Emperor of the North

Director: Robert Aldrich

1973 / 118min / 4K DCP

Inspired by the writings of legendary hobo Leon Ray Livingston, under the pen name “A-No.1,” Aldrich’s tale of the risks run rail-riding in the ’30s northwest stars Lee Marvin as top tramp A-No.1, locked in a battle royale struggle with Ernest Borgnine’s fascistic, hobo-hatin’ conductor Shack on the speeding #19 of the Oregon, Pacific and Eastern Railroad, while Keith Carradine’s rascally fellow stowaway looks on. Featuring gorgeous location photography, suicidal stuntwork on speeding period locomotives, and bone-breaking action, Emperor of the North is Aldrich at his brutal best.

“Where a tramp is headed matters less than how long he can stay on the train, at least where it concerns the #19, ruled by the sadistic, bulging-eyed Shack. Outmaneuvering him becomes an irresistible challenge for seasoned hobos and, for railway workers who despise him just as much, a betting sport.” —Series curator Genevieve Yue

Distributor: Walt Disney Studios/20th Century

Part of Trains: Long Distance Passages