Von Ryan's Express typifies
the kind of blockbuster adventure war movie that was highly popular in the
mid-1960s - a far-fetched romp that leaves no cliché unturned
but manages to please the crowds with its exciting action sequences and
unlikely plot twists, all served with a smattering of wry humour.
If you are looking for realism, you should look elsewhere. This
is pure mindless escapism, with a plot that strains credulity to
comicbook proportions and characters so shallow you can almost see
straight through them. Despite its many plot holes (the most
obvious being just why the Germans would bother chasing after a few hundred
escaped prisoners when they are simultaneously being hammered by an
Allied offensive) and implausible characterisation (a priest who can
give a perfect imitation of a
Nazi officer takes some beating), Von
Ryan's Express is entertaining enough. Under Mark Robson's
deft directorial stewardship, the film just about manages to stay on
the rails, not easy when you have two prize-winning egos - Frank
Sinatra and Trevor Howard - vying for our attention (Howard wins, but
only by being a curmudgeonly old beggar). The film's grim
ending inevitably comes as a shock and just feels completely wrong for
the film - Sinatra insisted on it to put paid to any plans for a
sequel (he apparently had a habit of doing things his way).
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Next Mark Robson film: Lost Command (1966)
Film Synopsis
1944. After his plane is shot down over Italy, American airman
Colonel Joseph L. Ryan soon finds himself in an Italian prisoner of war
camp, which is run with an iron hand by the cruel Major
Battaglia. Ryan immediately finds himself in conflict with the
highest ranking British officer in the camp, Major Eric Fincham, who
reluctantly accepts the superiority of Ryan's rank. On
discovering a flawed escape plan, Ryan reveals the escape tunnel that
has been dug by the prisoners to the German officers, and is
immediately christened Von Ryan by a contemptuous Fincham. The
prisoners are quick to take advantage of Italy's surrender to the
Allies. As the guards flee, they try to make a break for it, but
are captured by German soldiers and loaded aboard a train bound for
Germany. Just when all appears lost, Ryan conceives a daring
plan. Rather than escape from the train, the prisoners should
take control of it and use it to escape to safety...
Script: David Westheimer (novel),
Wendell Mayes,
Joseph Landon
Cinematographer: William H. Daniels
Music: Jerry Goldsmith
Cast: Frank Sinatra (Col. Joseph L. Ryan),
Trevor Howard (Major Eric Fincham),
Raffaella Carrà (Gabriella),
Brad Dexter (Sgt. Bostick),
Sergio Fantoni (Capt. Oriani),
John Leyton (Orde),
Edward Mulhare (Costanzo),
Wolfgang Preiss (Major Von Klemment),
James Brolin (Private Ames),
John Van Dreelen (Col. Gortz),
Adolfo Celi (Battaglia),
Vito Scotti (Italian Train Engineer),
Richard Bakalyan (Corporal Giannini),
Michael Goodliffe (Captain Stein),
Michael St. Clair (Sgt. Dunbar),
Ivan Triesault (Von Kleist),
Ian Abercrombie (English POW),
William Berger (Man from the Gestapo),
Arthur Brauss (Lt. Gertel--German Mess Officer),
William Conroy (German Soldier)
Country: USA
Language: English / German / Italian
Support: Color
Runtime: 117 min
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