Rating: 
Summary: Von Ryan's Express ...On Track to Classic Status
Review: VON RYAN'S EXPRESS is a great WWII action film about allied soldiers who hijack a train to get POW's to saftey. Frank Sinatra, in the title role, and an all-star cast are great as they try to outsmart the Germans as they drive the train through enemy territory. There are great action scenes and pulse pounding moments. However, the ending, depending on one's point of view is either classic or depressing. Frank Sinatra was at the top of his game and popularity that he lets his character get killed in the final moments of the film practically imitated by James Brown in the DIRTY DOZEN. Overall, a great movie!! Note: Look for James Brolin (aka Barbara Streisand's hubby) in a supporting role.
Rating:
Summary: Frank Sintatra Express
Review: Von Ryan's Express is a somewhat unheralded -- yet must see -- film for WWII fans and Sinatra fans alike. Granted, the movie is a smidgen below The Great Escape, but not by much. If you liked that movie, and who didn't, then you are sure to like this one. Instead of Steve McQueen this has Frank Sinatra who carries this role off to perfection. What makes Von Ryan's character so appealing is the believable character growth. Ryan begins appeasing his captors in exchange for fairer treatment; but over the course of the movie this changes radically and he leads a prison escape on a hijacked train through the spectacular Alps of Northern Italy. The movie also offers fine acting by Trevor Howard, and an unknown Italian beauty. The costumes and sets are perfect recreations and of interest to people who reminisce or read about that era. Dialogue is excellent. And scenery is of sweeping beauty. I also loved the old trains. This movie is an unheralded gem. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining WW2 movie
Review: Von Ryan's Express is a WW2 movie deserving of classic status. The action is not exactly battlefield stuff, but the movie weaves an interesting plot into a tension filled escape of POW's from the Nazi's. Frank Sinatra's sleepy style compliments the role he plays as someone who has just escaped from a POW camp. The supporting cast all perform admirably and it is very refreshing to have a film where the Germans actually speak German and the Italians speak Italian. Made in 1965, the period when war movies were made in droves, Von Ryan's Express stood out amoung them as being that little bit different. What a great time I had in the late 60's and early 70's watching these movies and when this movie came out I found it so exciting. I have lost none of that enthusiasm for the movie today. It is one I regularly pull out of my DVD collection and give an airing. Okay, it doesn't have the polish of recent war movies but it has qualities that just can't be emulated even with the latest movie making technology. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Sinatra Adventure
Review: Von Ryan's Express is an excellent war adventure set in Italy during WWII. The movie is about a group of prisoners attempting to escape to freedom by taking over the train they are being transported on. They are led by a man they hate, US Air Force Colonel Joseph Ryan, because of the way things happened in the past prison camp. This is a very exciting movie with plenty of action and also a unique story out of World War II. As well, the conclusion is one of the best endings to a war movie ever. Trevor Howard's line is the perfect capper. This movie boasts an excellent cast to go along with fine storytelling and action. Frank Sinatra is very good as Colonel Ryan with Trevor Howard also great as his second in command British Major Fincham. Also joining them are Brad Dexter, Sergio Fantoni, John Leyton, Edward Mulhare as Father Costanza in a very funny role, and Wolfgang Preiss in another role as an arrogant German officer. This is a very good movie with an impressive cast alongside a good story. Excellent musical score by Jerry Goldsmith also. The DVD gives a widescreen presentation, remastered stereo, and also theatrical trailers from several movies including this one. A worthwhile movie for Sinatra fans and action fans!
Rating:
Summary: A Great Sinatra Adventure
Review: Von Ryan's Express is an excellent war adventure set in Italy during WWII. The movie is about a group of prisoners attempting to escape to freedom by taking over the train they are being transported on. They are led by a man they hate, US Air Force Colonel Joseph Ryan, because of the way things happened in the past prison camp. This is a very exciting movie with plenty of action and also a unique story out of World War II. As well, the conclusion is one of the best endings to a war movie ever. Trevor Howard's line is the perfect capper. This movie boasts an excellent cast to go along with fine storytelling and action. Frank Sinatra is very good as Colonel Ryan with Trevor Howard also great as his second in command British Major Fincham. Also joining them are Brad Dexter, Sergio Fantoni, John Leyton, Edward Mulhare as Father Costanza in a very funny role, and Wolfgang Preiss in another role as an arrogant German officer. This is a very good movie with an impressive cast alongside a good story. Excellent musical score by Jerry Goldsmith also. The DVD gives a widescreen presentation, remastered stereo, and also theatrical trailers from several movies including this one. A worthwhile movie for Sinatra fans and action fans!
Rating: 
Summary: von ryan steams onto dvd?
Review: WE JOIN THE ACTION AS COLONEL RYAN(SINATRA)GETS SHOT DOWN IN ITALY AND TAKEN TO A POW CAMP LARGELY CONSISTING OF BRITISH SOLDIERS.SOON AT ODDS WITH THE ITALIANS AS WELL AS THE MILITARY TRADITIONALISM OF THE BRITISH RYAN TAKES CHARGE AND LEADS THE PRISONERS ON A DESPERATE BREAK FOR FREEDOM. DISLIKED BY MANY CRITICS WHEN FIRST RELEASED THIS IS NONETHELESS AN EXCITING POW DRAMA WITH SINATRA SHOWING A HARD AND RUTHLESS EDGE PARTICULARLY WHEN GUNNING DOWN THE ONLY FEMALE INTEREST. TREVOR HOWARD PLAYS THE RIGID STIFF-LIPPED CAPTAIN FINCHAM WHO VIEWS RYAN WITH ALMOST AS MUCH DISTASTE AS THE CAMP COMMANDANT PLAYED BY ADOLFO CELI(THUNDERBALL)MINUS THE EYEPATCH.EDWARD MULHARE PROVIDES THE UNWITTING COMEDY AS THE PRICELESS PADRE WHO KEEPS A FIRM GRASP OF HIS CLOTH. WHILE THE DOWNBEAT ENDING MAY NOT BE TO EVERYONE`S TASTE AND MAY SURPRISE SOME IT WAS ACTUALLY SINATRA`S DECISION AS A SEQUEL WAS PLANNED. INCIDENTALLY LISTEN CAREFULLY TO THE SCENE WHERE MAJOR ORIANI PLAYED BY SERGIO FANTONI WITH THE EYEPATCH(COINCIDENCE OR A BOND JOKE WITH ADOLFO)CLAIMS HE CAN SIGNAL ALLIED SHIPS TO RESCUE THEM.OBVIOUSLY HIS VOICE WAS ORIGINALLY DUBBED AND THEN THANKFULLY REVERTS BACK TO HIS OWN. A DVD RELEASE WOULD BE VERY WELCOME WITH HOPEFULLY A FEW TWEAKINGS IN THE SOUND DEPARTMENT AS THE ORIGINAL MONO SOUNDTRACK SOUNDS VERY FLAT ON THE NTSC LASERDISC AS YOU WOULD EXPECT.PICTURE QUALITY IS HOWEVER EXCELLENT FOT THE FILMS` VINTAGE BUT I STILL WANT THAT DVD.FOX PLEASE OBLIGE!
Rating:
Summary: Awesome war movie!
Review: You want to watch a realistic war movie then watch all quiet on the western front. However if you want watch an action packed adventure which can be said to be a precursor of the Indiana Jones movies, then one should watch this one, i.e., Von Ryan's Express~VHS~Sinatra. Frank Sinatra is surprisingly good actor and that certainly cannot be said for most singers/entertainers whom most of the time fail miserably when trying to master another craft/art. or profession. The action scenes are quite intense and loaded with adrenalin. Highly Recommended.
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