The Cassandra Crossing (1976)

Passengers on a European train have been exposed to a deadly disease. Nobody will let them off the train. So what happens next?

Director:

George P. Cosmatos (as George Pan Cosmatos)

Writers:

Robert Katz (story), George P. Cosmatos (story) (as George Pan Cosmatos)

Stars:

Sophia Loren, Richard Harris, Martin Sheen

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sophia Loren	...	Jennifer Rispoli Chamberlain
Richard Harris	...	Dr. Jonathan Chamberlain
Martin Sheen	...	Robby Navarro
O.J. Simpson	...	Haley
Lionel Stander	...	Max, the Train Conductor
Ann Turkel	...	Susan
Ingrid Thulin	...	Dr. Elena Stradner
Lee Strasberg	...	Herman Kaplan
Ava Gardner	...	Nicole / Nicole Dressler
Burt Lancaster	...	Mackenzie / Colonel Stephen Mackenzie
Lou Castel	...	Swedish Terrorist
John Phillip Law	...	Major Stack
Ray Lovelock	...	Tom
Alida Valli	...	Nanny
Stefano Patrizi	...	Terrorist

Storyline

"Outbreak" meets "The Runaway Train" as a motley group of passengers are quarantined on a train destined to prevent the spread of the disease at the cost of their lives. Government intrigue, international smuggling, and the legend of the Cassandra Crossing add to the suspense.

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Plot Keywords:

gigolo | bridge | white panties | skinny | singing woman | 

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Taglines:

A Plague Infested Train Speeds Across Europe To Certain Death At Cassandra Crossing

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

18A

Did You Know?

Trivia

The cast and crew featured at least two sets of married couples. Producer Carlo Ponti saw the movie as a showcase for his wife Sophia Loren. The movie also co-starred then husband and wife, Richard Harris and Ann Turkel, with Turkel being pregnant during principal photography.

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Goofs

A name station on a building where the train is passing in Poland is misspelled. It says KSZEMIENIEC where in fact it's Krzemieniec with 'r'. Also it's located in a different part of the country.

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Quotes

Susan: [Very ill] I don't look too good, hunh?
Herman Kaplan: Ah, liebschoen, even now you make me wish I was fifty again!

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: INTERNATIONAL HEALTH ORGANIZATION Geneva

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Alternate Versions

SPOILER: The 1980s American video version deletes all the carnage during the final sequence, when half of the train goes onto the bridge, which collapses under it. This version shows the train itself, crashing to the ground, but removes the interior shots of passengers being killed, as well as shots of bodies floating in the river in the aftermath, giving the impression that the front half of the train was empty when it fell. This version also deletes the scene with the song "I'm Still On My Way", sung by the hippies, various instances of cursing and other assorted shots which got the film its R rating in 1976.

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Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Richard Harris/Ann Turkel/Buck Henry/David Horowitz (1977)

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Soundtracks

It's All a Game
(uncredited)
Music by Jerry Goldsmith
Lyrics by Hal Shaper

User Reviews

A potential deadly virus rides the rails, and the only prevention may be an unsafe bridge crossing at Cassandra.

This film, released in 1976, was another one of the star-filled disaster movies of the 70's that had audiences wondering which players were going to survive, and which ones were doomed. Sophia Loren, Richard Harris, Ava Gardner, Burt Lancaster, Martin Sheen, and O.J. Simpson head the starring roles, and that list does perk the interest for viewers. The only drawback is the first part of the film does spend a bit too much time in developing character interactions, and the like, which does subtract from the story itself.

A terrorist group stages a raid on an International Health Building in Geneva. One of the terrorists manages to escape, but becomes a carrier of a very dangerous plague virus. He boards a train that is scheduled to go to Stockholm, and in doing so, exposes many of the passengers to the virus. Lancaster is called in to handle the rescue operation, and he decides to send the train to a crossing in Poland that is unsafe. In his mind, it is better to sacrifice a 1,000 lives, instead of spreading the virus all over Europe. Richard Harris, a doctor on board the doomed train, believes those that are sick, are recovering, and he pushes for a different solution. Col. MacKenzie (Lancaster) refuses to accept that answer, and the train is sent towards the Cassandra Crossing, and certain destruction, if Harris is unable to stage a rescue effort on his own.

I rated this a 6/10, only because of the slowness in developing the characters. Once the train leaves Geneva, and the seriousness of the matter is realized, this film does keep the audience involved.

Details

Country:

UK Italy West Germany USA

Language:

English French Swedish German

Release Date:

18 December 1976 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Cassandra Crossing

Filming Locations:

International Labour Office Building. 4, route des Morillons, 1211 Genève 22, Switzerland

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Associated General Films, International Cine Productions, Compagnia Cinematografica Champion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor) (as Technicolor®)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1