One More Train to Rob (1971)

George Peppard is Harker Fleet and John Vernon his partner Timothy Nolan. Together, they mastermind a train robbery in Hidalgo Wells.

But Harker has something Timothy wants, a lovely lady named Kat (Diana Muldaur). So he helps orchestrate a shotgun wedding to remove Harker as an obstacle.

That works better than he ever could have dreamed when Harker assaults two lawmen in a getaway attempt and winds up sentenced to three years in prison.

He gets out six months early. And goes looking for Timothy Nolan, Katy, and his share of the loot from the train holdup.

He finds them in Calador, where Timothy lives in an elegant home as a respected town leader with Katy as his wife.

But he’s also run into a cash flow problem and is plotting to get his hands on the gold from the Heaven Earth Mine, run by Chinese immigrants, to continue his life of luxury.

Harker figures the best way to get even with his old pal might be to foil those plans. He might even wind up winning Katy back in the process.

Review:

A stronger cast and a less convoluted plot, and this good idea might have turned into an excellent Western.

But it fizzles a bit under the guidance of hit-and-miss director Andrew V. McLaglen, though not for a lack of Chinese fireworks during the holdup of that one last train.

France Nuyen stands out as the young Chinese girl Peppard rescues from a brothel; Soon Tek Oh plays her boyfriend.

You’ll also spot Marie Windsor early in the film in the role of a prostitute who provides Peppard with a perfect alibi.

In bit parts, Ben Cooper plays a deputy, and NFL star Merlin Olsen and his brother Phil play brothers determined to get Peppard to the marriage alter to save the reputation of their sister, Cora May.

Directed by:
Andrew V. McLaglen

Cast:
George Peppard … Harker Fleet
Diana Muldaur … Katy
John Vernon … Timothy Nolan
France Nuyen … Ah Toy
Steve Sandor … Jim Gant
Soon-Tek Oh … Yung
Richard Loo … Mr. Chang
C.K. Yang … Wong
Robert Donner … Sheriff Adams
John Doucette … Sheriff Monte
Marie Windsor … Louella
Timothy Scott .. Slim
Joan Shawlee … Big Nellie
Hal Needham … Bert Gant
Harry Carey Jr. … Red
Jim Burk … Skinner
Don “Red” Barry … Charlie
Ben Cooper … Deputy
Pamela McMyler … Cora May Jones

Runtime: 108 min.

Title tune: “Havin’ Myself a Fine Time”
by Tim Morgan

Memorable lines:

Katy, after being woken by Harker: “You’re not only dress, you’ve been out. And from the smell of that perfume, I know where.”
Harker Fleet, dodging a hurled pitcher: “Now, Katy, you know by sun-up, every sheriff in 100 miles will be coming this way and I had to set up an alibi.”
Katy: “Does is always have to be a cathouse?”

Young boy to Fleet: “You’re some train robber. Aren’t you gonna shoot nobody.”

Harker Fleet, spying an appointment, upon his reunion with Katy: “That painter cheated you. She’s prettier than that.”

Harker Fleet to Timothy Nolan: “You know the difference between you and me? You’ll never admit you’re a thief. You want to be an honest man. You just can’t get the hang of it. Me, I’m a thief. And I can’t think of a more enjoyable way to make a living.

Harker Fleet: “Mr. Chang, robbing trains is my profession.”
Chang: “That is hardly a recommendation for trust, Mr. Fleet.”

Mr. Chang to Fleet: “I scolded Yung as foolish when he insisted you were helping us because you were a humane, good man. In the wisdom of my years, I could not accept this. But now you tell me your reasons are evil, for cruel revenge, I find it easy to accept and understand.”

Katy, of Nolan: “He’d fall apart if he was broke. And I’d feel like a bitch for leaving him.”