The Emperor Of The North Pole (1973)

Lee Marvin               A No 1
Ernest Borgnine          Shack
Keith Carradine          Cigaret
Charles Tyner            Cracker
Malcolm Atterbury        Hogger
Simon Oakland            Policeman
Harry Caesar (II)        Coaly
Hal Baylor (II)          Yardman's Helper
Matt Clark               Yardlet
Elisha Cook Jr           Gray Cat
Joe DiReda               Dinger
Liam Dunn                Smile
Diane Dye                Prudence
Robert Foulk (II)        Conductor
James Goodwin            Fakir
Ray Guth                 Preacher
Sid Haig                 Grease Tail

Directed by:             Robert Aldrich
Produced by:             Stan Hough


During the Great Depression, there is a community of tramps who ride the rails, and acknowledged as 
their "King of the Hobos" is a man known as "A No. 1." He is famous for being able to hop a ride on 
any train, no matter how dangerous it is get aboard or how menacing the guards. A younger tramp named 
Cigaret is mentored by A No. 1, and brags that someday he will take over his mantle. Neither of them 
has tried to board a train guarded by a sadistic railroad cop named Shack, who beats and sometimes 
murders men who try to ride for free. In an attempt to secure his title, A No. 1 takes on the 
challenge, bringing Cigaret with him, and they are not spared by the violent Shack.

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It is during the great depression in the US, and the land is full of people who are now homeless. 
Those people, commonly called "hobos", are truly hated by Shack (Borgnine), a sadistical railway 
conductor who swore that no hobo will ride his train for free. Well, no-one but "A" Number One 
(Lee Marvin), who is ready to put his life at stake to become a local legend - as the first person 
who survived the trip on Shack's notorious train.

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In this gritty and violent period drama set in the depths of the Great Depression, Lee Marvin stars 
as "A No. 1", the acknowledged King of the Hoboes. A No. 1 is famous among his fellow tramps for his 
ability to catch a ride on any train, no matter how risky the hop or dangerous the guards. He acts 
as a sort of mentor for Cigaret (Keith Carradine), a young hobo who brags that some day he'll surpass 
A No. 1 in his accomplishments. But neither has had the courage to ride a train guarded by Shack 
(Ernest Borgnine), an unusually sadistic railroad cop who will brutally beat or even murder any man 
who tries to catch a ride on his train. A No. 1 is determined that no one, not even Cigaret, is going 
to deny him his title, so taking his life in his hands, he and Cigaret hop a ride on Shack's train, 
and they are soon bearing the full brunt of his violent nature. Emperor of the North features superb 
location photography by Joseph F. Biroc and a fine supporting cast, including Charles Tyner, 
Simon Oakland, Elisha Cook Jr., and Sid Haig.