Supertrain (1979– )

The adventures of a nation-spanning train and its passengers.

Creators:

Earl W. Wallace, Donald E. Westlake

Stars:

Edward Andrews, Harrison Page, Robert Alda

Cast

Series cast summary:
Edward Andrews	...	Harry Flood (9 episodes, 1979)
Harrison Page	...	George Boone (9 episodes, 1979)
Robert Alda	...	Dr. Dan Lewis (9 episodes, 1979)
Patrick Collins	...	Dave Noonan (5 episodes, 1979)
Nita Talbot	...	Rose Casey (5 episodes, 1979)
Aarika Wells	...	Gilda (5 episodes, 1979)
Bill Nuckols	...	Wally (5 episodes, 1979)
Michael Delano	...	Lou Atkins (5 episodes, 1979)
Charlie Brill	...	Robert (5 episodes, 1979)

Storyline

Zooming from one end of America to another, "Supertrain" is a vision of railroading of the future. The super-train, equipped with restaurants, pools, spas, theaters, etc., delivers passengers to wherever they're going. In "Love Boat"-type style, each week's guest passengers have their problems to resolve before the end of their trip.

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Plot Keywords:

passenger | train | television flop | murder | train ride | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 February 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Supertren

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dan Curtis Productions, National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A camera crew filmed process plates in their private train car with all the windows removed. Cameras aimed forward and in reverse, both sides of the second floor train had cameras pointed in three directions. The crew filmed the entire trip from East Coast to the West Coast in the middle of the summer 1979. After processing, viewing the process plates, the landscape scenery was brown grass, nothing was green! Very expensive process photography was still used for the series Inspite of the dull background plates (some even out of focus).

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Goofs

When the train leaves the station, the platform light fixtures are reflected in the train windows. They move along with the train because the train is standing still and the camera is moving.

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Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Mr. T and Hulk Hogan/The Commodores (1985)

User Reviews

Derailed!

Sure it was the 1970's and good taste took a vacation for a few years, but Supertrain did a decent job in providing escapist fare. As a high school junior, at the time, I looked forward to what else NBC might toss against the great broadcasting wall and pray stuck.

I guess that Fred Silverman decided to think `If we can't beat 'em, join 'em' with this dandy series from '79. Take one part `Love Boat', one part far fetched nuclear train, and add some `B' list stars, and you'll be rollin' in the ratings. Wrong!