Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

For a 1956 family film based on a true story, Walt Disney didn't pull any punches. "The Great Locomotive Chase" doesn't skirt the fact that the northern raiders were captured and the leaders executed. The film handles this carefully and without undue gore or bloodshed. The story is based on a true event, and as other reviewers have noted, it sticks close to the actual details. The train chase is portrayed somewhat longer here than it was, but otherwise this is a decent treatment of an historical event during the American Civil War. Fess Parker handles the role of James Andrews very well. Parker will always be known for his role as Davy Crockett in the Wald Disney TV series. But, he was a talented actor and played in a variety of films. Jeffrey Hunter is good as William Fuller, and all the roles are done very well. Hunter was an excellent actor whose career was cut short when he died of a stroke at age 42 in 1969.

"The Great Locomotive Chase" is in several aspects one of the most interesting films the Disney company made during Walt Disney's lifetime. What will strike viewers early on - and throughout - is the fact that the movie, unlike many other Disney films, isn't the least bit juvenile. It seems aimed at an adult audience, such as the fact that the focus is on adult characters, that there is some (mild) cursing, and that the ending of the movie will strike viewers as being somewhat unhappy. But despite these things, I think kids who possess enough patience to wait for the movie to really get going will be as interested in the movie as their parents. The train stuff is very exciting even by today's standards, and more than makes up for the movie taking its time before it gets to that point. Fess Parker makes a good hero, and Jeffrey Hunter proves to be a good adversary. The production values (except for some instances of cheesy rear projection) are also solid. It's a shame that this movie has mostly been forgotten today.

AS WITH ANY Walt Disney Production, we boomers felt that we had an obligation to see it. Just the same responsibility was inherent in an picture that was previewed & promoted on ABC TV's DISNEYLAND Show as was attending Sunday Mass.BUT THEN, ALTHOUGH we are having a little fun in reliving those days, it was in so many ways superior to these days of bizarre change and extreme uncertainty. Sure, we were just kids; but we knew that we were expected to behave and toe the line, or else. Walt Disney entertainments, be they animated, live action or the new area of Theme Parks all showed the way.AS FOR THE story of THE GREAT LOCOMOTIVE CHASE, Mr. Disney turned to American History and our Civil War/War Between the States or whatever name that you prefer. This incident really occurred. It was the story of a plan by raiders of the Union Army to destroy railroad lines and hence disrupt supply lines to the West of the Confederate States. The leader was one James Andrews; who was executed as a Spy by the Southern forces.AS WE HINTED earlier, the story had been adapted to the Silver Screen once before; albeit in a far different genre and mood. It was "the Great Stone Face" of Silent Film iconic Comedian, Buster Keaton who wrote, produced and co-directed THE GENERAL (Buster Keaton Prod./Joseph Schenck Prod./United Artists 1927).ALTHOUGH THERE ARE so many differences between the two (including 30 years of Hollywood), they are both worth watching and re-watching and comparing.WHEREAS BUSTER KEATON chose to do the highly fictionalized story from the point of view of the Southern cause and the heroic actions of the railroad engineer who pursued the Yankee Train-nappers, the Disney production played it both close to Historical Fact and from the side of the Union loyalists.ONE POINT THAT we must make for the Keaton version (outside of his dry, dead-pan humor) is the spectacular battle scenes that are committed to film and the outstanding use of the Steam Engines; including what was surely a very Expen$I've scene that sacrifices an iron horse attempting to cross a burning bridge, only to fall into the river below.BUT WE DIGRESS, for our subject is the 1956 production. We do believe and heartily endorse this historical saga. We would all do well to view THE GREAT LOCOMOTIVE CHASE again and to encourage the young school kids to do the same.IT MAY WELL serve to whet their young appetites for American History; being a subject that is extremely under-taught these days. Isn't that right, Schultz?

Finally, those of us who are railroad and civil war fans have an excellent widescreen version of this movie, with the release of The Great Locomotive Chase on DVD. While some of the details in the story line are not accurate history, Disney did a very good job. The trains even have link and pin couplers which are virtually never seen in movie accounts of the period.