Von Ryan's Express (1965)

The Great Train Hijacking

Circa 1862 a group of Union Army volunteers went to hijack a locomotive in Tennessee and drive it north to sabotage the Confederacy which had much less railroad equipment. These volunteers did not succeed, those who did not escape were executed. Around 1927 this historical incident was used for the silent film "The General". This 1965 film used the story of a hijacked train as the basis for a revisionist WW II drama. It used the outlook of the 1960s to recreate a 1940s story. How well does it work? You can see echoes of "The Bridge on the River Kwai" in this story, which has more comical elements than that 1957 film. The book is usually better than the film in most cases.

Frank Sinatra plays an Air Corps Colonel whose airplane was downed and he was captured by the Italian army. [Would such a high-ranking officer be involved in combat as a fighter pilot?] The film shows a POW camp and the personality conflicts with a new leader. [Do you see any influences from the 1964 film "The Great Escape"?] Most of the film is involved with how the prisoners hijacked their prison train and then escape by railroad. After some combat they manage to flee to Switzerland. But Colonel Ryan is the last man running and does not join the others; this provides a dramatic ending. May 31, 2008

taut thriller..

Frank Sinatra is incredible in this his highest grossing film of his career. One of the best war escape films you'll ever see. May 9, 2008

A NOVEL WAR MOVIE

Once the viewer has gotten past the fact that his movie is not based on fact, but fiction, then it's clear sailing for two hours of first rate entertainment. It's really a timeless picture, adaptable to all ages, with a simple plot, which may be responsible for multiple viewings 43 years after its release. Sinatra was a very underrated actor-"From Here to Eternity", 'The Manchurian Candidate", this film, et al. Perhaps his singing or his "friends" detracted from his filmwork, but most of it was first rate. Howard may be even better in this film, a realistic contrast of British "duty" to American expediency. In the end, Ryan must die for two reasons:too many gaffes have left too many dead, for which he must atone, and secondly, any other finale would have been trite,even absurd.Find out why this picture, beautifully photographed, continues to bring one back for more after all these years. March 6, 2008

If only one gets out, it's a victory !

"Von Ryan's express" still stands out among the most exciting, explosive and moving epic war films ever, not only because its vibrant final in the middle of those arresting Swiss landscapes, besides it explores step by step a lesson of leadership since the Colonel Ryan must assume by range the entire command of this group of prisoners and face against all the obstacles all the way through.

In order to get the freedom, this bunch of brave men will have the best they can, from their particular trench.

Fine performances of Trevor Howard as the reluctant British officer accustomed to follow the military paradigms of his ages against this new way of approach represented by Ryan.

One of the most relevant war films ever made.
February 22, 2008

With German soldiers this dumb, Hitler never had a chance.

"Von Ryan's Express" has about as much credibility and subtlety as an average "Hogan's Heroes" episode but sadly without the humor.

The story of a group of POWs in wartime Italy attempting to escape for freedom via train is told in heavy-handed, obvious - not to mention juvenile - fashion. With German soldiers this dumb, Hitler never had a chance.

Sinatra and Trevor Howard are actually quite good but are surrounded by second-rate acting talent. With believability jettisoned early on, this "boys own" adventure becomes downright tedious.

Sound and picture quality on this DVD are excellent. Unfortunately this tends to highlight the extensive use of obvious rear-projection shots. January 29, 2008

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