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The Train (1964)
The Train (1964)
Director: John Frankenheimer
Writers: Franklin Coen & Frank Davis (screen play)
Cast: Burt Lancaster, Paul Scofield, Jeanne Moreau
Genre: War-Thriller
I thought Burt Lancaster was well suited for the role, he had just enough grit, with a lot of weariness in his face to be believable. By far one of the most visual impressive scenes is when he's high on a hill side running to catch the train so he can blow the tracks up. He must be a couple of hundred up on this very steep hillside when he does this running sliding scene all the way down? Damn impressive and that's really Burt Lancaster doing the stunt. Before acting he had worked in a circus as an acrobat.
French actress Jeanne Moreau was a nice addition as the local hotel owner who puts up Burt Lancaster in her hotel. Later she had a decision to make does she tell the Nazi's the truth about Lancaster sabotage or does she provide an alibi to save his neck?
Oh did I mention the real train crashes they staged for the movie! Impressive! you won't see that in a modern CG movie. The Train has it all.
Writers: Franklin Coen & Frank Davis (screen play)
Cast: Burt Lancaster, Paul Scofield, Jeanne Moreau
Genre: War-Thriller
During WWII in occupied France towards the end of the war in 1944, a German Colonel receives orders to load the collection of fine French art treasures into a train and send it back to Berlin. The French Resistances learns of this and decides to stop the train to save France's national heritage. They must do this before the train leaves French soil and without damaging the priceless art that the train carries. CR
That lead photo of Burt Lancaster blasting on a machine gun doesn't do this intricate film justices. The Train, is so much more than just action and danger, though it does have plenty of that and done up right! At the heart of this fine film by renowned film maker John Frankenheimer is a true story of brave men who went against the odds, risking and losing their lives all for the sake of saving art. Yes this really happened and the film not only shows the thrills it gives us insights into just how hard it was for the French Resistances to operate. We learn that the Nazis take any act of sabotage by the French as treason and will round up innocent civilians and execute them in cold blood on the streets, so as to send a message to the population.
In the film we see the men and women of the resistances and learn of their bleak existences as freedom fighters. The main pay off is their master plan to stop the 'art train'.
In the film we see the men and women of the resistances and learn of their bleak existences as freedom fighters. The main pay off is their master plan to stop the 'art train'.
I thought Burt Lancaster was well suited for the role, he had just enough grit, with a lot of weariness in his face to be believable. By far one of the most visual impressive scenes is when he's high on a hill side running to catch the train so he can blow the tracks up. He must be a couple of hundred up on this very steep hillside when he does this running sliding scene all the way down? Damn impressive and that's really Burt Lancaster doing the stunt. Before acting he had worked in a circus as an acrobat.
French actress Jeanne Moreau was a nice addition as the local hotel owner who puts up Burt Lancaster in her hotel. Later she had a decision to make does she tell the Nazi's the truth about Lancaster sabotage or does she provide an alibi to save his neck?
Oh did I mention the real train crashes they staged for the movie! Impressive! you won't see that in a modern CG movie. The Train has it all.