Breakheart Pass [Original Soundtrack] (1975)

Breakheart Pass [Original Soundtrack] (1975) Composed & Conducted by Jerry Goldsmith (1929-2004) Tracklisting: 1. [00:00] Breakheart Pass (Main Title) 2. [02:33] Free Ride / Hot Stove 3. [07:34] Medical Supplies 4. [11:32] The Trestle 5. [14:27] On the Move / Runaway 6. [17:14] No Word Yet 7. [18:12] Night Watch / Help Yourself 8. [23:51] Who Are You 9. [24:34] The Casket / Box Car Fight 10. [31:47] Make up Your Mind / Leaving the Fort 11. [33:13] A new friend 12. [35:00] Here they Come Part I 13. [35:59] Here they Come Part II 14. [37:24] Raiding Party 15. [41:19] No Entry 16. [42:49] Last Battle 17. [44:57] Reunited / Breakheart Pass (End Credits) Bonus Tracks: 18. [49:06] Here they Come (Film Version) 19. [51:43] Four Styles 20. [51:51] Breakheart Pass (End Credits Alternate mix) From American film and television director Tom Gries (1922-1977), this entertaining western thriller features a stellar cast that includes actor, stuntman, and world-champion rodeo cowboy Ben Johnson (1918-1996), Charles Bronson (1921-2003), Ed Lauter (1938-2013), David Huddleston (1930-2016), English actress/singer Jill Ireland (1936-1990), Richard Crenna (1926-2003), and Sally Kirkland (1941-2025). Based on the novel of the same name by the highly prolific author Alistair MacLean (1922-1987) and containing some spectacular cinematography by the great Lucien Ballard (1908-1988), this is an immensely enjoyable film that begins as a routine journey but turns into a tense tale of deception and survival. A train under the command of Maj. Claremont (Ed Lauter) and Governor Richard Fairchild (Richard Crenna) speeds to the aid of a garrison at Fort Humbolt with medical supplies and reinforcements, as a result of an outbreak of diphtheria. After a short stop, Maj. Claremont reluctantly allows passage to US Marshal Nathan Pearce (Ben Johnson) and his prisoner, fugitive John Deakin (Charles Bronson). After two of Claremont's officers go missing and Dr. Molyneux (David Huddleston) is seemingly murdered, an investigation into the cargo car turns up dynamite in boxes marked medical supplies, and lots of stolen weapons. As the bodies begin to pile up, it's clear there is more to the prisoner than meets the eye... The film contains an exceptional soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith. The composer had previously worked with the director on the film '100 Rifles (1969) and the television mini-series 'QB VII (1974), so they knew each other's sensibilities well. Goldsmith's career contained many western scores, and while some are considered classics, others never gained much traction. Usually present in these scores is a strong theme, and the composer doesn't disappoint in 'Breakheart Pass. The first and last cues, both featuring Goldsmith's concert arrangement of the infectiously bold title theme, along with 'Here They Come and brief moments from other cues, form ten-minutes of material that is absolutely necessary in any Goldsmith collection. From there he captures not only the rhythm of the train itself, but moments of high suspense, character moments, and, naturally, adventure sequences, which no one did better than Goldsmith. A highly recommended score from a legendary composer whose diverse and prolific career included some of the most memorable themes (both in film and television) of the last fifty years. This video is for promotional use only. I do not own the rights to the music. All rights belong to the artist / band.