Von Ryan's Express

Mark Robson (1965)

112min

PG Certificate

Review

Our Score

by Tony Sloman

Following on from the box-office success of The Great Escape, this is a rattlingly exciting Second World War escape adventure, with a well-cast Frank Sinatra as Colonel Joseph L Ryan, a tough PoW who seizes a German train delivering Allied prisoners. Sinatra's character is unusually uncompromising, even for him, and the star delivers one of his best performances. Director Mark Robson uses his camera skilfully, and the support cast is exceptionally well chosen: co-star Trevor Howard is always excellent in confrontation roles, and a nod to The Great Escape finds John Leyton (who had a number one hit with Johnny Remember Me in 1961) as a British lieutenant. The eagle-eyed should note Hollywood restaurateur Michael Romanoff as an Italian noble. The film was a major commercial success in its day.

Summary

A courageous American colonel with a never-say-die attitude is held in a PoW camp. He boldly sets out to lead a group of Allied prisoners in a daring mass escape bid by hijacking a freight train and fleeing through occupied Italy to Switzerland. Second World War action adventure, starring Frank Sinatra, Trevor Howard, Brad Dexter and James Brolin.

Cast & Crew

Col Joseph L Ryan Frank Sinatra

Major Eric Fincham Trevor Howard

Private Ames James Brolin

Gabriella Raffaela Carra

Sergeant Bostick Brad Dexter

Captain Oriani Sergio Fantoni

Orde John Leyton

Costanzo Edward Mulhare

Major von Klemment Wolfgang Preiss

Colonel Gortz John Van Dreelen

Battaglia Adolfo Celi

Director Mark Robson

Other Information

Language: English, German +subtitlesColourGuidance: Edited for violence and swearing.Available on: video, DVD and Blu-ray

Drama

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Mark Robson (1965)

Review

Summary

Cast & Crew

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