Emperor of the North

1933: During the Great Depression, a showdown ensues between the “King of the Hobos,” A-No.-1 (Lee Marvin), and the sadistic train conductor Shack (Ernest Borgnine), who will stop at nothing to drive out vagrants. Aldrich took over the project from Sam Peckinpah and directed a series of breathtaking action scenes that culminate 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 with social depth—a film that underperformed at the box office at the time but is now considered a popular classic. Set against idyllic Indian summer backdrops, this road movie—with its comedic interludes and poetic dialogue—unfolds as a sarcastic political allegory: Shack represents the reactionary establishment, A-No.-1 embodies anarchist individualism, and in between lies the opportunistic youth, personified by Keith Carradine’s hobo companion. (C.H.)