Avalanche Express

Watch Avalanche Express

"The Fast Track For All-Star Adventure."
  • PG
  • 1979
  • 1 hr 27 min
  • 4.9  (1,775)

Avalanche Express is a 1979 American action thriller directed by Mark Robson and starring an all-star cast, including Lee Marvin, Robert Shaw, Linda Evans, Maximilian Schell, and Joe Namath. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Colin Forbes and is set during the Cold War era. The movie follows a secret mission headed by Harry Wargrave (Lee Marvin), a former CIA agent turned freelance hitman. Harry is hired by a mysterious group of people to assassinate an important Russian double agent named Graff (Robert Shaw) who has defected to the West. Graff is believed to possess valuable information about a Soviet plot to start a war with China and the United States, and Harry's mission is to eliminate him before he can share this information with the Western authorities.

Harry's contact in the mission is Elsa (Linda Evans), a beautiful and resourceful woman who acts as his liaison with the clients. The two of them travel to Switzerland, where Graff is hiding, and they soon realize that they have to infiltrate a heavily guarded train, the Avalanche Express, to get to him. Harry and Elsa board the train posing as a wealthy American couple, but they soon find themselves embroiled in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with Graff's Russian protectors.

As they make their way through the train, Harry and Elsa encounter a colorful cast of characters, from a flamboyant gay couple to a mysterious German doctor (Maximilian Schell) and his beautiful assistant. They also face a series of dangerous obstacles, including an avalanche that derails the train and puts their lives at risk.

Avalanche Express is a fast-paced and suspenseful thriller, with plenty of action and intrigue to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. The film's all-star cast delivers strong performances, especially Lee Marvin, who brings a grizzled toughness to his role as Harry Wargrave. Robert Shaw is equally impressive as the enigmatic Graff, whose true loyalties are constantly in doubt.

The film's cinematography is also noteworthy, with stunning shots of the Swiss Alps and the cramped, claustrophobic interiors of the train. The avalanche sequence in particular is a harrowing set piece, with the train careening out of control and threatening to send Harry and Elsa to their deaths.

Overall, Avalanche Express is a gripping and entertaining thriller that showcases the talents of its cast and crew. While the film may not have achieved the same level of notoriety as some of its contemporaries, it remains a worthwhile entry in the canon of Cold War-era action films.

Avalanche Express is a 1979 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 27 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.9.

Avalanche Express
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Where to Watch Avalanche Express
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  • Release Date
    1979
  • MPAA Rating
    PG
  • Runtime
    1 hr 27 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    4.9  (1,775)