Richard Chatten Another thrill ride from Andrew & Virginia Stone that with the aid of veteran cameraman William Clothier provides a triple feast for the eyes in the form of the lush verdant hills of Oregon, foxy beat girl Joyce Taylor and a final conflagration that makes the burning of Atlanta in 'Gone with the Wind' look like a rehearsal. Miss Taylor in her skinny jeans, long-life lipstick, permanent wave and a white blouse that remains spotless almost until the very end is supposed to be underage (she was actually in her late twenties) but exudes a mischievous knowingness worthy of Louise Brooks; and she and David Janssen bring a humour as dry as the local brush to their scenes together as she decides she digs him more than the two punks with whom she's previously been wasting her time. As I write this fire fighters are ironically still struggling to keep under control some of the worst wildfires in living memory now ravaging Saddleworth Moor in North West England, so keep watching what you do with those discarded cigarette ends.

danny503 The movie was shot mostly in and around my hometown, Vernonia, Oregon. I was in sixth grade at the time, and I was an extra, one of the townspeople running to catch the escape train. We would run the length of the town center, then walk back six blocks, and do it over and over again. Andrew Stone, the producer/director had a lot of cooperation from the US Army; in the climactic scene of burning the town, there were flamethrowers on top of all the downtown buildings. I had the misfortune of being outside when a soldier was setting off smoke bombs. I couldn't see one foot in front of me. In the 1920's Vernonia had the largest all-electric sawmill in the world. But they cut down all the trees, and the mill closed in 1957. They completely stocked the mill with new lumber for the movie; then they burned it all down. If anyone is interested, Vernonia Sentry Supermarket sells DVD's of the movie, and they will ship.

maurits-6 I've just seen the movie for the first time, on German television that is. Although they dub foreign movies with sometimes strange results (John Wayne and Indians speaking German...), they make sure not to compromise a film's integrity, so atmosphere, sound quality etc. are always perfectly preserved. And I must say, this film, of 1961, managed to do what only few films have in years - the grand finale with the escaping townsfolk made me hold my breath several times and had me moved to the edge of my chair. The rest of the film is also impressive, it all looked so very lifelike. No overacting, no exaggerated pathos, yet at times even poetic. A great film which makes your heart beat faster. And in spite of its age, amidst all the licked special effects block-busters of these days a refreshing experience.Maurits Reijnen, Amsterdam

mcguyverone While the film was set in Oregon, the burning bridge was filmed in Grays Harbor, Wash.I have been to the site of the bridge and have been down to the bottom of the canyon where the bridge collapsed. The engine is still upside down in the river and the passenger cars are cut in two and laying on the side of the river canyon floor.At low water the wheels are all that are able to be seen of the steam engine.I had to use ropes to get down to the bottom.The area has grown up now and one would never know what lies at the bottom of the canyon unless they had seen the movie.