During the height of the Great Depression, Ernest Borgnine plays Shak, the railroad police officer with a sadistic bloodlust that would make even the BART Police take a second look at his job application.
Wielding a simple hammer Shak methodically moving from railroad car to car. Attacking hoboes from behind while they're usually eating or relaxing on the train, Shak has a thorough knowledge of police procedure - down to the requisite donut wolfing as his appearance suggests.
Wait a minute you say, how is this a Western? Never mind, it takes place on a Steam locomotive on the West coast. If this doesn't mollify you, maybe Kim Kardashian's blog would be more up your alley.
When hobo prince A number 1, played by Lee Marvin, and young tramp Cigarette, played by Keith Carradine, stow away on Shak's train they quickly realize they are in danger. So they do what anyone else would do and set their boxcar on fire. A Number 1 escapes but Cigarette is smoked out from the flaming boxcar.
The stage is set for the confrontation of A Number 1 with Shak. A Number 1 takes up the challenge of riding Shak's train all the way to Portland. Soon Shak and A Number 1 find themselves in an all out battle to the death. Unless you count the time Kurt Cobain took his final bath, the Pacific Northwest has never been the site of such intense violence. In the final battle between Shak and A Number One I wasn't sure if I was watching two psychos go at it or this was actually a Terminator prequel. No way, because Borgnine and Marvin constantly laugh maniacally so you know they are not cyborgs, but people who could use the services of Dr. Phil.
RATING: FIVE ACES
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| Who among us hasn't been peacefully eating a sandwich when we are hammered on the head by a cop. |
Wielding a simple hammer Shak methodically moving from railroad car to car. Attacking hoboes from behind while they're usually eating or relaxing on the train, Shak has a thorough knowledge of police procedure - down to the requisite donut wolfing as his appearance suggests.
Wait a minute you say, how is this a Western? Never mind, it takes place on a Steam locomotive on the West coast. If this doesn't mollify you, maybe Kim Kardashian's blog would be more up your alley.
 |
| Cigarette isn't sure whether to laugh or shit himself so he chooses the latter. |
The stage is set for the confrontation of A Number 1 with Shak. A Number 1 takes up the challenge of riding Shak's train all the way to Portland. Soon Shak and A Number 1 find themselves in an all out battle to the death. Unless you count the time Kurt Cobain took his final bath, the Pacific Northwest has never been the site of such intense violence. In the final battle between Shak and A Number One I wasn't sure if I was watching two psychos go at it or this was actually a Terminator prequel. No way, because Borgnine and Marvin constantly laugh maniacally so you know they are not cyborgs, but people who could use the services of Dr. Phil.
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| What a nice day for an axe fight. |
RATING: FIVE ACES
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