Protraph Lack of good storyline.

Sharkflei Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.

Invaderbank The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Cheryl A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

fsomers-25276 It is a Frankenheimer masterpiece with a signature performance by Burt. The Maurice Jarre score is stunning in its simplicity. Paul Schofield is perfect and the French actors are superb. Regarding historical accuracy the license taken is appropriate in order to dramatize the heroism of the French railroad men who saved the art works from Nazi plundering. The film has the qualities of the best French films of the time with a rigorous discipline that lends a quality of film verite.

mike.rophone I had not heard of this film nor read the synopsis so knew nothing other than it was a war film of 1964 starring Burt Lancaster.The film started almost immediately without the long wait watching titles, with the added surprise it was shot in black and white, this as so often happens added to the historical aspect of the film.The ex circus performer Burt Lancaster's performance showed in parts his athletic prowess and I wondered when in the engine repair shop he picked up a heavy connecting rod, was that a prop, or was it as heavy as it looked. A war film, with an original plot especially for the time it was produced, made watching the 2 hours 20 minutes go by without a moment of boredom and I thoroughly enjoyed it, hence my high score of 10/10.

AaronCapenBanner John Frankenheimer does a first-rate job directing this riveting and atmospheric WWII film set in August 1944, as the approaching Allies are forcing a German retreat from France, but a German commander(Paul Scofield) arranges for the French art treasures he values to smuggled out of the country in secret by train. Burt Lancaster plays station master Labiche, who is in charge of making the trip run smoothly, but is also a member of the resistance, so must delay the train as much as possible, then when no more delays will be tolerated, actively tries to sabotage the train, no matter the cost, though he is also ordered to not damage any of the valuable paintings, which are France's heritage.Burt Lancaster is excellent here, both in his performance and how he handles the physical action, which is most impressive, as is the on location filming, giving this picture a welcome look of authenticity, and building to an action-packed finale.

SnoopyStyle John Frankenheimer directed this masterpiece about the french resistance trying to stop a train loaded with art from leaving. Paris is about to fall probably in only 3 or 4 days. But the Germans have loaded all the best Art on a train bound for Germany. The resistance is asked to stop it.Labiche (Burt Lancaster) is the leader of the resistance at the train yard. He is reluctant to act to save a bunch of pictures. They started out with 18 members, had 4 members in the morning, but is down to 3. Could he really risk the rest on a scheme to save some paintings? The plans and schemes need to be mapped out much better. They need to do some better explanations. But it's Labiche's evolution that's important. Burt Lancaster is a powerful presence, and his acting is top-notched.