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The Great Locomotive Chase

Play trailer Poster for The Great Locomotive Chase Released Jan 26, 1956 1h 25m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 3 Reviews 56% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
It's the Civil War, and Union spy James J. Andrews (Fess Parker) is on a top-secret mission: to steal a Confederate train outside of Atlanta and take it back to Union territory in Tennessee, using it to sabotage and destroy Confederate supply routes along the way. But the train's conductor (Jeffrey Hunter) is on to Andrews and is determined to try his best to throw a wrench in the Union spy's plans before he delivers the train to his fellow soldiers.
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The Great Locomotive Chase

Critics Reviews

View All (3) Critics Reviews
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews It's an enjoyable adventure tale, especially for youngsters. Rated: B- Jul 9, 2015 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Sep 18, 2005 Full Review Carol Cling Las Vegas Review-Journal Rated: 3/5 Oct 10, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (25) audience reviews
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 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 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 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member good caper/crime pic clean version-from disney 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 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Yankee spies steal a train in Confederate territory with the aim of destroying vital track but are hotly pursued by Southern loyalists. A bit dated but not too Disney. I did like the Northerner - Southerner shaking hands at the end. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Great Locomotive Chase

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis It's the Civil War, and Union spy James J. Andrews (Fess Parker) is on a top-secret mission: to steal a Confederate train outside of Atlanta and take it back to Union territory in Tennessee, using it to sabotage and destroy Confederate supply routes along the way. But the train's conductor (Jeffrey Hunter) is on to Andrews and is determined to try his best to throw a wrench in the Union spy's plans before he delivers the train to his fellow soldiers.
Director
Francis D. Lyon
Producer
Lawrence Edward Watkin
Production Co
Walt Disney Productions
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 26, 1956, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2014
Runtime
1h 25m
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