Von Ryan's Express (1965)

Ryan, an American POW, leads his fellow prisoners on a dangerous escape from the Germans in Italy. Having seemingly made errors of judgment, Ryan has to win the support of the mainly British soldiers he is commanding.

From IMDB:

9/10
Excellent, absorbing WWII thriller.

Frank Sinatra and Trevor Howard headline a solid group of actors in this rousing adaptation of a novel by David Westheimer, directed with gusto by Mark Robson and filmed on breathtaking locations in Italy. Sinatra plays Joseph Ryan, an American Air Force pilot shot down and taken to a prison camp run by domineering Battaglia (Adolfo Celi). This camp is mostly populated by Brits, members of the Royal Army's 9th Fusiliers, with a couple of other Americans on hand. When the prisoners see their chance for escape, they take it, only to be recaptured by Nazi forces. However, they manage to outwit their captors and gain control of the train being used to transport them.

One element that really helps "Von Ryan's Express" to sparkle is the antagonistic relationship between Ryan and English major Fincham (Trevor Howard), who has his own way of doing things. The actors are all tremendous fun to watch. This rich international cast also includes Brad Dexter as American P. O. W. Bostick, Sergio Fantoni as sympathetic Italian soldier Oriani, John Leyton as Orde, Edward Mulhare as Costanzo, Raffaella Carra as Gabriella (the films' main female presence), and Wolfgang Preiss as Nazi major Von Klemment. James Brolin, John Van Dreelen, Vito Scotti, Richard Bakalyan, Michael Goodliffe, William Berger, and James Sikking have small roles. A number of strong personalities are created that nicely complement the action and spectacle.

The film is also an impressive technical achievement, thanks to contributors such as cinematographer William H. Daniels and those in the sound department, and Jerry Goldsmith delivers an eclectic and lively score. The pacing is a little slow to start, focusing on setting up characters and situations, and picking up considerably once the action shifts to the train. The many thrilling train sequences are certain to get the audiences' attention; everything culminates in a particularly exciting finale as Ryan, Fincham, and the rest try to fight their way to freedom through the Alps, with Nazi goons in hot pursuit. The resolution is surprisingly bittersweet, with a development the viewers might not see coming.

In the end, the film does memorably venture the idea that if just one person can make it to freedom, then the whole ordeal will be worth it, and "Von Ryan's Express" provides potent entertainment for just under two hours. It's well acted, well directed, and completely involving.

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