Jump to content

One More Train to Rob

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

One More Train to Rob
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAndrew McLaglen
Screenplay byDon Tait
Dick Nelson
Story byWilliam Roberts
Produced byRobert Arthur
StarringGeorge Peppard
Diana Muldaur
CinematographyAlric Edens
Edited byRobert L. Simpson
Music byDavid Shire
Color processTechnicolor
Production
company
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • February 19, 1971 (1971-02-19)
Running time
108 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

One More Train to Rob is a 1971 American comedy western film directed by Andrew McLaglen, starring George Peppard,[1] and featuring Diana Muldaur, John Vernon and France Nuyen.

The shooting title for the film was Hark.[2] It was one of a number of medium budgeted genre films Peppard made around this time.[3] McLaglen called it " just an okay movie. It’s played an awful lot on TV, but it isn’t my favourite by a long shot."[4]

Plot

[edit]

Set in the Old West, the story is about train-robber Harker Fleet (Peppard), who is sent to prison for assaulting a sheriff and his deputy while trying to escape a forced marriage, set up by his former partner, Timothy Xavier Nolan (John Vernon). Fleet serves his time, but gets out of prison early, for good behavior. Once he is released from prison, he travels to the town of Calador, intending to settle the score with Nolan for railroading him and stealing his woman, Katy (Diana Muldaur).

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

George Peppard called his character "a likable type of guy. I wanted to play the role a long time before the film was made."[5] He originally became attached in 1969. It was going to be filmed that year with Tisha Sterling but the location on which the film was to be made freezed out.[6] Then he was going to film it again but this was delayed when a new producer was put in charge. Peppard ultimately helped choose the music and suggested three violent deaths in the original script be deleted.[7]

"There's a lot of fun in this picture," he said. "We made it before Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid but it has the same sense of fun."[6]

Filming started 9 March 1970 under the nameHark. Gayle Hunnicutt was going to play the female lead but Diana Muldaur played it instead.[8] France Nuyen played a role, her first after a seven year absence.

The movie was then retitled The Last Bullet. Peppard disliked the title which he said "sounds like a 1942 Western" and was unhappy with the original ad campaign which he said played the film too straight. Peppard offered to promote the film for free if the film's title and campaign were changed. Peppard had proposed H. Fleet, Robber as an alternative title and for a time this was used. Eventually One More Train to Rob was reached as a compromise.[7]

Reception

[edit]

Variety called it "a sometimes tongue-in-cheek, bawdy, fast-shootin’ western with comedic overtones that should fit handily in the general action market. What marks Robert Arthur production particularly is the slick performance by George Peppard in what production notes observes as the “anti-hero.” Enough novelty is inserted both in story line and character development to keep audiences engaged."[9]

McLaglen's biographer wrote "though One More Train to Rob is scored with violence and tragedy — the plight of the trapped prostitute, in particular — it ranks as one of McLaglen’s more overtly comic pictures. Much of the picture’s humor arises from Hark’s mannerisms, especially the pleasure he takes in being a train robber."[10]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Sandra Brennan. "One More Train to Rob (1971) - Andrew V. McLaglen - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  2. ^ MOVIE CALL SHEET: Peppard Will Play in 'Hark' Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 9 Jan 1970: e12.
  3. ^ Vagg, Stephen (December 29, 2024). "Movie Star Cold Streaks: George Peppard". Filmink. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
  4. ^ Winston Dixon, Wheeler (April 2009). "Andrew V. McLaglen: Last of the Hollywood Professionals". Senses of Cinema.
  5. ^ "Third time's a charmer for George Peppard". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. May 7, 1971. p. 14.
  6. ^ a b "Actor gives all to movie effort". The Daily Oklahoman. May 13, 1971. p. 21.
  7. ^ a b "George Peppard plugs film his own way". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. May 23, 1971. p. 2G.
  8. ^ 'MOVIE CALL SHEET: Gayle Hunnicutt to Return' Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 10 Feb 1970: c15.
  9. ^ "One Train to Rob". Variety movie reviews 1971-74. April 7, 1971. p. 54.
  10. ^ Armstrong, Stephen B. (2011). Andrew V. McLaglen : the life and Hollywood career. p. 198.
[edit]


Stub icon

This 1970s Western film–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Stub icon

This film article about a 1970s comedy film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Stub icon

This article related to an American film of the 1970s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=One_More_Train_to_Rob&oldid=1266070341"