Emperor Of The North (1973) On DVD

Oscar-winners Lee Marvin (The Wild One) and Ernest Borgnine (Marty) face off in an epic battle of wills in this riveting thriller "full of outrageous challenges, impossible predicaments and improbably escapes!" (The New York Times). Directed by Robert Aldrich (The Dirty Dozen), and boasting "gripping, action-packed suspense [and] one of the most spectacular fights in a long time, Emperor Of the North is one helluva film!" (Genesis).

Set on the Pacific Northwest railways at the height of the Depression, Emperor Of the North pits a crafty, train-hopping drifter called A-No.1 (Marvin) against Shack (Borgnine), the cruel, bum-intolerant conductor of Engine 19. But when pride turns their determination into obsession, the clash escalates into a fight to the finish that only one man can survive!

Drawing inspiration from Jack London's adventures traveling with hobos aboard trains throughout the U.S., this gritty Depression-era drama features outstanding performances from Lee Marvin, Keith Carradine, and Ernest Borgnine. Shack (Borgnine) is a cruel railroad agent who makes it his personal mission to rid the world of hobos out for a free ride. Legendary tough-guy hobo A-1 (Marvin) vows to ride Shack's train to its destination and survive, which would earn him the title of "Emperor of the North Pole." A humorous game of cat-and-mouse ensues, complicated by the pesky presence of the dimwitted Cigaret (Carradine), who is determined to prove himself but instead just gets in the way.