Von Ryan's Express (1965)

One of my all time favorites.

Absolutely Fantastic

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

For war movie fans, "Von Ryan's Express" is an entertaining film with considerable action. It's a fictional story about an escape of an entire POW camp during World War II. Only, unlike the real escape from a German POW camp in "The Great Escape," this one is from an Italian POW camp. And, it has plenty of action in a novel method of escape – by a commandeered prisoner transport train. All of the cast are very good. The movie is based on a novel by David Westheimer. He was a B-24 navigator in the U.S. Army Air Forces during WW II. His plane was shot down by an Italian fighter plane and he spent 28 months in POW camps – first in Italy and then in Germany. The book is based on his experiences as a POW. When a story is fiction it doesn't make much difference how much the movie may differ from the book – except in the case of recognized literary works. Or, for accuracy of otherwise factual matter or details in the face of credulity. In this case a couple of distinctions should be made about this film and the book. Frank Sinatra's Col. Joseph L. Ryan in the movie tells his British prison mates that he was a "90-day wonder." That refers to an officer who is commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant after three months of officer candidate school (OCS). In the book, Ryan was a West Point graduate who had worked his way up in rank. It's not realistic that a 2nd Lt. out of OCS would rise to the rank of Colonel in three years. I don't think there's a single instance of such in history. The second thing that stretches the credibility of even a fictional story is that a full bird colonel would have been flying a mission at all. That was the regular rank of a Group commander of several squadrons, or even a Wing commander in some cases. Those command officers were not supposed to be flying missions. Their combat flying time was behind them and now they were to command the various units. Of course some did fly in combat, as the movie "Twelve O'Clock High" shows. But those were exceptions. There are some other anomalies about this film. How did Ryan escape that crashed plane – that did a nose dive into the earth? Why didn't he bail out? Where were the rest of his crew? These are questions that came to my mind right away when I first watched this film. The plane mock-up in the crash scene didn't seem real either. It is interesting that Ryan's plane was shot down by an Italian fighter plane. Although it doesn't show that in action, that's what happened to the author of the book, and since this was yet over Italian military territory, it's implied. This may be the only movie made about WW II in which an allied plane is shot down by an Italian fighter plane. I won't go into the apparent reversal of military posture – between the British and Americans, except to note that the film shows the reverse of the usual. The Brits, with their long history and military traditions, were always much more disciplined and spit and polish than the Americans would have been during WW II. And, especially when comparing British regular army with American Army air forces. The POW camp stuff is fun and entertaining. Then, the action comes when the escaped POWs are herded onto a train for transport to Germany. Besides the daring stuff in this larger portion of the movie, the film has some wonderful scenic shots of the Italian countryside and the Alps. The scenes with the train racing against another in the mountains, and the German planes attacking are very good. So, this fictional war movie makes for good entertainment, in a Hollywood style rendition of a war story. I do wonder why Hollywood seemed to have a penchant for showing so many top German officers in films having a woman in tow. That's a stereotype that didn't serve to enhance the credibility of many war films. Frank Sinatra made nearly a dozen movies about WW II and Korea, but he didn't serve in the military. He was 26 years old when the U.S. entered the war. While most Hollywood actors of age were signing up for service – and many getting commissions, Sinatra was supposedly classified 4F for a ruptured eardrum. Eardrums usually repair themselves, and in some instances can be repaired surgically. Perhaps it was something else. He did very well in most of his war movie roles and won a best supporting actor Oscar as Angelo Maggio in "From Here to Eternity."

It's 1943 Italy. German forces have seized control of the country and the Italians are less than thrill. American Army pilot Col. Joseph L. Ryan (Frank Sinatra) is captured. The POW camp is run by the arrogant Battaglia and populated almost entirely by Brits. Oriani is the kinder second-in-command. The British CO is dead and Major Eric Fincham (Trevor Howard) accuses Battaglia of murder. Ryan becomes the highest ranking officer and the new CO of the POWs. He clashes with Fincham planning for escape and then clashes with Battaglia. When Italy surrenders, the guards leave and the prisoners capture Battaglia. Ryan spares his life which comes back to haunt the men when Battaglia helps the Nazis recapture them. The men call him Von Ryan as they get transported north on a train.The relationship between Fincham and Ryan is interesting. The movie certainly wants Ryan to be the guy in the right but I often find myself agreeing with Fincham. It would have been intriguing to have Fincham as the lead but it's impossible not to make Sinatra the lead. The second half has some good escape action and tension. The miniature work is nice and the action is done well.

VON RYAN'S EXPRESS is another decent Hollywood WW2 adventure. It's not as good or as iconic as WHERE EAGLES DARE but it's still a highly suspenseful thrill-ride of a movie, although a little drawn out in places. I particularly liked the way that the story is quite impossible to predict throughout, with lots of little twists you don't see coming which last right up until the climax.Frank Sinatra plays the cocky, all-American fighter pilot hero who is sent to a prisoner of war camp in Italy where he butts heads with the grizzled British officer Trevor Howard (on very fine form). I won't spoil the plot, but there are plenty of different situations taking place here, and as the title would suggest a large part of the film is set on board a train. I personally love train films and the train action here doesn't disappointed, loaded with suspense and action as it is.The supporting cast is a mix of reliable old hands (Adolfo Celi, Michael Goodliffe, Brad Dexter) and fresh-faced newcomers (James Brolin, the delectable Raffaella Carra). The exemplary direction is from the hugely experienced Mark Robson, a man who started out with Boris Karloff spook shows such as ISLE OF THE DEAD and finished with '70s disaster movies like EARTHQUAKE. It's another feather in the cap for a man with an extraordinary career.

Awesome warlike movie with memorable images and outstanding acting by well-known faces . This is a splendid film about a daring breakout from an Italian concentration camp with all star cast and magnificently realized by Mark Robson . The opening prologue states: "Italy , August 1943. With the Allies poised to strike, the Germans seized control of Italy. So the war-weary Italian nation fought on, a prisoner of the German armies¨ . There appears Ryan, an American POW Colonel (Frank Sinatra , his leather jacket was later worn by Bob Crane in Hogan's Heroes and was later worn by Greg Kinnear in Auto Focus) and a British military (Trevor Howard who was second choice for Major Fincham after Peter Finch turned it down and Jack Hawkins was possible for this part) is the officer in charge until Ryan takes over the escape plan . Ryan leads his fellow prisoners as foreign soldiers (James Brolin , John Leyton , Edward Mulhare) as Italian local military (Sergio Fantoni , Adolfo Celi and Vito Scotti as Train Engineer) on a perilous getaway from the Germans (led by Wolfgang Preiss as Major Von Klemment) in Italy . Having seemingly made errors of judgement, Ryan has to get the support of the mainly British soldiers he is commanding . As they aboard a German train to neutral Switzerland .This great action tale contains thrills, intrigue, tension, excitement galore, entertainment and lots of fun . Suspenseful WWII epic packs exceptional plethora of prestigious actors incarnating the motley group of POWs , giving good acting and support , as a sensational Frank Sinatra whose character , Colonel Ryan, remains today as attractive iconography ; Edward Mulhare as an army priest posing as a Nazi officer , Brad Dexter as roguish Sgt. Bostick ,Sergio Fantoni as Capt. Oriani , a very young Raffaela Carra and Michael Goodliffe, who was an actual Prisoner of War during WWII , being captured at Dunkirk and spent the next five years in a German POW camp . Excellent production design and art direction with evocative scenarios by Walter Scott . Rousing and lively soundtrack , nowadays a classic score, by Jerry Goldsmith . Colorful cinematography by William H Daniels , Greta Garbo's usual cameraman .The motion picture lavishly produced by Saul David was well realized by Mark Robson. In the early 40s Robson was much involved with the low-budget terror unit in charge of producer Val Lewton , for whom made ¨Seventh victim¨, ¨The ghost ship¨, and ¨Island of the dead¨. In the late 1940s Robson joined Stanley Kramer's independent company and directed his biggest commercial hit to date with ¨The champion¨. Years later Robson made another good film about corruption in boxing world titled ¨The harder they fall¨ with Humphrey Bogart. In the late 1960s, his work did decline . His last movie was a jinx one titled ¨Avalancha express¨. Robson and his main star, Robert Shaw, died suddenly from heart attacks. And of course , ¨Von Ryan Express¨ was one of his best films . A top-notch cast , spectacular images , tense images and noisy action help make this one a superior effort of its kind . Well worth seeing , this is the ordinary War movie that Hollywood does so well . This one is certainly one of the best movies ever made about the WWII escapes . Rating : 7 . Two thumbs up , essential and indispensable watching for WWII lovers , a real must see.