Von Ryan's Express (DVD) > Reviews > Full Steam Ahead for Freedom.

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Good
Special Effects	Good
How does it compare to similar films?	Not applicable

Advantages:	Suspense, Thrills, Humour
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

"Von Ryan's Express" was released in 1965 by Twentieth Century Fox and directed by Mark Robson, who had previously directed such films as Hell Below Zero (1954) Peyton Place (1958) and The Inn Of The Sixth Happiness (1958) and was to go on to direct Valley Of The Dolls in 1967 and the disaster epic Earthquake in 1974.

Although I have the DVD I am reviewing the actual film,and will leave the DVD extras as they have been covered by other reviews.

The film was shot in Italy and in Spain and the photography was awe inspiring, the scenes where the train is coming into Rome are very vivid. It was nominated for an Oscar for the sound and visual effects.

The story begins in Italy in1943 An American bomber crashes and the German troops reach the crash site after the Italians have already picked up the pilot, Frank Sinatra (Colonel Ryan). They tell the Germans that the pilot died in the crash.

The war weary Italians are on the verge of surrendering and hold no great feelings towards their German allies, fast becoming their occupying invaders.

Ryan is taken to a prisoner of war camp where he meets the British prisoners who are undertaking the burial of their commanding officer who met his end after being put into a "sweat box" on the orders of the camp commandant Battaglia, (played by Italian actor Adolfo Celi).

The British had made many attempts to escape and had been punished by having their red cross parcels stopped and had no clean clothes or showers. Historically the regiment, the 9th fusiliers, all "volunteers" fought with Wellington and Marlborough and were all proud of their heritage.

Ryan thought that it would be easier to co-operate with the Italians a bit more since it looked like the war might be over in a few weeks. The allies had taken Sicily. He bargains with the Italians but ends up in the sweatbox, when he is released the Italian guards have gone and it is then that they decide to try and take all 400 prisoners in a daring escape across Italy through enemy lines. Before departing they imprison the commandant in his own sweat box they then make a dash across country helped by the Italian Captain Oriani.

Before they can get very far they are captured by German troops and herded on to a train. The wounded were killed by machine gunning. It is then that they find they were betrayed by the commandant of the prison camp who was allowed to live by the intervention of Frank Sinatra's character. It is then that the British Major Fincham tells Ryan he will get the Iron Cross and labels him "Von Ryan".

Major Fincham (played by british actor Trevor Howard), warms to Ryan's ideas as the film progresses, the regimental padre, Captain Costanzo, (Edward Mulhare) gets his chance to shine as a fanatical Nazi officer and helps pull off the plan by conversing in German with the railway authorities. They overpower the german guards and substitute their own men to sit on top of the train as "guards".

They capture the commanding German Major von Klemment, (Wolfgang Preiss) and take over the running of the train with the idea of finding a deserted place to abandon it and make their attempt at freedom. However, they are prevented from carrying out this idea when they get bombed by an allied air attack.

The supporting cast, John Leyton as Lieutentant Orde, and Sergio Fantoni as the Italian Captain Oriani who helps man the train. American stars James Brolin and Brad Dexter play the G.I. prisoners and Michael Goodliffe is the doctor.

Towards the end of the film, (without revealing too much) the countryside around the Alps provides some really good aerial photography.

The musical score was by Jerry Goldsmith, his credits are like an encyclopaedia, Star Trek Next Generation, Basic Instinct and Omen IV even since 2000 he has still scored for about a dozen films.

The film runs for about 1hr. 50mins and is in Cinemascope and colour.

For me this is one of those films where I can watch it over and over. Although I have seen the film many times, there are so many features that keep your mind engaged. As mentioned before there is stunning scenery, a fair amount of battle scenes, and also a welcome dash of comedy. I have always thought of Sinatra as a singer but there are several of his performances as actor that really come through.