Von Ryans Express
Drama, War
20th Century Fox  (1965) 117 mins PG

7.1 (3,085 votes)
Frank Sinatra takes command in "one of the most exciting of all war chases" (Los Angeles Times), Von Ryan's Express an Oscar-nominated, full-throttle, escape thriller featuring Trevor Howard, Edward Mulhare, James Brolin and Thunderball's Adolfo Celi.
Central Italy, August 1943. With the collapse of the Italian war effort, the SS herds 400 Allied POWs aboard a heavily guarded freight train and embarks for an internment camp in Austria. Realizing it's their only chance to escape, Colonel Joseph Ryan (Sinatra) and a handful of officers manage to subdue their guards and hijack the train. Barreling across Nazi-occupied Italy, Ryan and his men race for the Swiss border, as German troops, the Gestapo and a dive bombing fleet of Messerchmitts follow in deadly pursuit. "Fast, suspenseful and exciting" (Variety), Von Ryan's Express is "a whacking good war yarn...

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Cast and Crew
Frank Sinatra  ......  Colonel Joseph L. Ryan
Trevor Howard  ......  Major Eric Fincham
Raffaella Carrà  ......  Gabriella (as Raffaella Carra)
Brad Dexter  ......  Sergeant Bostick
Sergio Fantoni  ......  Captain Oriani
John Leyton  ......  Orde
Director  .....  Mark Robson
Producer  .....  Saul David
Writer  .....  David Westheimer; Wendell Mayes; Joseph Landon
Notes
Goofs:
Sunbeams cannot shine simultaneously into the boxcar from opposite sides. (more)

Trivia:
According to Producer Saul David's memoirs Jack Hawkins and Peter Finch were possibles for the part of Major Fincham (more)

Filming Locations:
Italy (more)

Quotes:
Maj. Eric Fincham: I once told you Ryan, if only one gets out, it's a victory. (more)

Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination (more)