wicipeda. A movie like this conjors up several different thoughts of wonder. What was it like to despise your fellow countrymen? What was it like to live in a country where you had no instant means of communication and travel? The movie paints an interesting historical picture that highlights the animosity between the North and the South during the civil war. It also presents us with the first recipients of the Congressianl Medal of Honor. Did I get that right? TGLC does have some impressive chase sequences that ended rather disappointedly for the Northerns. I guess I really thought they were going to get away with stealing a train. They would have gotten away with it too, if it hadn't been for that rotten train conductor William Campbell (Jeffrey Hunter) and his mangy dog. It's also fun to see Jeff York (Mike Fink) and Fess Parker (Davy Crockett) on hand to lend personality to this Civil War light family drama.My mother enjoyed it more than I did. This is one of those movies I can appreciate but don't necessarily like. It just didn't draw me in to the train ride. It didn't roll me down the tracks. I was busy writing another movie review at the time, so maybe the distraction derailed me a tad bit. I would perhaps watch it again sometime and give it more of a fair chance. I did like at the end how the Fess Parker Character (James Andrews) even though he was going to hang for stealing a confederate train, wanted to make peace with the man whose train he stole, William A Fuller. (Jeffrey Hunter). He knew the war would end and that both sides would have to shake hands in peace and that he wanted to do it now because he wouldn't be alive to do it later. He didn't beg for his life, didn't insult his enemy, wasn't hoping to not be hanged, but just wanted to make peace with his enemy thus making peace with his God. This powerful scene of redemption and forgiveness makes up for any boring element I may have found in the picture.A good film that deserves a rental for those interested in learning about history in a fun way.

bob the moo During the American Civil War, the Union knows that weakening the Confederate's transportation networks will greatly increase the chances of an attack being successful. James Andrews has been undercover within the South for some time so he is tasked with leading a group of men in as spies to get to the main railway bridges and burn them down. Things are edgy but going well until a zealous conductor on a train spots the men and plans to head the alarm. With no choice but to act, Andrews seizes the train and steals it to get quickly to his target blocking the track and chopping down telegraph lines along the way. However William Fuller is not to be put off and sets out in pursuit.Supposedly a true story this Disney film is a basic but entertaining adventure that is more about getting a simple chase going than it is about painting an educational historical piece. However this is not a major criticism because it is rather interesting and fun despite being a pretty base piece of film-making. The chase is never that exciting but it does provide some energy into the film, while the solid characters are engaging enough for what is essentially a film aimed at older children. The lack of tension or danger was a problem for me because I didn't think the mission should feel like the jolly jape that most of this makes it out to be – I imagine many viewers will struggle with the bright colourful pictures that this is presented in.The cast are solid enough; few so anything special but most of them fill their roles well and make reasonable fists of the job. Parker has a big strong chest and a big square jaw and my God does he use them at every chance he gets – hardly a performance but good enough for the type of film. Lupton is more interesting in a smaller role. Hunter is fun as Fuller although I would have liked a bit more humour in his performance. Support from York, Firestone and a few others is good but none of them are anything that special. Much like the film itself, the actors all do the minimum but generally do OK.Overall this is an OK film that is worth seeing as a bit of dramatic chase movie with aims of historical education that it never really pulls off. It is very much a Disney drama and lacks danger, tension or darkness but it is entertaining and interesting enough to do the job in you are in quite an undemanding mood – a lazy Sunday afternoon is probably the best time to give this a go, but just don't expect much.