rea486 Review of Von Ryan's Express

Von Ryan's Express (1965)

Good war flick but somewhat unbelievable.

[7/10 · 11 November 2023]

Let me start by saying I loved this movie as a kid. I've probably seen it a dozen times over the years. Now that I'm older I can pick it apart a bit. The action was great. An escape, being recaptured then hijacking a POW train made it suspenseful. Now here's where it gets absurd. I couldn't believe the Italian officer that joined them for one. Or the train engineer. Why not just jump from the train at the first opportunity leaving them to figure out how to run it ? Then the obvious fluff with the woman. Add in the language barrier. One German speaking guy just wouldn't cut it. But the thing that really ruins it is the machine guns that have an endless supply of bullets during the final battle. That part alone made it into video game land. So the train loving pre teen me loved it but the aging but still train lover now sees it for what it is.