IMDb > Von Ryan's Express (1965)
Von Ryan's Express
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Von Ryan's Express (1965) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   3,585 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
David Westheimer (novel)
Wendell Mayes (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for Von Ryan's Express on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
23 June 1965 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Why did 600 Allied prisoners hate the man they called Von Ryan more than they hated Hitler? more
Plot:
An American POW leads a group mainly British prisoners to escape from the Germans in WWII. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination more
User Comments:
Not far off being amongst the best more (51 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Frank Sinatra ... Colonel Joseph L. Ryan
Trevor Howard ... Major Eric Fincham
Raffaella Carrà ... Gabriella (as Raffaella Carra)
Brad Dexter ... Sergeant Bostick
Sergio Fantoni ... Captain Oriani
John Leyton ... Orde
Edward Mulhare ... Captain Costanzo
Wolfgang Preiss ... Major Von Klemment

James Brolin ... Private Ames
John Van Dreelen ... Colonel Gortz (as John van Dreelen)
Adolfo Celi ... Battaglia
Vito Scotti ... Italian Train Engineer
Richard Bakalyan ... Corporal Giannini

Michael Goodliffe ... Captain Stein
Michael St. Clair ... Sergeant Major Dunbar
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Additional Details

Runtime:
117 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Average Shot Length = ~5.3 seconds. Median Shot Length = ~5.4 seconds. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Colonel Ryan orders the prisoners to remove their clothes and burn them. However, Private Ames starts undressing before the order is given. more
Quotes:
Colonel Joseph L. Ryan: Major, you will order the men to strip.
[pause]
Colonel Joseph L. Ryan: Major, I said "strip." Get it? All clothes, off. Naked.
[Major turns around]
Maj. Eric Fincham: [Yelling] Parade... strip.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The 100 Greatest War Films (2005) (TV) more

FAQ

How closely does the movie follow the novel?
Is this novel based on a movie?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
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23 out of 33 people found the following comment useful.
Not far off being amongst the best, 10 August 2005
9/10
Author: nick_elliston from United Kingdom

From a slow start this build into an exciting if somewhat unrealistic war film. However, it was designed for entertainment and not to depict any remotely historical fact.

The cinematography and scenery look good and although no expert on trains, they look from the right period. The characters are not fleshed out but as this is an adventure film this lapse is not too important. Some of the main characters are also casualties by the end thus avoiding the usual Hollywood line from that period of everyone escaping without a scratch.

I'm not a big fan of Sinatra as an actor but he does well here depicting a flawed character who appears both likable and unlikeable. It is established early in the film that Col Ryan is not a career airman and has limited military experience and so it is not surprising that he makes some key mistakes although he does learn from them.

The supporting cast is good although with the exception of John Leyton far too old to have been on military service.

Not up with the very best WW2 films but well above the average.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Von Ryan's Express (1965)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
The Ending citric_acid59
Wouldn't VRE + The Train make a great double feature? Wayner50
Which railway line was the action at the end filmed on? penseur
British/American Relations in WWII DD-931
Sinatra the war hero?...no chance frederickelliot
Trevor Howard (Maj. Fincham) Great Part christopher_sargeant
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