This is not a bad movie set in WWII about an French train driver that plans to thwart the Germans from looting some important works of art. These are some well renowned paintings which the Germans plan to take back to Berlin. Although it is WWII, it's important to note that none of what actually unfolds contributes anything to the overall campaign on the western front nor does it have any bearing on the outcome of the war as a whole. It's simply just a story very much in the mold of THE DIARY OF ANN FRANK or OPERATION AMSTERDAM, who are also shot in claustrophobic black and white. While both stories are fascinating, neither are important in deciding the outcome of the war or even contributing to it in any meaningful way. Never the less don't be put of by that, it's still a reasonable watch!
The determined French train driver/engineer Paul Labiche who masterminds the plan is played by Burt Lancaster, who manages at every turn to get the upper hand over the Germans, but also despite some self doubt manages to rally his colleagues in the French resistance and the rail network to help him do this. The deranged and obsessive German who is given the task to transfer these work of art's is Col. Von Waldheim played by Paul Scholfield and he is supported by the more cool headed Maj. Herren played by Wolfgang Preiss (who had and would continue for a number of years to play numerous German military roles).
The Germans want it transported to Berlin, direct orders from the Fuhrer and Lancasters job is to stop this or delay it's progress in the hope that the allies who are driving the Germans eastwards will over-run them and save the artifacts. Col.Von Waldheim is not only carrying out orders but is also motivated by a personal love for these paintings. Labiche on the other hand has no personal love for them but perhaps emboldened by the German retreat and the impending liberation from US or free French forces. Determined not to allow the Germans who had humiliated them for so long steal in broad daylight some of Frances most valuable artworks, he decides to plan an elaborate scheme to slow the progress down and fool the Germans into thinking that the paintings are actually being transported back to Germany. He can also rely on the support of numerous members of the Resistance and the rail network who also can smell freedom too! Maybe, after suffering the indignity of occupation this was the last opportunity to poke them in the eye! If not for some form of patriotic gesture at least it would just make them feel good after bowing at the knee to the Germans for so long!
True to good form the Germans, torture, shoot and execute anybody that they think is obstructing them. There is even one scene where they place local villagers on a locomotive exposed in such a fashion that the concussion from a bomb placed on the track would kill them instantly, they are in effect "human shields". It's an interesting point, you wonder why many of them knowing that the Germans were on the run didn't just knuckle down or go into hiding and ride out the last few days. Why risk so much?
The ending of the movie was quite poignant. You had the Germans putting vast amounts of man power time and effort into looting these French paintings and harassing the local population, none of this was helping the war effort and Lancaster and fellow Resistance fighters laying their lives on the line, not harassing the retreating Germans but trying to save the paintings. In the end, the final scene sums up the madness of what has unfolded, whether it is Labiches efforts, the German desire to get the paintings or just the war as a whole. Good performances from the lead actors, not a bad watch!
The determined French train driver/engineer Paul Labiche who masterminds the plan is played by Burt Lancaster, who manages at every turn to get the upper hand over the Germans, but also despite some self doubt manages to rally his colleagues in the French resistance and the rail network to help him do this. The deranged and obsessive German who is given the task to transfer these work of art's is Col. Von Waldheim played by Paul Scholfield and he is supported by the more cool headed Maj. Herren played by Wolfgang Preiss (who had and would continue for a number of years to play numerous German military roles).
The Germans want it transported to Berlin, direct orders from the Fuhrer and Lancasters job is to stop this or delay it's progress in the hope that the allies who are driving the Germans eastwards will over-run them and save the artifacts. Col.Von Waldheim is not only carrying out orders but is also motivated by a personal love for these paintings. Labiche on the other hand has no personal love for them but perhaps emboldened by the German retreat and the impending liberation from US or free French forces. Determined not to allow the Germans who had humiliated them for so long steal in broad daylight some of Frances most valuable artworks, he decides to plan an elaborate scheme to slow the progress down and fool the Germans into thinking that the paintings are actually being transported back to Germany. He can also rely on the support of numerous members of the Resistance and the rail network who also can smell freedom too! Maybe, after suffering the indignity of occupation this was the last opportunity to poke them in the eye! If not for some form of patriotic gesture at least it would just make them feel good after bowing at the knee to the Germans for so long!
True to good form the Germans, torture, shoot and execute anybody that they think is obstructing them. There is even one scene where they place local villagers on a locomotive exposed in such a fashion that the concussion from a bomb placed on the track would kill them instantly, they are in effect "human shields". It's an interesting point, you wonder why many of them knowing that the Germans were on the run didn't just knuckle down or go into hiding and ride out the last few days. Why risk so much?
The ending of the movie was quite poignant. You had the Germans putting vast amounts of man power time and effort into looting these French paintings and harassing the local population, none of this was helping the war effort and Lancaster and fellow Resistance fighters laying their lives on the line, not harassing the retreating Germans but trying to save the paintings. In the end, the final scene sums up the madness of what has unfolded, whether it is Labiches efforts, the German desire to get the paintings or just the war as a whole. Good performances from the lead actors, not a bad watch!