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IMDbPro

Von Ryan's Express

  • 19651965
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
14K
YOUR RATING
Von Ryan's Express (1965)
Watch ’Trailer’
Play trailer3:16
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • War
An American POW leads a group of mainly British prisoners to escape from the Germans in WWII.An American POW leads a group of mainly British prisoners to escape from the Germans in WWII.An American POW leads a group of mainly British prisoners to escape from the Germans in WWII.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
14K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Mark Robson
  • Writers
    • David Westheimer(novel)
    • Wendell Mayes(screenplay)
    • Joseph Landon(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Frank Sinatra
    • Trevor Howard
    • Raffaella Carrà
Top credits
  • Director
    • Mark Robson
  • Writers
    • David Westheimer(novel)
    • Wendell Mayes(screenplay)
    • Joseph Landon(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Frank Sinatra
    • Trevor Howard
    • Raffaella Carrà
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 93User reviews
    • 44Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 1 win & 3 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:16
    Trailer

    Photos106

    Von Ryan's Express (1965)
    Frank Sinatra in Von Ryan's Express (1965)
    Raffaella Carrà in Von Ryan's Express (1965)
    Raffaella Carrà in Von Ryan's Express (1965)
    Frank Sinatra in Von Ryan's Express (1965)
    Frank Sinatra, portrait for "Von Ryan's Express," 1965. Vintage silver gelatin, 14x11, signed. $800 © 1978 David Sutton MPTV
    Frank Sinatra, portrait for "Von Ryan's Express," 1965. Vintage silver gelatin, 14x11, signed. $800 © 1978 David Sutton MPTV
    Frank Sinatra, portrait for "Von Ryan's Express," 1965. Vintage silver gelatin, 14x11, signed. $800 © 1978 David Sutton MPTV
    Frank Sinatra, portrait for "Von Ryan's Express," 1965. Vintage silver gelatin, 14x11, signed. $800 © 1978 David Sutton MPTV
    Frank Sinatra, portrait for "Von Ryan's Express," 1965. Vintage silver gelatin, 14x11, signed. $800 © 1978 David Sutton MPTV
    Frank Sinatra, portrait for "Von Ryan's Express," 1965. Vintage silver gelatin, 14x11, signed. $800 © 1978 David Sutton MPTV
    Frank Sinatra standing next to airplane wreckage for "Von Ryan's Express," 1964. Color, printed later, 12x15.5, flushmounted, signed. $1200 © 1978 Ted Allan Ted Allan MPTV

    Top cast

    Edit
    Frank Sinatra
    Frank Sinatra
    • Col. Joseph L. Ryanas Col. Joseph L. Ryan
    Trevor Howard
    Trevor Howard
    • Maj. Eric Finchamas Maj. Eric Fincham
    Raffaella Carrà
    Raffaella Carrà
    • Gabriellaas Gabriella
    • (as Raffaella Carra)
    Brad Dexter
    Brad Dexter
    • Sgt. Bostickas Sgt. Bostick
    Sergio Fantoni
    Sergio Fantoni
    • Capt. Orianias Capt. Oriani
    John Leyton
    John Leyton
    • Ordeas Orde
    Edward Mulhare
    Edward Mulhare
    • Costanzoas Costanzo
    Wolfgang Preiss
    Wolfgang Preiss
    • Maj. Von Klemmentas Maj. Von Klemment
    James Brolin
    James Brolin
    • Pvt. Amesas Pvt. Ames
    John Van Dreelen
    John Van Dreelen
    • Col. Gortzas Col. Gortz
    • (as John van Dreelen)
    Adolfo Celi
    Adolfo Celi
    • Battagliaas Battaglia
    Vito Scotti
    Vito Scotti
    • Italian Train Engineeras Italian Train Engineer
    Richard Bakalyan
    Richard Bakalyan
    • Cpl. Gianninias Cpl. Giannini
    Michael Goodliffe
    Michael Goodliffe
    • Capt. Steinas Capt. Stein
    Michael St. Clair
    • Sgt. Dunbaras Sgt. Dunbar
    Ivan Triesault
    Ivan Triesault
    • Von Kleistas Von Kleist
    Ian Abercrombie
    Ian Abercrombie
    • English POWas English POW
    • (uncredited)
    William Berger
    William Berger
    • Man from the Gestapoas Man from the Gestapo
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Mark Robson
    • Writers
      • David Westheimer(novel) (screenplay)
      • Wendell Mayes(screenplay)
      • Joseph Landon(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Michael Goodliffe, who plays Capt. Stein, was an actual Prisoner of War during WWII. He was captured at Dunkirk and spent the next five years in a German POW camp.
    • Goofs
      All of the German soldiers carrying MP38/40 sub-machine guns (including all of the guards on the train) were wearing the wrong ammo pouches. The MP38/40 fired 9mm pistol ammunition from a 32-round detachable box magazine. The soldiers were all wearing cartridge pouches designed to hold 5-round stripper clips of 7.92mm ammunition for a bolt-action Mauser rifle. This means none of the Germans carrying sub-machine guns had any ready ammunition available once they fired the 32 rounds in their only magazine. This is a common mistake in WWII TV shows and movies.
    • Quotes

      Maj. Eric Fincham: [Final lines voiceover] I once told you, Ryan, if only one gets out, it's a victory.

    • Crazy credits
      The film credits and all promotion publicity still say "A Cinemascope Picture", and Alfred Newman's "extended" 20th Century-Fox fanfare is still heard on the soundtrack as the picture begins, but most of the film was actually shot in Panavision, at Frank Sinatra's insistence.
    • Alternate versions
      When originally released theatrically in the UK, the BBFC made cuts to secure a 'U' rating. All cuts were waived in 1988 when the film was granted a 'PG' certificate for home video.
    • Connections
      Edited into Galactica 1980: Galactica Discovers Earth: Part 2 (1980)

    User reviews93

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Hey it works for me...
    *** Warning ***: I make a few references to this film's plot in the comments below.

    I think if I was living during 1943 and was involved in World War II then being with Frank, Trevor and the rest of the boys as portrayed in this film is where I'd want to be. Racing up Italy in a captured POW train, honorable American and British soldiers fighting pesky Nazis, and just trying to make it to beautiful Switzerland. Who could ask for more? You have adventure, killing in self-defense (well mostly), outsmarting the enemy, and a gorgeous young Italian woman on the train with you! Sure beats being a German soldier stuck in Stalingrad in 1942!

    And let's face it, if you're looking for a WW II film with historical accuracy about specific WWII events or a "war is heck, here's why" kind of film then this is not the kind of film you're going to like.

    But to me this film offers something many others don't by how it relates to everyday life and its struggles. So what am I saying, escaping from a German POW camp and fighting Nazis is a daily life struggle for anyone nowadays ?? No, of course not. But I like the way misfortune then opportunity seem to go hand in hand in this movie. A misfortune is turned into another opportunity simply by trying or moving forward. The following two lines best sum up this film: Captured German Major: "But still you have NO choice!" British Major: "And nothing to lose by trying to make one!"

    Nothing is mapped out they way they want it and each misfortune has its cost in lives lost, but they push on. Each loss looks like it is rewarded with something positive... British physician (who up 'till now has been supportive of Colonel Ryan): "Roll, roll where?...Maybe this is the end of the line". Italian Captain (just running in): "Colonel Ryan, the conductor has a plan, he thinks he can get us all to Switzerland!" British Major: "Switzerland?...You're mad!" (The Italian major explains the conductor's plan) British Major: "You know it may just work" Colonel Ryan: "Let's move!"

    Sometimes we are all fighting those "Nazis/demons" in our life and we are all just trying to escape to "Switzerland" and like the end of the film says: "I once told you Ryan, if only one gets out it's a victory".

    I read in another review of this film where it was said Frank Sinatra looked like he was sleep walking through it -- well then way to go Frank! No award grabbing performance from "ol' blue eyes" here, just a man who acts and feels like he's just been in a POW camp (the Rat Pack must've just broken up or a gig in Vegas got canceled or something). I think this is one of Frank S.'s best movies, yes much better than that depressing "Manchurian Candidate" (1962).

    And give this film credit for one thing: Here at least the Germans speak German and the Italians speak Italian. There's none of that English with a heavy German or Italian accent stuff here. And filming outside when possible with picturesque Italian and Switzerland scenery are an added bonus.

    I know there are several other WWII films made during the 1960s that get mentioned a lot, but off-hand I think there are only two or three made during the '60s that offer or have any value: "The Train" (1965) and "Closely Observed Trains" (1966) are the only two I can think of (hmmm...that's odd, but all three involve trains).

    If you liked "Von Ryan's Express" then please recommend other war films from any decade. I'm always on the look out for a good war film. And if you didn't care for this film, well then when you're through picking this one apart tell me of one you did like. Thanks.
    helpful•35
    11
    • z_crito2001
    • Jan 4, 2001

    FAQ3

    • Is this movie based on a book?
    • How closely does the movie follow the novel?
    • On which railway line were the action scenes at the end of the movie shot?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 23, 1965 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Colonel von Ryans Expreß
    • Filming locations
      • Málaga, Andalucía, Spain
    • Production company
      • P-R Productions Picture
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,760,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 57 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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