[.ca] Cassandra Crossing (Full Screen)

Why did they quit offering the widescreen?:
I recently picked up a used widescreen version of this movie from Artisan, and was quite pleasantly surprised at the quality of the transfer. Outside of not being anamorphic, the picture was quite good! Why they quit offering the widescreen version, but still offer the butchered pan & scan is beyond me...but if you get the opportunity, get the widescreen version. The release was definitely bare-bones....no extras....period. It is well worth owning, however. This is one of the best of the circa-70's disaster movies, with only O.J. Simpson's acting (or inability to act) as a negative. The ending is stunning...I won't give it away, but it isn't what the viewer is most likely expecting. If you can buy this one used....on widescreen....do so. Even if it's just to see Sophia Loren!

One of the better 70's era disaster films:
One of the better films amoung the 1970's disaster movie genre; centering around a European train infected with a contagious virus. Interesting film to compare to more recent fare such as Outbreak. Amoung the "all-star" cast few actually qualilfy, with only Richard Harris and Sophie Loren adding genunie star power; while Burt Lanchaster basically just phones in his performance. Also seeing O.J. Simpson as an INTERPOL officer gunning down terrorists in a priest uniform is more then jarring. The direction is taut and the Jerry Goldsmith score is strong as always. Despite its cheesy moments (the hippies singing in the train car) its a good watch. The DVD itself is nice deal for \o$\c, although Artisian's presentation doesn't rank as high as some of its other older catalog film. Sadly its presented in fullscreen which is a major mark against it and there isn't even a trailer to accompany it. Oddly enough it sports motion menus which surprised me. The transfer isn't anywhere near reference quality but its watchable with a few spots where the film goes soft. The mono soundtrack isn't strong at all and the dreaded mono hiss is audible if you're using your sorround system. If you're a fan of the movie its hard to turn down at a bargain price, otherwise rent it.

Above-average flick, surprising cast choices:
Cassandra Crossing is noteworthy because it was one of legendary acting coach Lee Strasberg's last few movies -- and one of Martin Sheen's first. Sophia Loren, Richard Harris, Burt Lancaster and Strasberg offer good performances; of course, they could act out a flick such as this in their sleep. The advertising tagline for Cassandra Crossing was, "At noon on October 25th, the Transcontinental Express left Geneva Station with almost one thousand people aboard. Their destination: Basel, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Stockholm. No one arrived." As a result, Cassandra Crossing was dismissed by its critics as an all-star disaster movie set in the improbable location of a train. In fact, this is an action movie with international intrigue -- a movie noteworthy for its decidedly older, non-action-hero cast members doing an action movie quite well. Cassandra Crossing enjoyed some box office success in Britain, Italy, and Germany. It was granted little publicity in America, however -- perhaps because the plot line was both intelligent and a bit implausible to Americans: A U.S. biological warfare agent breaks loose and is carried aboard a European train. The government seeks to cover up the incident by sending the train and its infected passengers to near-certain destruction at the Cassandra Crossing. The script behind this movie is weak at times. There are stock characters, average dialogue, and questionable casting -- Ava Gardner essentially plays herself, and O.J. Simpson plays a cop. Thankfully, their roles are small. Some of the special effects on board the train are quite good; elsewhere, they are low-budget. Lancaster's role in particular is undermined by cheap sets. Despite the script, formulaic plot line, and very unconventional assortment of characters, the movie is suspenseful almost from the start. If only Amtrak were this exciting.

70's Disaster Films at their BEST WORST!:
I mean, what could be better than the beauty of Sophia Loren and Ava Gardner, the "heroics" of Richard Harris, the "noble" sacrifice of Lee Strasberg, and a glimpse of actor-in-development Martin Scheen? Hey, the flick even has O J, as an undercover cop/priest! Burt Lancaster is along as a sinister government official. Featuring a genre score from composer Jerry Goldsmith, this film is enjoyable escapist fare. Even if the plot has about as many holes as the Titanic eventually had, the film accomplishes what the filmmakers intended: provide the movie-viewing with an afternoon's worth of fun!

"I Knew I should have flown.":
THE CASSANDRA CROSSING is my favorite disaster film, probably because I'm a sucker for any movie set on a train. While it isn't any more profound than contemporaries like THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE or THE TOWERING INFERNO, it is made with so much panache the silly proceedings are almost compelling. The "disaster" this time is a lethal pathogen developed secretly by the United States. It's carried by an unsuspecting Swedish terrorist on board a high speed European train carrying the usual assortment of stereotyped characters. Except, not exactly. For instead of the plasticene lovers usually inflicted on us by Hollywood, we're treated to bitchy exchanges between twice divorced Famous Doctor Richard Harris and Swinging Author Sophia Loren, while aging flower children have uninhibited sex in the uninhabited compartment next door. The saintly Jewish character (what mode of transport is complete without one?) overplayed by Lee Strasberg, this time is a Nazi holocaust survivor, terrified at the thought of going "back there." (The train is being diverted to Poland.) And let's not forget the heroin smuggler/gigolo (Martin Sheen), his lover Nicole, wife of an arms manufacturer (Ava Gardner), the Evil Colonel (Burt Lancaster), the Idealistic Scientist (Ingrid Thulin) and yes, of course, the Interpol-Agent-Masquerading-as-a-Priest, O.J. Simpson, who at least is given the chance to exercise his specialty by running up and down the corridors a couple of times. The writing throughout suggests that no one was taking things too seriously. When Loren and Harris meet for the first time, for example, Loren appraises Harris and says "You've gained a few pounds Jonathan. Must be all that fat of the land you're living on." Or, when Harris explains to Gardner about how he's developed a way to rejuvenate the brain cells of retarded children, she turns to Sheen and says "Oh, you see, darling, there's hope for you yet." Gardner's performance is pure Camp, and she has my favorite line. After she gives a soldier a gun taken from him by an enraged Sheen, she says. "Did you know my Hugo makes these? He'll be delighted you're using them." Most 70s disaster films feel half-hearted, worn out, over-produced, over-weight and are about as exciting as an afternoon nap. They were often expensive, but usually looked cheap. THE CASSANDRA CROSSING is as sharply edited as the Bond films. Cinematographer Ennio Guarnieri gives the film the soft-edged, glossy surfaces of a spread from VOGUE, nicely rendered on the DVD. Jerry Goldsmith, who was at the height of his creative powers when this film was made, contributes a first-rate score, one moment lush, then astringent. George Pan Cosmatos, who in addition to this film, directed RAMBO and TOMBSTONE, is a first-rate action stylist. He's said in interviews that he attributes his success to a combination of American know-how and European sophistication. That certainly sums up the appeal of THE CASSANDRA CROSSING.