ABOUT
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
Two thousand years ago, EPICTETUS, the ancient Grecian philosopher and exponent of Stoicism, wrote, “Only the educated are free”. This assertion not only holds true to this very day, but it is also the central metaphor of LAST TRAIN TO FORTUNE.
When I first read the script I immediately fell in love with its themes of the importance of learning and the value of education. Plus, I had always dreamed of getting an opportunity to make a Western. Blending the iconography of the Old West, along with the poignancy of the value of enlightenment, was a combination I just couldn’t resist. And thus, the long and storied journey of bringing LAST TRAIN TO FORTUNE to the big screen began.
"My mother has always been my biggest fan and supporter. Throughout my career’s various ups and downs, her belief in me and her constant words of encouragement have kept me going as I navigated this minefield of Hollywood."
- Adam Rifkin, Director
- Adam Rifkin, Director
From the start, beloved actor MALCOLM McDOWELL was attached to play uptight British schoolmaster, CECIL PEACHTREE, and the great BILL PAXTON was set to play the gun slinging DOOLEY. In its first incarnation, I was not to be the film’s director, but was on board as one of the producers. The original director was the legendary, LINDSAY ANDERSON. As a film fan, getting the opportunity to reunite MALCOLM and LINDSAY, after their acclaimed and groundbreaking, “MICK TRAVIS TRILOGY” (IF…, O LUCKY MAN and BRITANNIA HOSPITAL) was a thrill to be sure. But alas, it was not meant to be. Sadly, before preproduction could commence, LINDSAY would pass away.
Undeterred, MALCOLM and BILL, along with myself and producer, BRAD WYMAN, shifted gears. MALCOLM and BILL remained attached, and I would step into the role of director. Finding the funding however, proved more difficult than any of us anticipated. There were many fits and starts along way. Then, in 2017, just as things seemed to finally be heating up again, BILL would tragically and unexpectedly pass on as well. The loss to his family, friends and fans was immeasurable. It seemed like LAST TRAIN TO FORTUNE had officially been decommissioned. But just a few years after that, the little train that could seemed to get a burst of fresh steam.
In the aftermath of BILL’S passing, we all grew very close to his son, JAMES PAXTON. A brilliant young actor in his own right, JAMES has proven to be every bit as talented and effervescent as his beloved father. So it was decided that JAMES would take on the role of DOOLEY. If anyone had the ability to step into BILL PAXTON’S larger than life shoes, it’s his own son JAMES, who was determined to do his dad proud. Once JAMES officially hopped on the train, magically, almost as if by some divine, cinematic alchemy, the planets aligned and LAST TRAIN TO FORTUNE found its funding.
But JAMES playing DOOLEY is not the only reason LAST TRAIN TO FORTUNE is a family affair. MALCOM’S son BECKETT McDOWELL (along with his writing partner, JACK RYAN SULLIVAN) has written and sung all of the film’s songs, as well as written and performed the score. But that’s not all. You see, 37 years ago LAST TRAIN TO FORTUNE was written by my mother, MICHELE RIFKIN. In 1986, while she was making ends meet writing Saturday morning cartoons, she wrote LAST TRAIN TO FORTUNE for PBS’s “GREAT WESTERN SCREENPLAY COMPETITION”. And even though it won the “Silver Star Award”, it would still take almost four decades for her vision to hit the big screen.
My mother has always been my biggest fan and supporter. Throughout my career’s various ups and downs, her belief in me and her constant words of encouragement have kept me going as I navigated this minefield of Hollywood. I can’t adequately put into words just how good it feels, and how proud I am, to get to make this movie for my mom. Bringing her words and her characters to life is my gift to her after a lifetime of her unconditionally supporting me. Although we've all worked diligently for decades trying to get the movie made, the timing couldn’t be more propitious than it is right now.
On its surface, LAST TRAIN TO FORTUNE is the story of two opposites who must overcome a series of obstacles as they travel across the New Frontier, but beneath the surface, it’s a film about the value of education and how knowledge sets us all free. At a time when books are being banned across the country and education itself is under attack, LAST TRAIN TO FORTUNE couldn’t be more relevant. Additionally, the gun debate is as hotly contested a topic now as it’s ever been, and CECIL and DOOLEY’S opposing views on guns, the violence they encounter along their journey and what makes a hero, is soberingly current.
Being a former teacher, my mother’s passion for education hasn't diminished in the slightest and she hopes, as we all do, that LAST TRAIN TO FORTUNE inspires a few people to turn off their phones and pick up a book.
- Adam Rifkin, LAST TRAIN TO FORTUNE, Director
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