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{{Short description|Adventure film set in World War II}}
{{Short description|1965 film by Mark Robson}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name          = Von Ryan's Express
| name          = Von Ryan's Express
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| editing        = [[Dorothy Spencer]]
| editing        = [[Dorothy Spencer]]
| distributor    = [[20th Century Fox]]
| distributor    = [[20th Century Fox]]
| released      = June 23, 1965
| released      = {{Film date|1965|06|23}}
| runtime        = 117 minutes
| runtime        = 117 minutes
| language      = English/Italian
| language      = English/Italian/German
| country        = United States
| country        = United States
| budget        = $5.76 million<ref>Solomon, Aubrey. ''Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series)''. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989. {{ISBN|978-0-8108-4244-1}}. p254</ref>
| budget        = $5.76 million<ref>{{cite book| last=Solomon| first=Aubrey| title=Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series)| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WIZwZOz8LHsC&q=Twentieth+Century+Fox:+A+Corporate+and+Financial+History| location=Lanham, Maryland| publisher=Scarecrow Press| year=1989| isbn=978-0-8108-4244-1| page=254| url-access=subscription}}</ref>
| gross          = $17.1 million<ref name="numbers">{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1965/0VREX.php|publisher=The Numbers|title=Von Ryan's Express, Box Office Information|access-date=January 22, 2022}}</ref>
| gross          = $17.1 million<ref name="numbers">{{cite web| url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1965/0VREX.php| website=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]]| title=Von Ryan's Express, Box Office Information| access-date=January 22, 2013}}</ref>
}}
}}


'''''Von Ryan's Express''''' is a 1965 [[World War II]] [[adventure film]] starring [[Frank Sinatra]], [[Trevor Howard]], and [[Raffaella Carrà]], and directed by [[Mark Robson (film director)|Mark Robson]]. Produced in [[CinemaScope]], the film depicts a group of [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] prisoners of war ([[POW]]s) who conduct a daring escape by hijacking the freight train carrying the POWs and fleeing through [[Italian Social Republic|German-occupied Italy]] to [[Switzerland]]. Based on the 1964 novel by [[David Westheimer]], the film changes several aspects of the novel, most notably the ending, which is considerably more upbeat in the book. Financially, it became one of Sinatra's most successful films.
'''''Von Ryan's Express''''' is a 1965 [[World War II]] [[adventure film]] starring [[Frank Sinatra]], [[Trevor Howard]], and [[Raffaella Carrà]], and directed by [[Mark Robson (film director)|Mark Robson]]. Produced in [[CinemaScope]], the film depicts a group of [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] prisoners of war ([[POW]]s) who attempt a daring escape by hijacking a freight train carrying Allied POWs, and then taking the train through [[Italian Social Republic|German-occupied Italy]] towards neutral [[Switzerland]]. Based on the 1964 novel by [[David Westheimer]], the film changes several aspects of the novel, most notably the ending, which is considerably more upbeat in the book. Financially, it became one of Sinatra's most successful films.


==Plot==
==Plot==
Colonel Joseph Ryan, a [[United States Army Air Forces|USAAF]] [[P-38]] pilot, is shot down over Italy and taken to a POW camp. Ryan insists that the camp commander, Major Basilio Battaglia salute him as a superior officer, which the sympathetic second-in-command, Captain Vittorio Oriani, translates. Most prisoners are British from the 9th [[Fusilier#United Kingdom|Fusiliers]]. Their previous commanding officer recently died due to being placed in the "sweat box" as punishment for hitting Battaglia. Major Eric Fincham is the senior British officer until Ryan, being senior, arrives and assumes command.
In 1943 Colonel Joseph Ryan, a [[United States Army Air Forces|USAAF]] fighter pilot, is shot down over Italy and taken to a POW camp run by the [[National Fascist Party|Fascist]] camp commander, Major Basilio Battaglia, and his sympathetic second-in-command, Captain Vittorio Oriani. Most prisoners are from the British 9th [[Fusilier#United Kingdom|Fusiliers]] whose commanding officer recently died after being placed in a "[[Box (torture)|sweat box]]" as punishment for hitting Battaglia. Ryan becomes the most senior Allied officer in the camp, and automatically assumes command of the POWs, replacing Major Eric Fincham, the senior British officer.


Italy is close to surrender, and Ryan declines to support Fincham's escape attempts. When Fincham captures American prisoners stealing medical supplies from a British secret hoard, Ryan orders Fincham to distribute the medicines to the seriously ill prisoners.
Friction develops between Ryan and Fincham. Ryan declines to support Fincham's escape attempts because Italy is close to [[Fall of the Fascist regime in Italy|surrender]], he orders Fincham to distribute [[Red Cross]] medical supplies to the seriously ill prisoners after American prisoners are caught stealing medicine from a secret British hoard, and he reveals an escape plan to Battaglia in exchange for better treatment of the prisoners.


He infuriates Fincham by revealing an escape plan to Battaglia in exchange for prisoners being treated better. When Battaglia refuses to issue new clothing, Ryan orders prisoners to strip and burn their filthy uniforms. Battaglia throws Ryan into the sweat box as punishment.
Battaglia refuses to issue new clothing, Ryan orders prisoners to strip and burn their filthy uniforms. Battaglia throws Ryan into the sweat box as punishment. After [[Armistice of Cassibile|Italy surrenders]], the camp guards flee. Ryan is freed and discovers the British are putting Battaglia on trial as a [[war criminal]]. Ryan steps in to save Battaglia from execution, instead sentencing him to his own sweat box.


When Italy [[Armistice of Cassibile|surrenders]], the guards flee; the British promptly try Battaglia as a [[war criminal]]. He portrays himself as a broken man who has repudiated fascism. Rather than executing him, Ryan sentences him to the sweat box.
A German fighter plane overflies the camp, forcing the POWs to flee into the Italian countryside. Captain Oriani agrees to make contact with Allied forces on their behalf but the Germans recapture the prisoners and force them into train [[covered goods wagon|boxcars]]. Fincham assumes Oriani betrayed them until he is found severely beaten on board. The freed Battaglia comes to gloat at their misfortune. Before leaving, the Germans shoot all the sick prisoners. Fincham blames Ryan for letting Battaglia live, and derogatively calls him "''[[von]]'' Ryan".


A German fighter plane overflies the camp, forcing Ryan and the men to flee into the Italian countryside with Oriani's help. They hide out in some ruins while Ryan attempts to contact Allied forces. The next morning, the Germans recapture the prisoners and load them onto a northbound train. Fincham assumes Oriani betrayed them until he is found severely battered aboard the train's prisoner carriage. The Germans then shoot all ill prisoners. Fincham blames Ryan for letting Battaglia live, and derogatively calls him "''[[von]]'' Ryan". The train travels to Rome, where a German officer, Major von Klemment, takes command.
Major von Klemment, takes command of the prisoner transport. As the train heads toward northern Italy, Ryan, Fincham, and Lieutenant Orde escape their car and free some POWs, who kill the remaining guards and take their uniforms as a disguise. Ryan and Fincham find von Klemment and his Italian mistress, Gabriella, in the command car. Von Klemment reveals a German troop train is on the same schedule and he is expected to stop in [[Firenze Santa Maria Novella railway station|Florence]] to receive new orders. To get through the station, German-speaking British chaplain, Captain Costanzo, impersonates the German commander with Fincham and Ryan dressed as German soldiers. The orders show that both trains are headed to [[Innsbruck]], Austria. Using a forged typewritten order, the prisoners switch their train onto a different line at [[Bologna]] while the troop train continues toward Innsbruck. Ryan, still dressed as a German soldier, is forced to shoot Von Klemment and Gabriella after they escape from the train. Her death disgusts the Italian civilians who see Ryan as a Nazi.


Ryan pries up the railcar floorboards. That night, when the train stops, Ryan, Fincham, and Lt. Orde sneak out and kill several guards. They free a boxcar load of POWs, who help them kill the remaining guards whose uniforms they then don as a disguise. Ryan and Fincham capture von Klemment and his mistress, Gabriella. As the train moves out, another train follows. Von Klemment reveals that the second train is carrying German troops and is on the same schedule. Further, von Klemment is to receive orders at each railway station. A German-speaking American chaplain, Captain Costanzo, impersonates the German commander to ensure their passage through the next station in [[Florence]].
The German High Command discovers the train has been diverted, while the train is caught in an Allied bombing raid, killing three prisoners and wounding sixty. Oriani and the train's Italian engineer tell Ryan and Fincham their only option is to reroute the train at [[Milan]] to [[Switzerland during the world wars|neutral Switzerland]]. However, [[Waffen-SS|SS troops]] have set up an ambush. The prisoners capture a signal box and reroute the train.


Through documents received in Florence, they learn that both trains are headed towards [[Innsbruck]], Austria. Through trickery and a quickly forged typewritten order, the prisoners switch their train onto a different line at [[Bologna]]. The troop train continues on toward Innsbruck. Von Klemment and Gabriella are kept bound and gagged, but they escape at a stop, killing Orde. Both are shot by Ryan and the train proceeds.
In the [[Italian Alps]] just before the Swiss border, rockets from a [[Nord Pingouin|German aircraft]] topple boulders onto the track. SS troops in another train  catch up as the prisoners clear and repair the track. Ryan and Fincham lead a group of POWs in holding them off until the train can move again. Ryan is killed as Fincham and the surviving POWs departs for the safety of Switzerland.
 
Later, German commanders learn of the train's diversion and begin queries. That night the train stops at what is thought to be a clearing and the men get off to head for safety; aircraft, which Ryan identifies as [[Lancaster bombers]] appear overhead and begin bombing the area. Ryan orders everyone back on the train. The train restarts and passes an [[Oil terminal|oil storage]] yard being bombed by the Allied aircraft. Several cars catch fire, and the train must stop to aid wounded and release burning boxcars.
 
With three dead and some sixty wounded, Oriani and the train's Italian engineer tell Ryan and Finchum that the only option is to reroute the train at [[Milan]] to neutral Switzerland. [[Waffen-SS]] troops, led by Colonel Gortz, have discovered the earlier ruse and await the train, but are slowed when Oriani and the men disable a signal box at Milan, knocking out the track diagrams inside the control center. The prisoners reroute the train northwest through manual switching and drive straight through without stopping.
 
When the train diagrams are finally reactivated, Gortz realizes he has been outmaneuvered and leads troops in pursuit. As the [[Alps]] appear, the prisoner train is attacked by German aircraft, rocket fire collapsing boulders onto a section of track. The POWs replace the damaged rail and then pry loose more rail behind them in hopes of overturning the approaching German train, but the Germans see the sabotage and stop in time.  As the Germans race up from behind, Ryan, Fincham, and others stay behind to hold them off, but many are killed in the battle, including Bostick. The prisoner train moves out as the men run for the moving rear platform with the Germans in pursuit. Most make it onto the train, but Ryan is killed by gunfire still running for the train as it approaches Switzerland.


==Cast==
==Cast==
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* [[Sergio Fantoni]] as Capt. Oriani
* [[Sergio Fantoni]] as Capt. Oriani
* [[John Leyton]] as Lt. Orde
* [[John Leyton]] as Lt. Orde
* [[Edward Mulhare]] as Capt. Costanzo, the priest
* [[Edward Mulhare]] as Capt. Costanzo, the chaplain
* [[Wolfgang Preiss]] as Maj. von Klemment
* [[Wolfgang Preiss]] as Maj. von Klemment
* [[James Brolin]] as Private Ames
* [[James Brolin]] as Private Ames
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* [[Richard Bakalyan]] as Cpl. Giannini
* [[Richard Bakalyan]] as Cpl. Giannini
* [[Michael Goodliffe]] as Capt. Stein
* [[Michael Goodliffe]] as Capt. Stein
* Michael St. Clair as Sgt. Dunbar
* [[Michael St. Clair]] as Sgt. Dunbar
* [[Ivan Triesault]] as Obergruppenfuhrer Wilhelm von Kleist
* [[Ivan Triesault]] as Obergruppenfuhrer Wilhelm von Kleist
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}
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===Original novel===
===Original novel===
The novel was published in 1963. The novelist David Westheimer had been a [[Prisoner of war|POW]] during World War II. He witnessed the bombing of [[Bolzano]] in 1943 from a box car.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Books and Authors: Military Held a Culprit Projected Challenges Derring-Do Movie Book Reissued|date=Dec 20, 1963|work=New York Times|page=27}}</ref> Martin Levin, reviewing the book for the ''[[New York Times]]'', said the novel "has everything for the screen but the camera directions."<ref>{{Cite news|title=A Reader's Report|author=MARTIN LEVIN.|date=Jan 12, 1964|work=New York Times|page=BR24}}</ref>
The novel was published in 1963. The novelist David Westheimer had been a [[Prisoner of war|POW]] during World War II. He witnessed the bombing of [[Bolzano]] in 1943 from a box car.<ref>{{cite news| title=Books and Authors: Military Held a Culprit Projected Challenges Derring-Do Movie Book Reissued| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/12/20/archives/books-and-authors-military-held-a-culprit-projected-challenges.html| date=December 20, 1963| newspaper=The New York Times| page=27| url-access=subscription}}</ref> Martin Levin, reviewing the book for ''[[The New York Times]]'', said the novel "has everything for the screen but the camera directions."<ref>{{cite news| title=A Reader's Report| first=Martin| last=Levin| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/01/12/archives/a-readers-report.html| date=January 12, 1964| newspaper=The New York Times| page=BR24| url-access=subscription}}</ref>


===Development===
===Development===
The novel was a best seller and film rights were bought by 20th Century Fox for a reported $125,000.<ref>{{Cite news|title='Von Ryan's Express' Will Star Sinatra: Robson to Produce War Story; Taylor as 'Young Cassidy'|author=Hopper, Hedda|date=Apr 16, 1964|work=Los Angeles Times|page=C8}}</ref> The studio assigned Saul David to produce and [[Mark Robson (film director)|Mark Robson]] to direct. Robson had intended to make ''The Centurians'', but this was delayed when his chosen star, [[Anthony Quinn]], was unavailable.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Robson Will Drive Von Ryan's Express: 'Dice of God' to Get Shake; Image of Latins Challenged|author=Scheuer, Philip K.|work=Los Angeles Times|date=12 Mar 1964|page=C11}}</ref> Frank Sinatra had read the novel and wanted to buy the film rights himself; when he heard they had been lost to Fox, he offered his services for the lead role.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sinatra Swings Upward|author=PETER BART HOLLYWOOD.|date=Apr 18, 1965|work=New York Times|page=X9}}</ref>
The novel was a best seller and 20th Century Fox bought the film rights for a reported $125,000.<ref>{{cite news| title='Von Ryan's Express' Will Star Sinatra: Robson to Produce War Story; Taylor as 'Young Cassidy'| url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-von-ryans-express/132427997/| author=Hopper, Hedda| date=April 16, 1964| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| page=C8| url-access=subscription}}</ref> The studio assigned Saul David to produce and [[Mark Robson (film director)|Mark Robson]] to direct. Robson had intended to make ''The Centurians'', but this was delayed when his chosen star, [[Anthony Quinn]], was unavailable.<ref>{{cite news| title=Robson Will Drive Von Ryan's Express: 'Dice of God' to Get Shake; Image of Latins Challenged| url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-von-ryans-express/132428213/| author=Scheuer, Philip K.| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=March 12, 1964| page=C11| url-access=subscription}}</ref> Frank Sinatra had read the novel and wanted to buy the film rights himself; when he heard they had been lost to Fox, he offered his services for the lead role.<ref>{{cite news| title=Sinatra Swings Upward| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/04/18/archives/sinatra-swings-upward.html| first=Peter| last=Bart| author-link=Peter Bart| date=April 18, 1965| newspaper=The New York Times| page=X9| url-access=subscription}}</ref>


''Von Ryan's Express'' was a project keenly undertaken by [[20th Century Fox]], which was still financially reeling after the extravagance and critical bashing of ''[[Cleopatra (1963 film)|Cleopatra]]''. Fox, in a bid to prove that they were still able to make films on an epic scale, shot extensively on location in Europe and built a full-scale prison camp as opposed to shooting on a [[backlot]]. It was producer [[Saul David (producer)|Saul David]]'s first film for Fox. He followed it with ''[[Our Man Flint]]'', ''[[Fantastic Voyage]]'', and ''[[In Like Flint]]''.
''Von Ryan's Express'' was a project keenly undertaken by [[20th Century Fox]], which was still financially reeling after the extravagance and critical bashing of ''[[Cleopatra (1963 film)|Cleopatra]]''. Fox, in a bid to prove that they were still able to make films on an epic scale, shot extensively on location in Europe and built a full-scale prison camp as opposed to shooting on a [[backlot]]. It was producer [[Saul David (producer)|Saul David]]'s first film for Fox. He followed it with ''[[Our Man Flint]]'', ''[[Fantastic Voyage]]'', and ''[[In Like Flint]]''.


===Shooting===
===Filming===
Rumours of a [[personality clash]] between star [[Frank Sinatra]], who was flown by helicopter to the set, and director [[Mark Robson (film director)|Mark Robson]] were not enough to cause problems as the film was shot with relatively little trouble. However, Sinatra did insist that the ending of the film be altered, ending any chance of a sequel. Sinatra also insisted the film be shot in [[Panavision]] rather than Fox's [[CinemaScope]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.widescreenmuseum.com/Widescreen/wingcs8.htm |title=The CinemaScope Wing 8 |website=The American WideScreen Museum |access-date=2014-03-25}}</ref>
Rumours of a [[personality clash]] between star [[Frank Sinatra]], who was flown by helicopter to the set, and director [[Mark Robson (film director)|Mark Robson]] were not enough to cause problems as the film was shot with relatively little trouble. However, Sinatra did insist that the ending of the film be altered, ending any chance of a sequel. Sinatra also insisted the film be shot in [[Panavision]] rather than Fox's [[CinemaScope]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.widescreenmuseum.com/widescreen/wingcs8.htm |title=The CinemaScope Wing 8 |website=The American WideScreen Museum |access-date=2014-03-25}}</ref>


The film score was written by [[Jerry Goldsmith]].<ref>Clemmensen, Christian. [http://www.filmtracks.com/composers/goldsmith.shtml Jerry Goldsmith (1929–2004) tribute] at [[Filmtracks.com]]. Retrieved 2011-04-14.</ref>
The film score was written by [[Jerry Goldsmith]].<ref>Clemmensen, Christian. [http://www.filmtracks.com/composers/goldsmith.shtml "Jerry Goldsmith (1929–2004) tribute"]. ''[[Filmtracks.com]]''. Retrieved 2011-04-14.</ref>


[[File:Pasarelas sobre la vía del tren.jpg|thumb|The railway bridge in 2015.]]
[[File:Pasarelas sobre la vía del tren.jpg|thumb|The railway bridge in 2015.]]
''Von Ryan's Express'' achieved [[Verisimilitude (narrative)|reality]] using aircraft, trains and wheeled vehicles photographed on location along with the occasional model. The aircraft alluded to as ''Messerschmitts'' were indeed [[Messerschmitt Bf 108]]s. A majority of the film was shot on location around [[Northern Italy]] in [[Cortina d'Ampezzo]] and [[Firenze Santa Maria Novella railway station]] in [[Florence]] (in reality is [[Roma Ostiense railway station]]<ref>[http://www.reelstreets.com/films/von-ryans-express/ Reelstreets – Von Ryan's Express]</ref>). The [[Ferrovie dello Stato]]/Italian State Railway closely cooperated on the production, as reflected in the film's closing acknowledgment credit, providing a complete train headed by the specially-bulled up [[FS Class 735]].236. The train which the Nazis commandeer to pursue the escaping POWs is headed by a [[Franco-Crosti boiler]]-fitted Class 743.
''Von Ryan's Express'' achieved [[Verisimilitude (narrative)|reality]] using aircraft, trains, and wheeled vehicles photographed on location along with the occasional model. The aircraft alluded to as ''Messerschmitts'' were indeed [[Messerschmitt Bf 108]]s. A majority of the film was shot on location around [[Northern Italy]] in [[Cortina d'Ampezzo]] and [[Firenze Santa Maria Novella railway station]] in [[Florence]] (in reality is [[Roma Ostiense railway station]]<ref>[http://www.reelstreets.com/films/von-ryans-express/ "Von Ryan's Express"]. ''Reelstreets''. Accessed September 25, 2023.</ref>). The [[Ferrovie dello Stato]]/Italian State Railway closely cooperated on the production, as reflected in the film's closing acknowledgment credit, providing a complete train headed by the specially-bulled up [[FS Class 735]].236. The train which the Nazis commandeer to pursue the escaping POWs is headed by a [[Franco-Crosti boiler]]-fitted Class 743.


The railway sequence at the film's conclusion, however, was shot in the [[Caminito del Rey]] walkway in the limestone gorge of [[El Chorro]] and in the adjacent railway bridge, near [[Málaga]] in [[Andalucía]], Spain.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=GnaTOvs0Ek0C&lpg=PT596&dq=von%20ryan's%20express%20spain&pg=PT596#v=onepage&q&f=false Travel Andalusia, Spain]</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/cjcZGvytKaU Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20170208161241/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjcZGvytKaU Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjcZGvytKaU&t=3m26s| title = Historia del Caminito del Rey | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> This switch from filming in Italy was probably done as the bridge looked more suitably attractive for presenting the final set piece than anything that could be found on the Italian rail network. The train featuring in these sequences was laid on by the '''RENFE'''/Spanish National Railways and altered to resemble the Italy-based train. Interiors were completed at 20th Century Fox Studios in Los Angeles. The POW camp (Campo Concentramento Prigioneri di Guerra 202) was also built in the front lot of the Studios.<ref>Saul, David. ''The Industry''. Times Books, 1981. {{ISBN|0-8129-0971-2}}. p103,158,159</ref>
The railway sequence at the film's conclusion, however, was shot in the [[Caminito del Rey]] walkway in the limestone gorge of [[El Chorro]] and in the adjacent railway bridge, near [[Málaga]] in [[Andalucía]], Spain.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=GnaTOvs0Ek0C&dq=von%20ryan's%20express%20spain&pg=PT596 "Travel Andalusia, Spain"].{{dead link|date=September 2023}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/cjcZGvytKaU Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20170208161241/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjcZGvytKaU Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjcZGvytKaU&t=3m26s| title=Historia del Caminito del Rey| website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> This switch from filming in Italy was probably done as the bridge looked more suitably attractive for presenting the final set piece than anything that could be found on the Italian rail network. The train featuring in these sequences was laid on by the '''RENFE'''/Spanish National Railways and altered to resemble the Italy-based train. Interiors were completed at 20th Century Fox Studios in Los Angeles. The POW camp (Campo Concentramento Prigioneri di Guerra 202) was also built in the front lot of the Studios.<ref>{{cite book| last=Saul| first=David| title=The Industry: life in the Hollywood fast lane| publisher=Times Books| location=New York City| year=1981| url=https://archive.org/details/industrylifeinho0000davi/page/102/mode/2up?q=von+ryan%27s+express| isbn=978-0-8129-0971-5| pages=103, 158, 159| url-access=registration}}</ref>


==Reception==
==Reception==
===Critical===
===Critical===
Critics liked ''Von Ryan's Express''. ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' noted, "Mark Robson has made realistic use of the actual Italian setting of the David Westheimer novel in garmenting his action in hard-hitting direction and sharply drawn performances."<ref>[https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117796156.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0 Von Ryan's Express] at ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''</ref> Frank Sinatra's daughter [[Nancy Sinatra|Nancy]] noted in her biography of her father that his performance fuelled speculation of another [[Academy Award]] nomination. ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]'' London called the film a "ripping adventure" that was "directed with amused panache by Robson, and helped no end by a fine cast...",<ref>[https://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/63096/von_ryans_express.html Von Ryan's Express] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626032735/http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/63096/von_ryans_express.html |date=2009-06-26 }} at ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]''</ref> while the [[BBC]]'s TV, film and radio listings magazine ''[[The Radio Times]]'' described it as "a rattlingly exciting Second World War escape adventure, with a well-cast Frank Sinatra..."<ref>[http://www.radiotimes.com/servlet_film/com.icl.beeb.rtfilms.client.simpleSearchServlet?frn=17222&searchTypeSelect=5 Von Ryan's Express] at ''[[The Radio Times]]''</ref>
Critics liked ''Von Ryan's Express''. ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' noted, "Mark Robson has made realistic use of the actual Italian setting of the David Westheimer novel in garmenting his action in hard-hitting direction and sharply drawn performances."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://variety.com/1964/film/reviews/von-ryan-s-express-1200420702/| title=Von Ryan's Express| magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]| date=December 31, 1964}}</ref> Frank Sinatra's daughter [[Nancy Sinatra|Nancy]] noted in her biography of her father that his performance fuelled speculation of another [[Academy Award]] nomination. ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]'' London called the film a "ripping adventure" that was "directed with amused panache by Robson, and helped no end by a fine cast...",<ref>{{cite magazine| url=https://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/63096/von_ryans_express.html| title=Von Ryan's Express| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626032735/http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/63096/von_ryans_express.html| archive-date=2009-06-26| magazine=Time Out}}</ref> while the [[BBC]]'s TV, film and radio listings magazine ''[[The Radio Times]]'' described it as "a rattlingly exciting Second World War escape adventure, with a well-cast Frank Sinatra..."<ref>[http://www.radiotimes.com/servlet_film/com.icl.beeb.rtfilms.client.simpleSearchServlet?frn=17222&searchTypeSelect=5 "Von Ryan's Express"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524052735/http://www.radiotimes.com/servlet_film/com.icl.beeb.rtfilms.client.simpleSearchServlet?searchTypeSelect=5&frn=17222 |date=2011-05-24 }}. ''[[The Radio Times]]''.</ref>
 
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|90||21||ref=yes}}


===Box office===
===Box office===
The film grossed $17,111,111<ref name="numbers"/> (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|17111111|1965|r=0}}}} in {{#expr:{{CURRENTYEAR}}-1}} consumer dollars) at the North American box office, equating to $7,700,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|7700000|1965|r=0}}}} in {{#expr:{{CURRENTYEAR}}-1}} consumer dollars) taken in box office rentals. ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' ranked ''Von Ryan's Express'' as the 10th-highest-grossing film of 1965. Additionally, this was Sinatra's highest-grossing and biggest-earning film of the decade.
The film grossed $17,111,111<ref name="numbers"/> (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|17111111|1965|r=0}}}} in {{inflation/year|US}} consumer dollars) at the North American box office, equating to $7,700,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|7700000|1965|r=0}}}} in {{inflation/year|US}} consumer dollars) taken in box office rentals. ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' ranked ''Von Ryan's Express'' as the 10th-highest-grossing film of 1965. Additionally, this was Sinatra's highest-grossing and biggest-earning film of the decade.


According to Fox records, the film needed to earn $12,600,000 in rentals to break even and made over $17,000,000, meaning it made a profit.<ref>{{cite book|page=[https://archive.org/details/foxthatgotawayt00silv/page/324 324]|title=The Fox that got away : the last days of the Zanuck dynasty at Twentieth Century-Fox|url=https://archive.org/details/foxthatgotawayt00silv|url-access=registration|last=Silverman|first=Stephen M|year=1988|publisher=L. Stuart|isbn=9780818404856}}</ref>
According to Fox records, the film needed to earn $12,600,000 in rentals to break even and made over $17,000,000, meaning it made a profit.<ref>{{cite book| page=[https://archive.org/details/foxthatgotawayt00silv/page/324 324]| title=The Fox that got away: the last days of the Zanuck dynasty at Twentieth Century-Fox| url=https://archive.org/details/foxthatgotawayt00silv| url-access=registration| last=Silverman| first=Stephen M.| year=1988| publisher=L. Stuart| isbn=978-0-8184-0485-6}}</ref>


===Awards===
===Awards===
The film was nominated for a [[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Best Sound Editing]] ([[Walter Rossi]]) Academy Award in 1966,<ref name="Oscars1966">{{cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1966 |title=The 38th Academy Awards (1966) Nominees and Winners |access-date=2014-03-15|work=oscars.org}}</ref> while the [[Motion Picture Sound Editors]] also nominated the film for Best Sound Editing in a Feature Film.
The film was nominated for a [[Academy Award for Best Sound Editing|Best Sound Editing]] ([[Walter Rossi (sound editor)|Walter Rossi]]) Academy Award in [[38th Academy Awards|1966]],<ref name="Oscars1966">{{cite web| url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1966| title=The 38th Academy Awards (1966) Nominees and Winners| website=AMPAS| access-date=September 25, 2023}}</ref> while the [[Motion Picture Sound Editors]] also nominated the film for Best Sound Editing in a Feature Film.


British [[Channel 4]] ranked ''Von Ryan's Express'' number 89 on their list of 100 Greatest War Films, commenting, "A ripping yarn culminating in a wild train dash through [Italy], with director Mark Robson cranking up the tension and releasing it with some excellent action set-pieces."<ref>[http://www.channel4.com/film/newsfeatures/microsites/W/greatest_warfilms/results/90-86.html 100 Greatest War Films of all time]</ref> It has a 90% fresh rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] from 20 reviews.
British [[Channel 4]] ranked ''Von Ryan's Express'' number 89 on their list of 100 Greatest War Films, commenting, "A ripping yarn culminating in a wild train dash through [Italy], with director Mark Robson cranking up the tension and releasing it with some excellent action set-pieces."<ref>[http://www.channel4.com/film/newsfeatures/microsites/W/greatest_warfilms/results/90-86.html "100 Greatest War Films of all time"]. Channel 4. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080212105434/http://www.channel4.com/film/newsfeatures/microsites/W/greatest_warfilms/results/90-86.html |date=2008-02-12 }}</ref> It has a 90% rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] from 20 reviews.


==See also==
==See also==
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==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb title| 0059885 }}
* {{IMDb title| 0059885 }}
* {{AllMovie title| 53017 }}
* {{TCMDb title| 94915 }}
* {{TCMDb title| 94915 }}
* {{AFI film|22801}}
* {{AFI film|22801}}
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[[Category:1965 war films]]
[[Category:1965 war films]]
[[Category:American war films]]
[[Category:American war films]]
[[Category:World War II films based on actual events]]
[[Category:World War II prisoner of war films]]
[[Category:World War II prisoner of war films]]
[[Category:Films about shot-down aviators]]
[[Category:Films about shot-down aviators]]
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[[Category:Films directed by Mark Robson]]
[[Category:Films directed by Mark Robson]]
[[Category:Films set in Italy]]
[[Category:Films set in Italy]]
[[Category:Italian Campaign of World War II films]]
[[Category:Films about the Italian campaign (World War II)]]
[[Category:Rail transport films]]
[[Category:Rail transport films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Jerry Goldsmith]]
[[Category:Films scored by Jerry Goldsmith]]
[[Category:1960s English-language films]]
[[Category:1965 English-language films]]
[[Category:1960s American films]]
[[Category:1965 American films]]
[[Category:English-language war films]]
[[Category:20th Century Fox films]]

Latest revision as of 11:34, 20 February 2026


Von Ryan's Express
Theatrical release poster by Tom Chantrell
Directed byMark Robson
Produced bySaul David
Screenplay byWendell Mayes
Joseph Landon
Based onVon Ryan's Express
1964 novel
by David Westheimer
StarringFrank Sinatra
Trevor Howard
Raffaella Carrà
Brad Dexter
Sergio Fantoni
John Leyton
Edward Mulhare
Wolfgang Preiss
Music byJerry Goldsmith
CinematographyWilliam H. Daniels
Edited byDorothy Spencer
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
  • June 23, 1965 (1965-06-23)
Running time
117 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish/Italian/German
Budget$5.76 million[1]
Box office$17.1 million[2]

Von Ryan's Express is a 1965 World War II adventure film starring Frank Sinatra, Trevor Howard, and Raffaella Carrà, and directed by Mark Robson. Produced in CinemaScope, the film depicts a group of Allied prisoners of war (POWs) who attempt a daring escape by hijacking a freight train carrying Allied POWs, and then taking the train through German-occupied Italy towards neutral Switzerland. Based on the 1964 novel by David Westheimer, the film changes several aspects of the novel, most notably the ending, which is considerably more upbeat in the book. Financially, it became one of Sinatra's most successful films.

Plot[edit | edit source]

In 1943 Colonel Joseph Ryan, a USAAF fighter pilot, is shot down over Italy and taken to a POW camp run by the Fascist camp commander, Major Basilio Battaglia, and his sympathetic second-in-command, Captain Vittorio Oriani. Most prisoners are from the British 9th Fusiliers whose commanding officer recently died after being placed in a "sweat box" as punishment for hitting Battaglia. Ryan becomes the most senior Allied officer in the camp, and automatically assumes command of the POWs, replacing Major Eric Fincham, the senior British officer.

Friction develops between Ryan and Fincham. Ryan declines to support Fincham's escape attempts because Italy is close to surrender, he orders Fincham to distribute Red Cross medical supplies to the seriously ill prisoners after American prisoners are caught stealing medicine from a secret British hoard, and he reveals an escape plan to Battaglia in exchange for better treatment of the prisoners.

Battaglia refuses to issue new clothing, Ryan orders prisoners to strip and burn their filthy uniforms. Battaglia throws Ryan into the sweat box as punishment. After Italy surrenders, the camp guards flee. Ryan is freed and discovers the British are putting Battaglia on trial as a war criminal. Ryan steps in to save Battaglia from execution, instead sentencing him to his own sweat box.

A German fighter plane overflies the camp, forcing the POWs to flee into the Italian countryside. Captain Oriani agrees to make contact with Allied forces on their behalf but the Germans recapture the prisoners and force them into train boxcars. Fincham assumes Oriani betrayed them until he is found severely beaten on board. The freed Battaglia comes to gloat at their misfortune. Before leaving, the Germans shoot all the sick prisoners. Fincham blames Ryan for letting Battaglia live, and derogatively calls him "von Ryan".

Major von Klemment, takes command of the prisoner transport. As the train heads toward northern Italy, Ryan, Fincham, and Lieutenant Orde escape their car and free some POWs, who kill the remaining guards and take their uniforms as a disguise. Ryan and Fincham find von Klemment and his Italian mistress, Gabriella, in the command car. Von Klemment reveals a German troop train is on the same schedule and he is expected to stop in Florence to receive new orders. To get through the station, German-speaking British chaplain, Captain Costanzo, impersonates the German commander with Fincham and Ryan dressed as German soldiers. The orders show that both trains are headed to Innsbruck, Austria. Using a forged typewritten order, the prisoners switch their train onto a different line at Bologna while the troop train continues toward Innsbruck. Ryan, still dressed as a German soldier, is forced to shoot Von Klemment and Gabriella after they escape from the train. Her death disgusts the Italian civilians who see Ryan as a Nazi.

The German High Command discovers the train has been diverted, while the train is caught in an Allied bombing raid, killing three prisoners and wounding sixty. Oriani and the train's Italian engineer tell Ryan and Fincham their only option is to reroute the train at Milan to neutral Switzerland. However, SS troops have set up an ambush. The prisoners capture a signal box and reroute the train.

In the Italian Alps just before the Swiss border, rockets from a German aircraft topple boulders onto the track. SS troops in another train catch up as the prisoners clear and repair the track. Ryan and Fincham lead a group of POWs in holding them off until the train can move again. Ryan is killed as Fincham and the surviving POWs departs for the safety of Switzerland.

Cast[edit | edit source]

Production[edit | edit source]

Original novel[edit | edit source]

The novel was published in 1963. The novelist David Westheimer had been a POW during World War II. He witnessed the bombing of Bolzano in 1943 from a box car.[3] Martin Levin, reviewing the book for The New York Times, said the novel "has everything for the screen but the camera directions."[4]

Development[edit | edit source]

The novel was a best seller and 20th Century Fox bought the film rights for a reported $125,000.[5] The studio assigned Saul David to produce and Mark Robson to direct. Robson had intended to make The Centurians, but this was delayed when his chosen star, Anthony Quinn, was unavailable.[6] Frank Sinatra had read the novel and wanted to buy the film rights himself; when he heard they had been lost to Fox, he offered his services for the lead role.[7]

Von Ryan's Express was a project keenly undertaken by 20th Century Fox, which was still financially reeling after the extravagance and critical bashing of Cleopatra. Fox, in a bid to prove that they were still able to make films on an epic scale, shot extensively on location in Europe and built a full-scale prison camp as opposed to shooting on a backlot. It was producer Saul David's first film for Fox. He followed it with Our Man Flint, Fantastic Voyage, and In Like Flint.

Filming[edit | edit source]

Rumours of a personality clash between star Frank Sinatra, who was flown by helicopter to the set, and director Mark Robson were not enough to cause problems as the film was shot with relatively little trouble. However, Sinatra did insist that the ending of the film be altered, ending any chance of a sequel. Sinatra also insisted the film be shot in Panavision rather than Fox's CinemaScope.[8]

The film score was written by Jerry Goldsmith.[9]

The railway bridge in 2015.

Von Ryan's Express achieved reality using aircraft, trains, and wheeled vehicles photographed on location along with the occasional model. The aircraft alluded to as Messerschmitts were indeed Messerschmitt Bf 108s. A majority of the film was shot on location around Northern Italy in Cortina d'Ampezzo and Firenze Santa Maria Novella railway station in Florence (in reality is Roma Ostiense railway station[10]). The Ferrovie dello Stato/Italian State Railway closely cooperated on the production, as reflected in the film's closing acknowledgment credit, providing a complete train headed by the specially-bulled up FS Class 735.236. The train which the Nazis commandeer to pursue the escaping POWs is headed by a Franco-Crosti boiler-fitted Class 743.

The railway sequence at the film's conclusion, however, was shot in the Caminito del Rey walkway in the limestone gorge of El Chorro and in the adjacent railway bridge, near Málaga in Andalucía, Spain.[11][12] This switch from filming in Italy was probably done as the bridge looked more suitably attractive for presenting the final set piece than anything that could be found on the Italian rail network. The train featuring in these sequences was laid on by the RENFE/Spanish National Railways and altered to resemble the Italy-based train. Interiors were completed at 20th Century Fox Studios in Los Angeles. The POW camp (Campo Concentramento Prigioneri di Guerra 202) was also built in the front lot of the Studios.[13]

Reception[edit | edit source]

Critical[edit | edit source]

Critics liked Von Ryan's Express. Variety noted, "Mark Robson has made realistic use of the actual Italian setting of the David Westheimer novel in garmenting his action in hard-hitting direction and sharply drawn performances."[14] Frank Sinatra's daughter Nancy noted in her biography of her father that his performance fuelled speculation of another Academy Award nomination. Time Out London called the film a "ripping adventure" that was "directed with amused panache by Robson, and helped no end by a fine cast...",[15] while the BBC's TV, film and radio listings magazine The Radio Times described it as "a rattlingly exciting Second World War escape adventure, with a well-cast Frank Sinatra..."[16]

Template:Rotten Tomatoes prose

Box office[edit | edit source]

The film grossed $17,111,111[2] ($Error when using {{Inflation}}: NaN/calculation error please notify Template talk:Inflation. in 2019 consumer dollars) at the North American box office, equating to $7,700,000 ($Error when using {{Inflation}}: NaN/calculation error please notify Template talk:Inflation. in 2019 consumer dollars) taken in box office rentals. Variety ranked Von Ryan's Express as the 10th-highest-grossing film of 1965. Additionally, this was Sinatra's highest-grossing and biggest-earning film of the decade.

According to Fox records, the film needed to earn $12,600,000 in rentals to break even and made over $17,000,000, meaning it made a profit.[17]

Awards[edit | edit source]

The film was nominated for a Best Sound Editing (Walter Rossi) Academy Award in 1966,[18] while the Motion Picture Sound Editors also nominated the film for Best Sound Editing in a Feature Film.

British Channel 4 ranked Von Ryan's Express number 89 on their list of 100 Greatest War Films, commenting, "A ripping yarn culminating in a wild train dash through [Italy], with director Mark Robson cranking up the tension and releasing it with some excellent action set-pieces."[19] It has a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 20 reviews.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Solomon, Aubrey (1989). Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. p. 254. ISBN 978-0-8108-4244-1.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Von Ryan's Express, Box Office Information". The Numbers. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Books and Authors: Military Held a Culprit Projected Challenges Derring-Do Movie Book Reissued". The New York Times. December 20, 1963. p. 27.
  4. ↑ Levin, Martin (January 12, 1964). "A Reader's Report". The New York Times. p. BR24.
  5. ↑ Hopper, Hedda (April 16, 1964). "'Von Ryan's Express' Will Star Sinatra: Robson to Produce War Story; Taylor as 'Young Cassidy'". Los Angeles Times. p. C8.
  6. ↑ Scheuer, Philip K. (March 12, 1964). "Robson Will Drive Von Ryan's Express: 'Dice of God' to Get Shake; Image of Latins Challenged". Los Angeles Times. p. C11.
  7. ↑ Bart, Peter (April 18, 1965). "Sinatra Swings Upward". The New York Times. p. X9.
  8. ↑ "The CinemaScope Wing 8". The American WideScreen Museum. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  9. ↑ Clemmensen, Christian. "Jerry Goldsmith (1929–2004) tribute". Filmtracks.com. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  10. ↑ "Von Ryan's Express". Reelstreets. Accessed September 25, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Travel Andalusia, Spain".[dead link]
  12. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Historia del Caminito del Rey". YouTube.
  13. ↑ Saul, David (1981). The Industry: life in the Hollywood fast lane. New York City: Times Books. pp. 103, 158, 159. ISBN 978-0-8129-0971-5.
  14. ↑ "Von Ryan's Express". Variety. December 31, 1964.
  15. ↑ "Von Ryan's Express". Time Out. Archived from the original on June 26, 2009.
  16. ↑ "Von Ryan's Express" Archived 2011-05-24 at the Wayback Machine. The Radio Times.
  17. ↑ Silverman, Stephen M. (1988). The Fox that got away: the last days of the Zanuck dynasty at Twentieth Century-Fox. L. Stuart. p. 324. ISBN 978-0-8184-0485-6.
  18. ↑ "The 38th Academy Awards (1966) Nominees and Winners". AMPAS. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  19. ↑ "100 Greatest War Films of all time". Channel 4. Archived 2008-02-12 at the Wayback Machine

External links[edit | edit source]

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