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 ... Read review
As the Allies begin to push the Nazis back toward Germany, U.S. combat pilot Colonel ... more
Joseph Ryan (Sinatra) is shot down and placed in a prison camp. Initially, he's more concerned with surviving than escaping, earning him the insulting nickname, Von Ryan. But in time, Ryan takes over from the commanding British officer (Trevor Howard) and masterminds a daredevil race for freedom that involves commandeering a train and getting it across Italy to Switzerland with the Nazis in hot pursuit.Then it's all blazing action, hair-raising chases and spectacular Italian scenery in this Oscar-nominated adventure that runs full speed until the nail-biting finale!
Frank Sinatra Busts Loose And Outsmarts The Nazis! As the Allies begin to push the Nazis ... more
back toward Germany U.S. combat pilot Col. Joseph Ryan (Sinatra) is shot down and placed in a prison camp. Initially he's more concerned with surviving than escaping earning him the insulting nickname "Von Ryan." But in time Ryan takes over from the commanding British officer (Trevor Howard) and masterminds a daredevil race for freedom that involves commandeering a train and getting it across Italy to Switzerland with the Nazis in hot pursuit. Then it's all blazing action hair-raising chases and spectacular Italian scenery in this Oscar-nominated adventure that runs full speed until the nail-biting finale!
Postage & Packaging:£0.00 Availability:3-5 working days
This limited edition film cell presentation features a photograph and strip of hand ... more
selected original 35mm film from Frank Sinatra, Trevor Howard&John Leyton movie Von Ryan's Express. The collection has a black mount with black frame, an individually numbered plaque and certificate of authenticity.
Postage & Packaging:£2.95 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Production Year: 1956 - War - Director: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Bernard Lee, Ian Hunter, Kenneth More, John Gregson, Anthony Quayle, Peter Finch
Production Year: 1970 - War - Director: Brian G. Hutton - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Clint Eastwood, Telly Savalas, Carroll O'Connor, Donald Sutherland, Don Rickles, Gavin MacLeod
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 ... ...of keeping with the 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 ... more
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 however is a little bit out of keeping with the 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.
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 ...
oclumhain 04.03.2001
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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 ...
zoma 25.02.2008
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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, VonRyan'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 by ...
"VonRyan'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 ...
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 VonRyan, 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. VonRyan 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 ...
The thrilling VON RYAN'S EXPRESS stars Frank Sinatra as a POW colonel who leads a daring escape from Nazi Germany by taking over a freight train, but he has to win over the British soldiers he finds himself commanding. Excellent performances by the great Trevor Howard and Luther Adler highlight this fast-paced picture directed by Mark Robson (PEYTON PLACE, THE HARDER THEY FALL).
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