Watch The Cassandra Crossing

The Cassandra Crossing, released in 1976, is an action thriller film featuring a star-studded cast, including Sophia Loren, Richard Harris, and Martin Sheen. The film is directed by George P. Cosmatos and written by Robert Katz, who based it on the novel The Cassandra Crossing by Michael Crichton. The story revolves around a group of passengers on a train from Geneva to Stockholm, which unwittingly becomes the host for a virus that developed in an African country. The passengers, who include a doctor (Loren), a U.S. senator (Harris), and a prostitute (Ava Gardner in a cameo role) are all now in great danger as the virus spreads quickly through the train. The train is subsequently quarantined by the authorities, who fear an epidemic if the virus is allowed to spread too far.

The passengers are all locked inside the train, and as they travel across Europe, the situation becomes increasingly tense. They face a number of challenges, including dealing with the infected, overcoming dangerous obstacles, and dealing with personal conflicts that threaten to tear them all apart. Along the way, they encounter several obstacles, including an army blockade, malfunctioning train signals, and even deadly gunfire from authorities that want to stop them from traveling further.

As if that weren't enough, the train is headed towards a bridge called the Cassandra Crossing, which is known to be structurally unstable. The bridge was originally designed for much lighter trains, and now the heavily-laden passenger train could cause the bridge to collapse. With lives at stake, the group of passengers must decide what to do.

The doctor heroes decide to stop the train before reaching the crossing, but the authorities are against them. They do not want to let the train leave without a proper examination, as the virus could still be active. The doctor and the senator must fight to convince the authorities that stopping the train and getting the passengers off is the best course of action. The train is ordered to cross the Cassandra Crossing, despite the group's best efforts to stop it.

The climax of the film occurs when the train passes over the unstable bridge, which results in a dramatic and perilous finale. The passengers face overwhelming disaster, as they race against time to escape a catastrophic collapse.

The Cassandra Crossing packs a lot of tension and action into its 129-minute run time. The film is well-crafted, with excellent performances from its talented cast. Sophia Loren is as commanding as ever, while Richard Harris delivers a notable portrayal of a senator dealing with his own inner demons. Martin Sheen also delivers an impressive performance as a terrorist aboard the train, giving his role a depth and nuance all too rare in this genre.

The film's action sequences are impressive, with Cosmatos doing an excellent job of building suspense throughout. The climax, in particular, is both thrilling and satisfying, with the tension ratcheted up to an almost unbearable level. The cinematography is also noteworthy, as the film's stark visuals and evocative imagery perfectly capture the bleakness and tension of the situation the characters find themselves in.

In conclusion, The Cassandra Crossing is a well-made, thrilling action film that still holds up well today. Its combination of exciting action and unforgettable characters make it a must-see for fans of the genre, and its straightforward approach and genuine suspense make it engaging viewing for everyone else.

The Cassandra Crossing is a 1976 action movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 9 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3 and a MetaScore of 30.