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:

The Fear Is Spreading

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to the March 17, 1976 edition of Variety, a then recent drop in business on the Swiss Railway line, of about thirty percent, provided the conditions for Italian Producer Carlo Ponti to shoot part of the rail sequences at the large train station situated in Basel, Switzerland.

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Goofs

When the train reaches the area where it is going to be 'sealed' it is shown in a very high mountainous region. In fact, a train traveling in the direction that this train is meant to be going would pass through fewer, not more high mountainous areas.

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Quotes

Col. Stephen Mackenzie: [On speaker phone] I don't have to tell you what we're up against!
Dr. Jonathan Chamberlain: What you're up against? I may be the only doctor for a thousand potential plague victims if I haven't caught it myself.
Col. Stephen Mackenzie: That's exactly why it's important to contain the disease now and why you'll all be heading for an isolation facility in Poland, where you'll get the very best...
Dr. Jonathan Chamberlain: In the meantime, what do you intend I fight it with? Aspirin?

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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

Featured in Looking for Sophia (2004)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

A dynamic disaster pic.

This is not one of those soulless, uninteresting all-star packages of the '70s, like "The Towering Inferno" or one of those pseudo-artsy "entertainments" like "The French Connection"; it's a vigorously directed, tightly edited thriller that grabs you by the throat right from the opening sequence and keeps its grip throughout. Sure, it contains most of the expected disaster-movie cliches (peculiar love-hate relationships between characters played by big stars of the era, useless supporting roles - especially Ava Gardner's -, etc...), but the directing is so efficient, and Burt Lancaster is so convincingly hateful, that you find yourself completely absorbed. In my opinion, a first-rate movie, with a spectacular finish. (***)

Details

Country:

UK Italy West Germany USA

Language:

English French Swedish German

Release Date:

9 February 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

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