Von Ryan's Express

Von Ryan's Express (VRE) is classic WWII `escapist' entertainment. Frank Sinatra stars in the suspenseful adventure that involves a train commandeered by a group of liberated Allied POW's in Italy, making a desperate bid for freedom, with the German army close behind. Although this two disc version of VRE provides additional information about the film, and has some informative bonus features, you may want to pass, if you already own the regular edition of the film. Much of the focus is directed at legendary composer Jerry Goldsmith, and while Goldsmith did marvelous work in both film and television, it seems a bit odd having the music department sharing the spotlight with the megastar Sinatra.The bonus disc contains four short featurettes, trailers, TV spots and a still gallery. Very nice, but this content totals less than an hour. Also included are four, high quality, miniature replicas of lobby cards.As the sole bonus feature on the main disc, Goldsmith's musical score is isolated, and combined with a new commentary track. Rousing and exciting when it needs to be, and poignant as well, Goldsmith's music is an excellent match for the onscreen action. The composer seems to have taken a minimalist approach, as only about 27 minutes of the film has music running underneath. VRE runs 117 minutes, and during most of the remaining 90 minutes, commentary is provided by producer Nick Redman, musical historian John Burlingame, and screenwriter Lem Dobbs, who discuss both the music, and other matters concerning the film. Their commentary is rather low-key and analytical, mostly centered on Sinatra, and putting VRE in historical context. Running between the sections with music, the commentary is interesting, though disjointed at times. Unfortunately, aside from Sinatra, not much is said about others in the cast, like Trevor Howard or Edward Mulhare. Raffaella Carra receives some critical hits from the panel. No mention at all is made of actors Adolfo Celi, Sergio Fantoni, Wolfgang Preiss, or Vito Scotti.The film was shot in Hollywood, and at various locations in Europe. Prior to VRE, Sinatra had been in Hawaii, directing his first (and only) film, None But the Brave (1965), a WWII adventure set on an island in the south Pacific. While in Hawaii, Sinatra was apparently saved from drowning by Brad Dexter, who became a close friend. Thanks to Frank, Dexter appears in VRE with fourth billing.According to information in the bonus materials, Twentieth Century Fox's epic, Cleopatra (1963) was a financial bomb, and the crippled studio was backing VRE, looking for it to deliver solid returns at the box office. Similar to `The Great Escape', the screenplay was modified to increase the level of action, and boost the film's appeal. VRE was based on a book by David Westheimer, who actually was a POW in Italy. Westheimer worked on the original screenplay, and other writers later contributed to create a more action-packed and exciting, though unrealistic story. When Old Blues Eyes signed on, the Von Ryan character was rewritten to reflect his personality. During production, Sinatra was demanding and temperamental, and had issues with director Mark Robson. It was Sinatra who insisted that his character die, and he refused to film an alternate ending.Jerry Goldsmith, who wanted to be a composer from an early age, won an Oscar for The Omen (1976). A true giant in the industry, he scored many other films in his long career, including The Planet of the Apes, The Blue Max, Patton, Chinatown, Our Man Flint, Papillion, Logan's Run, The Sand Pebbles, Basic Instinct, Total Recall, Deep Rising, Supergirl, Alien, Poltergeist, Air Force One, Mulan, and Star Trek the Motion Picture. Though his score for Von Ryan was excellent, because of lack of material, a soundtrack was never released. Goldsmith passed away in 2004 at the age of 75.Von Ryan's Express is a classic film that is very much indicative of a particular time, style, and genre of filmmaking. Featuring a charismatic star, it sweeps you along and takes you on a tense and exciting journey. This edition is certainly the one to get, but for those that already own the standard version of the film, unless you really love Von Ryan's Express, Frank Sinatra, or perhaps Jerry Goldsmith, it may not justify a repeat purchase.

Von Ryan's Express is one of Sinatra's best starring roles. Sinatra, notorious for only doing one or two takes per scene, turns in a fine performance. He hated doing more than a couple of takes because he felt it caused the "freshness" of the scene becoming "stale". In Von Ryan's Express he got all of his scenes right.Col. Ryan (Sinatra) is an American Army Air Corps pilot that is shot down over Italy near the end of the Italian Campaign. One of the earliest scenes sets the tone of the movie: The Germans go to the crash site to capture the pilot but the Italians have already gotten him; in an act of defiance they tell the Germans he never got out of the burning wreckage. When the Germans leave the Italian soldiers blow a raspberry. When they part there's Col. Ryan drinking from a wine bottle. He's taken to a POW camp that's run by the Italians. Maj. Fincham (Trevor Howard) is in charge of the POW's due to the C.O. having just passed away the previous night. The camp is mostly British with only a handful of Americans present. Ryan issues new orders that all escape attempts are to cease immediately (thus the new name, Von Ryan). His reasoning is that they won't be prisoners longer than 90 days. Ryan is appalled at the malaria that's rampant & the filthy rags the prisoners are wearing.Battaglia (Adolfo Celi) is the Italian camp commander & is a petty tyrant who's been using the Red Cross supplies for the prisoners as a supplement to his income by dealing them on the black market. His aide, Capt. Oriani (Sergio Fantoni) is much more sympathetic & caring. He, in fact, becomes part of the later escape attempt.Edward Mulhare portrays Constanzo, a priest. He plays a pivotal role later in the film because he is fluent in German thus enabling the escape attempt to a further degree.Wolfgang Preiss portrays Maj. von Kleinment, the commander of the prisoner train.There's also Brad Dexter as Sgt. Bostick. Dexter being the least successful, at least as an actor, of the cast from The Magnificent 7. James Brolin has a small role as Pvt. Ames.Von Ryan's express is an extremely well paced film directed by Mark Robson. There's hardly a slow minute nor anything that terribly stretches the credibility of the events that are shown. Col. Ryan is an extremely likable character that has everyone's best interests in mind. This is one of those films that I hope the ending will be different each time that I watch it; I know that to be an impossibility but just once I'd like to see Col. Ryan make the escape.This version of Von Ryan's Express has a bonus disc full of bonus features. The film is in excellent condition & is in the widescreen format.

Amazing that Sinatra, a skinny singer from Hoboken, could mature quite naturally into a truly superb actor. The film is all his and his presence on screen is dynamite. Every nuance and emotion flickers across his face. He was brilliant in the title role of Colonel Ryan and well supported by Trevor Howard's - chippy and irascible old Empire soldier. The film is very much a man's film but the acting and story make it thrilling for everyone. Even though I knew the outcome and had seen the film many times I was still on the edge of my seat right through it. Just one of the greats - only wish modern Hollywood could produce "quality" again. Too much to hope for I guess.

The DVD starts in German but when you get to the main film (after a trailer for another German film) you get the chance to change language to English - however the instructions to do so (on the left side of the screen) are in German. If you can't read German the third option down is the one you want.

this quite old war movie,still has its charme..The well used plot of the fox amongst the chickens seen here as Sinatra plays a Yank pilot officer of superior rank than all his fellow brit POWs Starts with Sinatra as the (in brits eyes) german friendly officer. Hence the Von-Ryan..But true to tradition our heroe turns it around as they capture their prison train and make abreak for it...Still worth seeing

Very pleased with purchase

I don't normally like war films but this has a strong storyline with some great actors I've already watched this several times loved it