The Great Locomotive Chase

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DanTheMan 2 Based on the same event that would inspire Buster Keaton's The General three decades earlier, The Great Locomotive Chase tells the same tale from the other side of the conflict, with its focus more on the Union soldiers who stole Keaton's titular train. This is one Disney film that has faded into relative obscurity; it's been out of print for years and doesn't show any signs of being made available anytime soon. While it's rife with family-oriented historical melodrama, Francis D. Lyon directs the film with a beautiful use of Technicolour and at a lively pace, particularly during the train chase sequence, which is full of sustained excitement and never derails the film. Unfortunately, the film is pretty much whittled to the bone storywise; it's very brisk but completely unburdened with extraneous detail and thus fails to engage during the slower moments. All that being said, the performances from the central cast are mostly solid but unremarkable, and the score does an adequate job of accompanying the events, so if anything, The Great Locomotive Chase does make for easy viewing, far from being a lost gem, but a wonderfully made film nonetheless. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/07/25 Full Review r 9 Outstanding! I was thoroughly entertained by 'The Great Locomotive Chase' from start-to-finish, as it delivers a fantastic chase via trains during the American Civil War. Expertly edited, brilliantly acted and very nicely shot. Fess Parker is the film's lead, as he portrays James J. Andrews. He does a terrific job in the role, perfectly showing off Andrews' character and state of mind; he is very much brains over brawn, as well as being charismatic. A load of the other cast members do fine work too, namely Jeffrey Hunter (Fuller), Jeff York (Campbell) and John Lupton (Pittenger). I do agree that the finale does fall flatter than the build-up, which is a shame but I do respect the filmmakers for keeping to reality - a fantastical ending would've been cool, though sticking to facts is arguably important. I don't dislike the ending all that much, to be honest. I can compare it to 2010's 'Unstoppable' which, although for different reasons, is another locomotive chase film. While this isn't as great as that, I still think this production is marvellous. Must-watch! Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member What's interesting about The Great Locomotive Chase is that it paints both the Union and Confederate characters in a positive light. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review deke p Loved it when it came out on Disneyland TV in the 50s. Closely based on a True Story-- look it up. FESS PARKER!. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member good caper/crime pic clean version-from disney Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review david f I just loved this movie as a kid and I can see why--trains! Disney used a bunch of historical locomotives to film this recreation of a famous raid by northerners into the south during the Civil War. Their plan was to steal a southern train and to use it as transportation while they cut telegraph wires and tore up track behind enemy lines. Some of the raiders received the first Congressional Medals of Honor making this a significant event of the war. But what makes this movie significant isn't the gratingly serious performance of Fess Parker as the leader of the raid, or the proto-action movie plot full of explosions and escapes, it's the trains. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Great Locomotive Chase

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