Von Ryan's Express (DVD)

Advantages: Gentle, easy going
Disadvantages:

Pretty routine world war 2 war epic that's just a little bit too far out but does allow Frank Sinatra to spread his wings and actually turn in a decent performance. Storywise the setup is a little contrived (Frank ends up being in head prisoner honcho in an Italian POW camp in less than 5 minutes) but it never has any real slow or dull points (and no slushy romantic sub-plot thank God). In fact the time passes pretty quickly truth be told. The ending ...
...time and industry (and I'm not giving it away so don't worry) and it's a nice little twist on a not outstanding (but not bad) story. The cast are good and it's obvious the Sinatra is the star (even if he's not the most accomplished of actors), but he gets good support and they do work well together. This is pretty predictable fodder and doesn't do anything really unexpected but as a Sunday afternoon filler then it can't be beaten. ... Read review

Advantages: good action movie
Disadvantages: --

This is the first film that I ever watched in which the main character was killed. (I first saw it as a child.) The final scene has Sinatra gunned down as he is stretching out his hand to be pulled up into the back of the train. You are watching willing him on, hoping that the outstretched hands of his comrades will meet his. They don't and they are left watching as the train continues on with him receding further and further into the distance lying ...
...of Allied POWs led by Sinatra trying to escape to freedom. They nearly get caught out several times. One time that particularly sticks in my mind is where Sinatra's pilot watch becomes the attention of a German who attempts to barter with him for it. Of course, Sinatra's character speaks no German and he is getting ever more tense as the scene goes on. He is eventually rescued by one of his colleagues who does speak German. As far as I remember ... Read review

From the beloved best-selling series of books comes %u201CThe Spiderwick Chronicles,%u201D a fantasy adventure for the child in all of us. Peculiar things start to happen the moment the Grace family (Jared, his twin brother Simon, sister Mallory and their mom) leave New York and move into the secluded. really great zoma

Advantages: clear explanation of what happened during the war
Disadvantages: none

...A moving film, I enjoyed this even though generally i'm not into war. All charachters were clearly explained and the story line easy to follow. Brilliant casting Frank Sinatra as Von Ryan, he seemed to bring the character to life, very believable. He masterminds an escape plan and takes over from a British Officer who originally planned the escape. The scenery is amazing, it was shot on location in Italy. The other actors cast excellent. Nazi's were very criminal trying to foil the escape plans. Von Ryan comes up with a plan to board a train carrying Nazi troops, to get to the Italian borders. It was nominated for an oscar and its easy to see why. Frank Sinatra gives an excellent performance... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average not helpful

Advantages: Suspense, Thrills, Humour
Disadvantages: None

..."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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great action sequences
Disadvantages: Slow to start, but gethers pace nicely

...Based on a novel by David Wertheimer, with a story not related to any factual or historic event, Von Ryan's Express stars Frank Sinatra and Trevor Howard and tells the story of survival against the odds in a war torn Europe. Released in 1965, Sinatra plays Colonel Joseph Ryan, a smart thinking American Pilot who after getting shot down by the Italian Army is sent to an Italian run Prisoner of War camp for what is expected to be the remainder of the war. Upon arrival Ryan is immediately made the head of the Allied prisoners as he holds the highest rank. Here Ryan meets with the Camp Commander and through negotiation surrenders information on the escape tunnel that is secretly being built for receipt of supplies such as Soap, Food and clothes which immediately improves the quality of life. Up till Ryan arrived, Major Fincham, played... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful