Supertrain (TV Series) And a Cup of Kindness, Too (1979) User Reviews

For Such A Heavy Promotion and Investment, . . . . .

[richardfuller-92973 · 3/10 · 29 November 2020]

These episodes really are bad! They are awful. These things are Mystery Science Theatre 3000 bad! In this instance, we have Larry Linville and Dick Van Dyke doing the Strangers On A Train bit, except they don't meet up on the train. Instead they meet up at the train station, and the ending all but puts an odd twist on that deduction! So Linville helped Van Dyke, now Van Dyke is going to help Linville by giving him the impression he will kill Linville's wife, Barbara Rhoades, on board the train. Linville isn't on the train. Linville pretty much spends the entire episode running after the train, and in truly odd ways, such as phoning in a bomb threat to make a plane come back. Worth noting here, Linville is sitting on the plane next to a rambunctious southern-type, and there was a Texas cowboy on the train at the bar who got boisterous with Rhoades. What was it with these cliches? Now focusing on the Texan at the bar, he is still a "PASSENGER ON THE TRAIN" yet crew members of the train behave as tho he has just wandered into the bar. He had a ticket. Find out who he is. So as if Hitchcock's Strangers On A Train wasn't enough, there is a follow-up with Van Dyke imitating Cary Grant in Rebecca, with the glass of milk. So all this homage to Hitchcock found no audience in 1979? Go figure. Once again, on a train, large spacious hallways and this time, lo and behold, Van Dyke and Rhoades actually step out onto a balcony or something to 'enjoy the view.' On a train. Oddly enough, for as little as they are together, Rhoades and Linville do seem to manage some believability that they are divorcing but still care for one another. Also in this episode is one incredibly unnecessary sub-plot about two mischievous children. That's not even worth talking about.

Dick Van Dyke rules!

[dtucker86 · 10/10 · 27 October 2023]

This year marks Dick Van Dyke's 98th birthday and this living legend is still going strong. Its hard to believe that only a few years ago he did a cameo in the sequel to Mary Poppins and did a vigerous song and dance IN HIS NINETIES with no camera tricks involved. Even the film crew was amazed. He is truly like the Energizer bunny. Anyhow, Supertrain went down in infamy as one of the biggest, not to mention one of the most expensive, turkeys of all time probably Cop Rock was the only bigger flop. However, this one episode is enjoyable because Van Dyke gives a good dramatic performance opposite Larry Linville of MASH fame. Dick plays someone who may or may not be a psychopathic killer. I can tell he had a lot of fun playing this different role.