The Cassandra Crossing (1976)

Director:

George P. Cosmatos

Writers:

Robert Katz (story) and
George P. Cosmatos (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

9 February 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller | Action

Tagline:

The Fear Is Spreading

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Train | Runaway Train | Crossword Puzzle | Gigolo | Colonel

Cast

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 Dressler
Burt Lancaster	...	Col. Stephen Mackenzie
Lou Castel	...	Swedish Terrorist
John Phillip Law	...	Major Stark
Ray Lovelock	...	Tom
Alida Valli	...	Mrs. Chadwick
Stefano Patrizi	...	Terrorist
Thomas Hunter	...	Captain Scott (as Tom Hunter)
Fausta Avelli	...	Katherine
Angela Goodwin	...	Nun
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carlo De Mejo	...	Faux Patient (uncredited)
John P. Dulaney	...	Harmonica player (uncredited)
Renzo Palmer	...	Train station ticket collector (uncredited)
Michael Staudt	...	Marine Guard (uncredited)
Adam Strasberg	...	Child (uncredited)
David Strasberg	...	Child (uncredited)
Thomas Williams	...	Marine Guard (uncredited)

Directed by
George P. Cosmatos		(as George Pan Cosmatos)

Writing credits
Robert Katz		(story) and
George P. Cosmatos		(story) (as George Pan Cosmatos)
Tom Mankiewicz		(screenplay) &
Robert Katz		(screenplay) and
George P. Cosmatos		(screenplay) (as George Pan Cosmatos)

Produced by
Giancarlo Pettini	....	executive producer
Carlo Ponti	....	producer
Lew Grade	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography by
Ennio Guarnieri		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Roberto Silvi
Françoise Bonnot		(uncredited)

Production Design by
Aurelio Crugnola

Set Decoration by
Mario Liverani

Costume Design by
Adriana Berselli

Makeup Department
Giuseppe Banchelli	....	makeup artist
Adalgisa Favella	....	hairdresser (as Gisa Favella)
Ada Palombi	....	hairdresser
Marisa Tilly	....	makeup artist (as Marisa Tilli)
Mario Van Riel	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Maria Blasetti	....	production supervisor
Cristina Luescher	....	production manager: Switzerland
Jean Pieuchot	....	production manager: France

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tony Brandt	....	assistant director
George P. Cosmatos	....	director: aerial sequences
Antonio Gabrielli	....	assistant director
Joe Pollini	....	assistant director

Art Department
Maria-Teresa Barbasso	....	assistant art director (as Maria Teresa Barbasso)

Sound Department
Fausto Ancillai	....	mixer
Giorgio De Vincenzo	....	assistant sound editor
Piero Fondi	....	sound recordist
Leslie Hodgson	....	sound editor
Vernon Messenger	....	sound editor
Carlo Palmieri	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Aldo Gasparri	....	special effects
Roberto Pignotti	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Aurelio Crugnola	....	models supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
Cesare Allione	....	camera operator
Roberto Biciocchi	....	stillman
Amilcare Cuccoli	....	gaffer
Ron Goodman	....	aerial sequences photographer
Ennio Picconi	....	chief grip
Sergio Salvati	....	additional photographer
Tazio Secchiaroli	....	stillman

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Fabrizio Caracciolo	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Cesare D'Amico	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Claudio M. Cutry	....	music editor (as Claudio Cutry)
Jerry Goldsmith	....	conductor: the Symphonic Orchestra UNIONE MUSICISTI DI ROMA
Jerry Goldsmith	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Gunter Ammann	....	chief pilot (as Günter Ammann)
Lew Grade	....	presenter: for Associated General Films (as Sir Lew Grade)
Marion Mertes	....	continuity
Carlo Ponti	....	presenter: for Associated General Films
Achille Strani	....	back projectionist
Jose Villaverde	....	dialogue coach (as Jose' Villaverde)
Amy Werba	....	assistant to director (as Emy Werba)

Production Companies

• Sir Lew Grade (presents)
• Associated General Films (for)
• Compagnia Cinematografica Champion (uncredited)
• International Cine Productions

Distributors

• AVCO Embassy Pictures (1977) (USA) (theatrical)
• Adams Filmi (1977) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Cinerama Filmgesellschaft MBH (1977) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Ekaterinburg Art Home Video (EAHV) (Russia) (VHS)
• Elephant Films (2009) (France) (all media)
• Finnkino (1997) (Finland) (VHS)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1979) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Top Tape (Brazil) (VHS)
• Video Film Express (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• ATV Music  music published by
• Berner Oberländer Helikopter  helicopters supplied by
• Christian Dior  accessories by (as Christian Dior - Paris)
• Cine Audio Effects  sound effects and foley design
• Ferrovie dello Stato  the producers of this film wish to thank the following railway authorities for their help and cooperation (as Ferrovie Dello Stato - Rome)
• Franka, London  Miss Gardner's wardrobe by (as Franka - London)
• Gucci  accessories by (as Gucci - Rome)
• Orchestra dell'Unione Musicisti di Roma (U.M.R.)  music recorded by (as the Symphonic Orchestra UNIONE MUSICISTI DI ROMA)
• Schweizerische Bundesbahnen  the producers of this film wish to thank the following railway authorities for their help and cooperation (as Schweizerische Bundesbahnen - Berne)
• Societé Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF)  the producers of this film wish to thank the following railway authorities for their help and cooperation (as Societe Nationale Des Chemins De Fer Français - Paris)
• The Studios of International Recording  sound recorded at (as International Recording - Rome)
• Transacord  train effects supplied by

Also Known As:

Cassandra Crossing (Italy) (West Germany)
Treffpunkt Todesbrücke (West Germany)

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

UK | West Germany | Italy

Language:

French | English | Swedish | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | West Germany:16 (f) | Finland:K-16 (1997) (video rating) | Finland:K-18 (1977) | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:R | Argentina:13 | Canada:18A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Basel, Kanton Basel Stadt, Switzerland

Company:

Sir Lew Grade

Trivia:

'James Coburn' turned down the role of Haley.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When the two sections of the train are separated the brakes in both sections would be applied automatically stopping both sections of the train presumably stopping both before reaching the bridge.

Quotes:

Col. Stephen Mackenzie: Good God woman! Do you think I would personally send a thousand people to their deaths?
Dr. Elena Stradner: No. But I think you'd simply let them be killed. And that's almost worse.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Neues aus der Anstalt: Die Weihnachtsfeier (#2.10)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

I'm Still On My Way

Nice Cast

Cassandra Crossing, The (1977)

*** (out of 4)

Sophia Loren, Richard Harris, Martin Sheen, O.J. Simpson, Lee Strasberg, Ava Gardner and Burt Lancaster pick up paychecks in this 70's disaster film that seems to have been forgotten over the years. Three terrorists try to blow up a hospital in Geneva but things go even worse when one comes into contact with a Bubonic Plague and escapes capture. The sick man then jumps on board a train and soon a government man (Lancaster) isn't going to let anyone off. A doctor (Harris) and his ex-wife (Loren) try to help those on board but things take an even bigger turn when they learn they have to cross a bridge that won't hold the weight of the train. It seems this film hasn't the reputation of some of the more popular disaster films, which is a little surprising because this here is a pretty good movie in its own right. Perhaps the government propaganda gets in the way for some but this was only one minor issue in the film. For the most part it featured some pretty fun performances, a tense story and an ending that I didn't see coming. Simpson as a preacher was pretty funny before the twist as was Sheen playing the boy-toy to Gardner. Gardner seems to be having the time of her life playing the diva and barking orders to the younger man. Both Loren and Harris turn in fine performances and I thought their melodrama actually worked pretty well. Lancaster plays a guy you really love to hate and he too delivers a fine performance. The film certainly deserves its R-rating as we also get some pretty graphic violence along the way so be sure you're not watching the edited down PG version. In the end I'm really not sure why this film seems to have been forgotten but fans of the genre will certainly want to check it out. While it's certainly more political than some of the films that came before it, there's still plenty here to enjoy.