The Train (1964)

In 1944, a German colonel loads a train with French art treasures to send to Germany. The Resistance must stop it without damaging the cargo.

Directors:

John Frankenheimer, Arthur Penn (uncredited)

Writers:

Franklin Coen (screen story), Frank Davis (screen story)

Stars:

Burt Lancaster, Paul Scofield, Jeanne Moreau

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Burt Lancaster	...	Paul Labiche
Paul Scofield	...	Colonel Franz Von Waldheim
Jeanne Moreau	...	Christine
Suzanne Flon	...	Mlle. Villard
Michel Simon	...	Papa Boule
Wolfgang Preiss	...	Major Herren
Albert Rémy	...	Didont (as Albert Remy)
Charles Millot	...	Pesquet
Richard Münch	...	General Von Lubitz (as Richard Munch)
Jacques Marin	...	Jacques - Rive-Reine Station Master
Paul Bonifas	...	Spinet - Resistance Leader
Jean Bouchaud	...	Captain Schmidt
Donald O'Brien	...	Sergeant Schwartz (as Donal O'Brien)
Jean-Pierre Zola	...	Octave
Arthur Brauss	...	Pilzer (as Art Brauss)

Storyline

As the Allied forces approach Paris in August 1944, German Colonel Von Waldheim is desperate to take all of France's greatest paintings to Germany. He manages to secure a train to transport the valuable art works even as the chaos of retreat descends upon them. The French resistance however wants to stop them from stealing their national treasures but have received orders from London that they are not to be destroyed. The station master, Labiche, is tasked with scheduling the train and making it all happen smoothly but he is also part of a dwindling group of resistance fighters tasked with preventing the theft. He and others stage an elaborate ruse to keep the train from ever leaving French territory.

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Plot Keywords:

train | french resistance | sabotage | nazi stolen art | year 1944 | 

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Taglines:

They bombed it. They strafed it. Sabotaged it. Cursed the train!

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Genres:

Thriller | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The repair depicted by on-the-spot casting of a "Babbitt bearing" for the sabotaged drive rod of Boule's locomotive, is an actual procedure. The bearing style was invented by Isaac Babbitt of Taunton, MA in 1839. The soft metal which comprises the bearing is itself known as babbitt, and for traditional railroad use is 89% tin, 7% antimony, and 4% copper.

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Goofs

(at around 48 mins) When Labiche, Didont and Pesquet argue in the locomotive, Pesquet says "We will be killed if you don't call Maurice." In the next shot, Pesquet is facing the opposite direction (facing outside the window).

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Quotes

Christine: Eat your food. It's a sin to waste bread.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: PARIS August 2-1944 1511th day of German occupation

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Alternate Versions

Whilst the official run time is 133 minutes, the BBFC website has two separate entries, one with a theatrical 'U' rated certificate in 1964 running at 141 minutes 31 seconds and the other entry with a theatrical 'A' rated certificate in 1959 running at 90 minutes 37 seconds. Though the second entry seems incorrect due to the erroneous date of certification being 21 October 1959 (the film was being made in 1963 and is copyrighted in 1964) and a much shorter run time, the BBFC reference numbering is in sequence with the later video rated entries so it is unknown if this 1959 entry is a much shorter cut of this film or this is an error in the BBFC records. It is also not known if the 142 minute entry is a longer cut of the film that has simply not been since it's UK theatrical release in 1964.

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Connections

Featured in Film Review: Burt Lancaster (1968)

User Reviews

Interesting sidenote...

Like everyone else who has posted here, I think this film is superb. Brilliant screenplay, excellent acting, exceptional directing, and so on and so forth. I think there is one little twist to the screenplay that deserves mention. Burt Lancaster has not one spoken line in the final 20 minutes of the movie. I can't recall ever seeing that done with a major character in a mainstream film. His actions ARE his words. In the final scene, we know exactly what he is thinking without him saying a word. A lovely subtle touch and the crowning moment in a truly great film.

Details

Country:

France Italy USA

Language:

English German

Release Date:

7 March 1965 (USA)

Also Known As:

John Frankenheimer's The Train

Filming Locations:

Studios de Boulogne-Billancourt/SFP - 2 Rue de Silly, Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Box Office

Budget:

$6,700,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films Ariane, Les Productions Artistes Associés, Dear Film Produzione

Technical Specs

Runtime:

133 min 142 min (theatrical release) (1964)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1