thinker1691 Review of Emperor of the North

Emperor of the North (1973)

" You could've been a meat eater kid, but you have no heart "

[8/10 · 5 January 2009]

During the Great Depression, hundreds of out of work men could be seen roaming the vast lands of America. Among the men who wore the title of 'tramp, Hobo, or just plain Bo' are a few who became the 'Kings of the Road.' It was these 'kings' who created the lasting legacy of this film. "The Emperor of the North" refers to a man who ruled the great wasteland of America. He traveled across the continent, seemingly with little regard and with even less aim or direction in his life. Yet without financial means, official passage or guaranteed vehicle, he could journey over the iron roads leaving a rich tapestry of stories and legends which became the stuff of novels. In this tale we have an aging Hobo called A-Number 1(Lee Marvin) who has challenged the most sadistic, murderous and brutal conductor (Ernest Borgnine) called Shack to a dangerous wager. A-1 bets he can hitch a ride on Shack's train the #19 all the way to Portland Oregon without paying for passage. Joining A-Number 1 is a young arrogant braggart who calls himself Cigarett, (Keith Carradine) claiming he's the best and toughest Bo in the country and plans to prove it by riding Shack's number 19. Although, A-#1 tries to instill compassion in the young upstart, cigarette shrugs off the lessons of the road and reveals his unsympathetic nature. Shack's brutal reputation challenged by both these men, plans on allowing them to try riding his train, promising they will never reach their destination alive. Noted character actors Charles Tyner as Cracker, Malcolm Atterbury as Hogger and Simon Oakland as the Policeman combine to create a classic. Exciting drama, picturesque scenery and physical confrontations mark this movie as good as one can expect. ****