Emperor of the North

In the midst of the Great Depression, a showdown takes place between A-No.-1 (Lee Marvin), the “king of the hobos,” and sadistic train conductor Shack (Ernest Borgnine), who will stop at nothing to drive the vagrants away. Aldrich took over the project from Sam Peckinpah and directed some breathtaking action sequences, culminating in a veritable gladiatorial battle on a moving train. Yet, in typical Aldrich fashion, EMPEROR OF THE NORTH is also an astonishing blend of genres that carries considerable social depth; while a box-office disappointment at the time, it is now regarded as a popular classic. With images of an idyllic Indian summer, comedic interludes and poetic dialogue, this road movie unfolds as a sarcastic political allegory: Shack represents the reactionary establishment, and A-No.-1 anarchist individualism, with the opportunistic youth somewhere in between them in the form of Keith Carradine’s hobo companion. In Aldrich’s words: “Most of my characters are cynics, very ‘sophisticated’. They’re clever guys, but not very cuddly, or popular. […] I thought everyone would say, ‘I understand what Marvin is. He’s trying not to be regimented and suppressed, and denied his rights, and I’m for him.’ And nobody was. It just didn’t happen. Nobody cared.” (Christoph Huber)

All retrospective films that will be shown at the Filmmuseum after the Viennale - from 04.11. - can of course also be reserved as usual at filmmuseum.at or by calling 01/533 70 54 and purchased at the box office of the Austrian Film Museum. The prices of the Austrian Film Museum apply.