Cassandra Crossing, The

Date: 1976
Director: George P. Cosmatos
Production Company: Associated General Films, International Cine Productions, Compagnia Cinematografica Champion, ITC Films

Stars: Sophia Loren, Richard Harris, Martin Sheen, O.J. Simpson, Lionel Stander, Ann Turkel, Ingrid Thulin, Lee Strasberg, Ava Gardner, Burt Lancaster, Lou Castel, John Phillip Law, Ray Lovelock
Location(s): Auvergne (France), Canton of Basel-Landschaft, Canton of Basel-Stadt, Canton of Bern, Canton of Geneva, Canton of Zürich (Switzerland), Lazio (Italy)

Region(s): , ,

Storyline:

Disaster thriller about an infected Swedish terrorist who infects the passengers of an international express train, bound from Geneva (Switzerland) to Stockholm (Sweden), with the pneumonic plague, hoarded in a secret US laboratory for bacteriological warfare agents at the WHO. US military intelligence lets rerouting the train to Poland, where it is to be led over a giant steel arch bridge that is threatened with collapse. 

Additional Information:

Screen captures and text provided by Manuel Gurtner and uploaded by Richard Lovejoy

In the end credits the producers Sir Lew Grade and Carlo Ponti thank the railway authorities of Societé Nationale des chemins de fer Français (SNCF, French State Railways), Schweizerische Bundesbahnen (SBB, Swiss Federal Railways) and Ferrovie dello Stato (FS, Italian State Railways) for their kind help and cooperation.

Screen captures are taken from the German version DVD.

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The aerial sequence during the opening credits shows the area around the Palais des Nations as the home of the United Nations Office, located in the outskirts of Geneva nearby the lake shore. In the center distance the International Committee of the Red Cross headquarters can be recognised, with the giant International Labour Office behind, located at Route des Morillons 4 and standing in for the International Health Organization instead of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The 1973 Chevrolet Chevy Van ambulance with the Swedish terrorists arrives at Geneva’s WHO building. Actually filmed on the square with the fountain in front of the Bruderholz Hospital at Binningen, canton of Basel-Landschaft, situated just next to the city of Basel. The property in the background located at Gemeindeholzweg still exists.

Manuel Gurtner provides the comparison shot showing the large square with the fountain in front of the main entrance. After almost five decades, the property in the background has completely disappeared behind the growing greenery. (RL)

The failed bomb assault on the laboratory is followed by a shoot out with the US security guards. Two of the terrorists are shot, one mortally, but the third and also infected, escapes to the nearby railway station. In fact, Lou Castel as Eklund is running over the pedestrian bridge, called Gundeli-Passerelle, across the tracks of Basle's central station, Basel SBB. Evidence is provided by the green coloured tram of the Basler Verkehrsbetriebe visible at the intersection called Tellplatz in the background.

Madeleine Kings sends us this comparative shot, no green tram to obscure the view but unfortunately graffiti has found its way in. (RL)

Nicole Dressler (Ava Gardner), the wealthy wife of a German arms dealer, and her toy boy Robby Navarro (Martin Sheen), actually a drug courier, enter Basel SBB station after their 1971 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow has stopped at the southeast corner of the Centralbahnplatz.

Following unanimous agreement that this is the Southeast entrance to the station Madeleine provides us with a shot of the location today revealing no major changes except for no automatic doors. Hotel Victoria on the right-hand side, followed by the Hotel Schweizerhof, the remarkable building in the background is the Secondary School De Wette. (RL)

Basel SBB stands in for Geneva's central station Gare de Cornavin. From the still existing gangway above the tracks, connecting the Centralbahnstrasse with the corner of Solothurnerstrasse and Hochstrasse, Eklund looks down to the platform of track 9 with the fictional "Continental Express" bound for Stockholm.

Madeleine Kings acknowledged that she was much hampered by boarding for her comparative shot back in 2021. With all the work now completed Manuel was able to take this comparative shot on the stairway from platform 9 and 10 showing the now fully renovated train shed construction from 1905. Also the Gundeli shop arcade, opened in 2003, can he says, be seen in the background and has since then served as the main access to most of the platforms. (RL)

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The international express train pulls out of Geneva's Cornavin station at exactly 9:22 a.m northwards to Basle. We see a SBB sleeping car of MU 64 type (built in 1965 by Donauwörth and rent out to the CIWL), followed by the SBB 1st class compartment coach of UIC-Z2 type (built in 1969 by Donauwörth) and a red SBB dining car. Of course, the booth with the strange path of the train is one of the props for the shooting. And it seems that the train was inspired by the original "Hispania Express", which ran from the Spanish / French border at Port-Bou / Cerbère over Geneva and Basle to Copenhagen (Denmark).

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Filmed inside the Basel SBB main signal box, the camera pans towards our express train, in fact heading southwards in the direction of the main line to Delémont and Biel.

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One of many spectacular aerial shots took from the helicopter by director Cosmatos himself. Here the train crosses the Combe-maran Viaduct on the single track main line between Delémont (Delsberg) and Porrentruy (Pruntrut). As the camera pans over the impressive bridge (length 237 m, height 60 m) the small town of Saint-Ursanne cames into view, then located in the canton of Bern, but now in the canton of Jura and known for the bridge from 1728 across the river Doubs, which is partly visible in the low left corner.

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The single track stretch of the main line Basel to Delémont and Biel along the river Birs, where the train, heading for Basle like in the script, passes the gravel works next to the Delsbergstrasse east of the municipality Liesberg, Laufen district, canton of Basel-Landschaft.

Meanwhile US Colonel Mackenzie (Burt Lancaster) has convinced the Swiss authorities that the "Continental Express" will be rerouted to Nuremberg (West Germany) to prevent the disease from spreading. This is illustrated by the station master on the phone, taking instructions from the main traffic control centre. But in fact we are in the signal box of Erstfeld station, situated in the canton of Uri at the foot of the Gotthard north ramp to Göschenen, while another express train bound for Lucerne or Zurich passing by.

Being in the right place for a short time Manuel made the most of the opportunity to take this shot of Erstfeld station. He tells us that since the 1990s, the railway station has been rebuilt and modernised in phases, after which the signal box was abandoned. With the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel in 2016, Erstfeld station has completely lost its previous function. As can be seen in the comparison shot, taken next to the former signal box, the sidings beyond the noise barrier in the background are empty now. (RL)

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Another SBB stock footage from the Gotthard north ramp shows the track change in southern direction close to the cutting just before the Zgraggental bridge.

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More SBB archive footage, but from a so far unknown location. Perhaps the pedestrian bridge in the background gives a hint.

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The close-up of the WRm dining car of RIC type (built in 1967 by Donauwörth) initiates the conversation between Nicole Dressler, Robby Navarro, a young nun (Angela Goodwin) and Dr Jonathan Chamberlain (Richard Harris), who travels to Strasbourg (France), all seated at the same table. But the following dialog scene between them was filmed in Rome's Cinecittà studios, using rear projection, like all other interior shots aboard the train.

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The helicopter reaches the railway line, on which the "Continental Express" continues to travel east. Actually the cockpit view shows the Haslibergstrasse railway overpass in the village Oberhasli, part of the municipality Niederhasli, located in the district of Dielsdorf, canton of Zürich.

When Jennifer Rispoli Chamberlain (Sophia Loren), Jonathan's divorced wife, also aboard, looks outside in the sleeping car, she notices the massive security forces, as the train passes by the next railway station. Filmed at Dornach-Arlesheim station with the support of five 1973 BMW 520 and one 1973 Opel Commodore from the police departments of the canton of Basel-Landschaft and of the canton of Solothurn.

Manuel took this shot facing from platform 2 towards the former station building revealing, that the entire infrastructure has changed into a hub with bus station and tram terminus for the meter-gauge Birseckbahn, operated by BLT (Baselland Transport). However, the former Capuchin monastery and the hotel are still visible in the center background.

In addition, Jennifer discovers that the train is heading in the opposite direction of Basle, as the direction sign by the major road 18 indicates. Long time unknown location, because it was very difficult to identify but Manuel has established that this sequence was shot northeast of Delémont (Delsberg) while the train is heading through the village of Soyhières, then located in canton of Bern, since 1979 in canton of Jura. The partially visible Hanomag-Henschel truck is parked on the edge of what was then Rue de Bâle as section of major road 18. Above on the slope, Rue du Brunchenal runs uphill with the two properties Number 30c and, further up, Number 30b.

Manuel provides this shot in support. The two properties on Rue du Brunchenal obviously still exist. However, due to the significant changes in the surrounding area, it was difficult to obtain a useful comparison shot, so Number 30b is unfortunately almost completely covered. Because at the same time as the relocation of the railway route (see Capture 18 for more information), a bypass road was built, so that Rue de Bâle was no longer part of the major road 18 and since then ended up at Route de France, here to see at the Place de la Liberté bus stop. The comparative shot was taken at the corner with Rue du Château, where the then single-track Jura railway once ran further on now Chemin du Vorbourg, and shows in the middle background the remains of the former part of Rue de Bâle at the point, where the mentioned lorry was parked.

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Again on the outskirts of the village Oberhasli, where the train approaches the Sandrainstrasse level crossing of the former Bülach to Baden railway, also called Schwenkelbergbahn. This branch line was one of the few that was never electrified by the SBB. Passenger traffic ended in 1937 and the abandoned section between Niederhasli and Otelfingen was partially dismantled in 1969. Coming from the Chutzenmoos tank farm near the end of the line, the train set is pushed by a SBB diesel shunter loco of Bm 4/4 type due to the lack of the overhead catenary.

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A second unit shot of a regular SBB passenger train from Basel, hauled by an Re 4/4' type electric loco, shows the then level crossing Rue de Bâle at Soyhières village. Located in direction of Soyhières-Bellerive station, which was more further away from the village center because of a large factory site with siding. When the route was moved 100 meters south, the level crossing and the guard's house disappeared in the mid-1990s. In addition, the former Soyhières-Bellerive station was abandoned, with the reception building and goods shed being preserved, and a new stop was built closer to the village center. But these days no trains stop there.

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The first of only two shots that demonstrate the entire "Continental Express". Filmed outside the then municipality of Glovelier, Delémont district, on the Delémont to Porrentruy line and again with the red diesel loco at the end of the train set, followed by the helicopter in parallel flight.

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Almost at the same spot the camera is now placed above the mouth of the Glovelier tunnel (length 2012 m). At the right edge the electrified narrow gauge of the private railway called Chemins de fer du Jura from Glovelier to La Chaux-de-Fonds can be recognized. In the distance the Mont Racine hills ridge as part of the Jura mountain range is visible.

The helicopter follows to the head of the "Continental Express" with the SBB electric loco of Re 4/4" type and the RIC type baggage car, equipped with a fictional radio operator's compartment, where Chamberlain is informed by Mackenzie about the infected Swedish aboard the train. Patrick Brunner has resolved this location for us, advising that the train is just about to enter Zwingen station (then canton Bern, now canton Basel-Landschaft) on the line from Delémont to Basel. The surroundings he says today still look quite similar, with the light grey shed still in place. See also Capture 31.

Without helicopter or drone, only a comparison shot at ground level was possible to Manuel. The view from the end of a siding towards Zwingen station shows an SBB RABe 521 "FLIRT" electric multiple unit heading towards Delémont (Delsberg), which has just passed the western entrance switch. The shed mentioned has since been demolished and is currently being replaced by a concrete structure. The row of trees in the middle background stands on the banks of the river Birs.

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While the Sud Aviation 315B Lama is hovering over the moving train, chief-pilot Günther Amann from BOHAG (Berner Oberländer Helikopter AG), based at Interlaken in canton of Bern, tries to position himself over the baggage car in order to take the now seriously ill Swede on board. In the background the village center of Oberhasli can be seen, with the then almost new apartment house at Watterstrasse 2 in the top right corner.

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This aerial view makes it clear why production manager Cristina Luescher chose the non-electrified and dead straight section between Oberhasli and Niederhasli for shooting one part of the evacuation sequence with the helicopter. The then newly built Moosacker residential area is visible in the background and in the meantime the entire area on the left side of the railway embankment has been built over.

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Because of suddenly appearing tall trees alongside the stretch, the helicopter has to rise high immediately, while the small lake called Mettmenhaslisee, situated south of Niederhasli, cames into view with the Seefeldstrasse in the foreground.

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At least Nicole Dressler's Basset hound Bruce, who is infected too, can be evacuated with the rope winch before the train reached the mountains. Here we are back again in the northwestern part of Switzerland, about 90 km air distance from the previous location, with the camera behind chief pilot Günther Amann. While the major road 6 disappears in the Birs gorge behind a rocky outcrop, the single-track section between Moutier and Delémont of the main line Biel to Basel runs directly through the Verrerie-de-Roches tunnel (length 112 m) towards Choindez. The then inn, called Restaurant la Charbonnière, still exists.

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Filmed from the engine cab the train heading for Porrentruy leaves the Montmelon tunnel (length 223 m), before crossing the Malvie bridge (length 68 m) and enterering the Malvie tunnel (length 213 m) on the single-track of the then international main line Delémont to Delle (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, France).

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On the way to Geneva the BOHAG helicopter crosses the Pennine Alps in the canton of Valais. An overwhelming panorama, but geographically totally ridiculous of course. In the centre background the Dent Blanche can be recognised, situated not far away from the world famous Matterhorn.

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Again stock footage, here from Altdorf, historic town and capital of the canton of Uri, before the railway station was modernised. The Gotthard express train bound to West Germany passes by, consisting UIC-X coaches of ABm 225 and Bm 234 type from German Federal Railway, followed by the SBB divison with the red WR dining car and EW-1 type passenger coaches.

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The same train as in the previous capture, but here still on the Gotthard north ramp near Göschenen traveling down in direction of Erstfeld, leaving the Naxberg tunnel (length 1570 m) and is just passing the Rohrbach bridge (length 62 m).

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The "Continental Express" leaves the mountains behind. Actually bound for Porrentruy, the train is leaving the Glovelier tunnel. The second unit shot was filmed from above the west portal, situated close to the village Montmelon, at that time located still in the canton of Bern.

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After Colonel Mackenzie has informed the passengers over intercom that the "Continental Express" was being rerouted due to alleged terrorist assaults between Basel and Amsterdam, the train reaches West Germany at dusk on his way to Nuremberg. Presently unknown location. See also Capture 21. Having passed Zwingen station Patrick says the train is continuing its journey towards Basel alongside the river Birs.

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In the middle of the night the train pulls in the heavy guarded Nuremberg marshalling yard. In reality this menacing scenery was filmed in the sidings of Roma Smistamento, situated in the northern outskirts of the Eternal City. Instead of the SBB Re 4/4" type engine a masked FS loco of E.645 class can be seen.

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Instead of the previous Swiss Federal Railways rolling stock, those of the Italian State Railways had to used, which was re-labeled accordingly. Here one of the 2nd class compartment coach of Bz UIC-X 70 type is visible. The entire train will be equipped with a enclosed fresh air system while the doors will be welded shut.

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Instead of the original MU type sleeping car probably one of the 2nd class couchette car of type Bcz 33.900 tipo 1959, painted in the blue CIWL livery, is used. Its windows will be also closed with louvred grilles, monitored by the task leader in the 1951 Fiat Campagnola.

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The SBB electric loco is being replaced by a diesel engine from the German Federal Railway, which sits now at the head of the train with an additional baggage car, hosted the oxygen facility, medical supplies and hermetically-sealed coffins. But actually a heavy FS shunter loco of D.143 class, called "Truman" because originally built for the United States Army Transportation Corps during WW2, was used.

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As the sealed "Continental Express" pulls out of the Nuremberg marshalling yard in the direction of Czechoslovakia, a unknown passenger coach tipo 1946, painted and lettered as SBB dining car, can be recognised …

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… followed by one of the 1st class compartment car of Az UIC-X 70 type with air conditioning. The thin red line allows a top speed of up to 200 km/h. In the meantime, all passengers have been informed of the pneumonic plague aboard by multilingual loudspeaker announcements, so the train has to be forwarded to a quarantine station at Janów in Poland.

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Ignored by the two anglers, the train crosses the Czech province over remote branch lines on its way to Poland. In reality this is not behind the Iron Curtain and the men speak French, because this shot was made in the Auvergne region on the non-electrified Arvan to Neussargues section of the Ligne des Causses. The pedestrian bridge crosses the river Alagnon close to the village La Roche in the commune Molompize, situated in the Cantal department.

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The level crossings along the route across the Beskid Mountains are also monitored by police forces. Still filmed on the Ligne des Causses between Arvan and Neussargues with the level crossing situated south of the commune Le Pont du Vernet.

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Still bound for Poland the "Continental Express" reaches one of the level crossing on the way across the Jablunkov Pass. SBB also made part of the rolling stock available for filming in the Auvergne region, as can be seen behind the SNCF BB 66000 class diesel loco.

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The first of several close-ups showing the bad condition of the steel arch bridge abandoned after WW2 and exposing Colonel Mackenzie's claims as lies. But actually we see the bridge trough of the Garabit Viaduct, which carries the electrified section of the Ligne des Causses over the river Truyère near the commune Ruynes-en-Margeride, situated in the Cantal department.

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While Robby, as amateur free climber, tries to fight his way over the roof and along the barred carriages windows towards the engine, the train can be seen under the characteristic DC catenary by the former Midi (Southern Railway) of the single-track Neussargues to Béziers mainline, approaching the Garabit Viaduct from the north.

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The "Continental Express" is approaching the Cassandra gorge, seemingly inexorably, and is only 7 kilometers away. Still filmed on the Arvan to Neussargues section and again, the two heavyweight SBB baggage cars of RIC type can be seen, which were already used during the shooting in Switzerland.

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The notorious Cassandra Crossing in the diffuse morning light, situated next to the fictional Kasundruv village. In fact this is the view from the road bridge across the river Truyère towards the very impressive Viaduc de Garabit, built by famous Gustave Eiffel and opened in 1885. The giant construction, 124 m above water level, has a total lenght of 565 m with a principal arch of 165 m.

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The mountainous stretch across the Jablunkov Pass, but in reality still filmed at the Ligne des Causses along the river Alagnon. At the left edge, instead of the modern MU type SBB sleeping car, an ancient type CIWL sleeping car can be recognised.

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This shot has great symbolism: The train passes the Ferrières-Saint-Mary cemetery, situated on the opposite bank of the river.

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In order to save at least the rear part of the train, the dining car well equipped by Chamberlain and Jennifer with an improvised explosive charge made of opened gas cylinders explodes when jewish Herman Kaplan (Lee Strasberg) walks through the carriage with suicidal intent and then uses his lighter, knowing that the supposed quarantine station at Janów actually is the former concentration camp, where his family was murdered. For this, one of the SNCF dining car of DEV Vru type (built in 1966 by Brissoneaux & Lotz) was used, specially prepared at Massiac station by the special effects team around Aldo Gasparri and Roberto Pignotti.

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The smoke that can be seen from afar comes from the burned out dining car, while at the rear end of the train a SNCF diesel loco of BB 67000 class can be recognised, pushing it trough the densely wooded Alagnon valley in the direction of Neussargues.

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The "Continental Express" is reaching the bridge, while in the background the small railway overpass on the northern side can be recognised.

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Under the weight of the moving train, the construction partially collapses, whereupon the front part of the "Continental Express" plunge into the depths. The carriages wedge themselves against the southern abutment of the central arch and at last the dining car blows up. Filmed at one of the sound stages of Rome’s Cinecittà studios by using an enormous modelling landscape.

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The central arch is so damaged by the explosion that the entire central section of the viaduct collapses totally. The highly detailed miniature of the Garabit Viaduct looks very realistic, created by the crew around Aurelio Crugnola and Carlo De Marchis, presumably in the scale 1:20.

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An interesting detail at the end: After the disaster, Dr Jonathan Chamberlain (Richard Harris) is running along the back part of the train to find Jennifer among the rescued passengers. The FS passenger car of UIC-X 70 type behind him (also seen in Capture 37) proves that the bigger part of star ensemble including Loren, Harris, Gardner, Sheen, Simpson, Strasberg and Stander was only on location for the Geneva station sequence, made at Basel SBB station, and the Nuremberg episode, filmed outside of Rome.