Deakin, who is actually an undercover U.S. As the journey goes on through the beautiful snowy mountain scenery, though, several train passengers, including most of the train's soldier escort, are mysteriously killed or go missing. The train stops briefly in the small whistle stop settlement of Myrtle, where it takes on board local lawman United States Marshal Pearce (Ben Johnson) and his prisoner, John Deakin (Charles Bronson), a supposedly notorious outlaw who was identified by a picture in a newspaper advertisement offering a $2,000 (about $53,000 today) reward. Also, civilian passengers are on the train in the rear luxurious private car – Nevada Governor Fairchild (Richard Crenna) and his fiancée Marica (Jill Ireland), the daughter of the fort's commander.
A special express train is heading up into the remote mountain ranges towards the fort filled with reinforcements and medical supplies. In the 1870s, residents of the garrison at the Fort Humboldt frontier outpost of the United States Army are reported to be suffering from a diphtheria epidemic. Based on the 1974 novel of the same title by Scottish author Alistair MacLean (1922–1987), it was filmed in north-central Idaho.
Breakheart Pass is a 1975 American Western film that stars Charles Bronson, Ben Johnson, Richard Crenna, and Jill Ireland.
