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The Train

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The Train

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• War
• Action

• 1964
• John Frankenheimer
• 127 mins
• PG

Summary

Second World War drama starring Burt Lancaster, Paul Scofield and Jeanne Moreau. France, 1944: with Germany facing defeat, Colonel von Waldheim is ordered to transport many priceless works of art from a Paris gallery back by train to the Fatherland. But the French Resistance has other ideas.

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IMDB

Review

A star rating of 4 out of 5.

Tony Sloman

In this marvellous war movie, Burt Lancaster stars as the railwayman attempting to stop demented Nazi officer Paul Scofield from pillaging art treasures from France in the dying days of the Second World War. The technically flawless direction is by John Frankenheimer (one of his five excellent films with Lancaster), who took over at short notice when Arthur Penn left the production after a disagreement, and the sheer excitement of using real trains is palpable - no models or digital effects here! The French locations are exceptionally well used, and Jeanne Moreau and the great Michel Simon contribute tellingly authentic portrayals. The film also raises an interesting moral issue: is any work of art ever worth a person's life?

imdb-square

7.8/10

How to watch

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Streaming

• Prime Video
• Sky Store

Credits

Cast

rolenameLabicheBurt LancasterColonel von WaldheimPaul ScofieldChristineJeanne MoreauPapa BouleMichel SimonMiss VillardSuzanne FlonHerrenWolfgang PreissVon LubitzRichard MünchDidontAlbert RémyPesquetCharles MillotJacquesJacques Marin

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Crew

rolenameDirectorJohn Frankenheimer

Details

Theatrical distributor

British Film Institute Ltd

Languages

English | German

Guidance

Contains some violence.

Available on

video and DVD

Formats

Black and white

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