The Train | Burt Lancaster, Paul Scofield | INCREDIBLE HISTORY MAKES OUTSTANDING THRILLER

The Train | Burt Lancaster, Paul Scofield | Unbelievable special effects (with no CGI or camera tricks). Train lovers..Enjoy !

DVDs:

The Train

	The Train Burt Lancaster, Paul Scofield MGM (Video & DVD), 1999 average customer review:based on 86 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

INCREDIBLE HISTORY MAKES OUTSTANDING THRILLER

John Frankenheimer (The Manchurian Candidate, Seconds, The Horsemen) cut his directorial teeth on television in its golden era (the 1950's and 60's), and is today probably the second best thriller director after Hitchcock. From his time in television, he mastered the art of black and white realism which was so popular in the 60's. It is the brutality of his realism, among other things, that makes him such a powerful director of thrillers. There isn't a romantic bone in his body.

The Train may very well be his masterpiece. It is the little known but true story of how the Nazi's tried to steal the art treasures of Paris near the end of World War II. On the very eve of the Allies marching in, the Nazi's were transporting the works of Picasso, Degas and others out via train. Burt Lancaster plays the French railway official in charge of the yard from which the paintings will ship. Paul Scofield (A Man For All Seasons) plays the German Colonel, whose love of the paintings is driving his obsession to have them. French actress Jeanne Moreau plays a French hotel owner who helps Lancaster after he and his friends get in trouble trying to sabotage the Germans' plans.

This film is like a runaway train: once it leaves the station, there is no stopping it. There is one thrill after another as the French Resistance tries to stop its leaving France. If you love trains, there is more train minutia than you can shake a greasy wrench at. More importantly, if you like Burt Lancaster, this is one of his best performances. The remarkable thing about Burt is, not only is he one of the great film actors of all time - some say the best - but he also does his own stunts, and many of them are quite difficult. Paul Scofield is also one of the greats, and to see these two determined men going head to head is a real treat. There are many other wonderful roles filled by a top-notch international cast.

One of the best parts of the film is the beginning. After a brief discussion of the paintings between Scofield and a French curator, in which he reveals to her that he intends to transport the famous works to Berlin, the credits roll over the packing of the paintings by German soldiers. To see these famous works being handled by Nazi soldiers is almost surreal. The music is powerful and the credits themselves are outstanding. There are other powerful moments throughout, including the ending, in which Frankenheimer very obviously compares the value of the paintings with what it costs the French to keep them. If it weren't for the brutal realism, I would say that this was a very fun film. Instead, it's very sobering. But it is still extremely entertaining and interesting, and will have the viewer on the edge of his seat most of the time.

Other great train movies are Runaway Train (1986), Von Ryan's Express (1965), The Great Train Robbery (1979) and The Great Train Robbery (1903!!!)

Waitsel Smith

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Unbelievable special effects (with no CGI or camera tricks). Train lovers..Enjoy !

If you miss this black and white patriotic action thriller, you have missed greatest action movie ever done without any CGI.
The stunts for 1964 is just mind-blowing. Real trains and yards are blown up with tons of explosives. Real trains getting detailed and involved in head-on collisions.
Breathtaking chases in WWII setting. Actor Lancaster does his own stunts with no dupes (see him falling from top of mountain and reaching a small store house all in one shot, all in focus. Any actor dare this these days ? The cinematography is great with everything in focus right from top of the mountain and underneath railroad tracks. Direction from Frankenheimer is gift for Train lovers.The drama between Patriotic French and brutal German general is absorbing with original accents. Don't miss director's commentary in the mastered DVD.
I am surprised why this movie although a classic is not included in 100 greatest films by AFI. Really a shame.
I don't think any movie till date comes close to this (without CGI effects, no miniature sets, no bluescreen, no ticks. ALL REAL). What you would regret in this flawless movie is that it is not a Color movie. Nothing else to complain. Don't miss !

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The Train... for High School students learning French or History

I showed the DVD "The Train" to my French Language students in Year 7, aged 12 - 13 years.The students all thoroughly enjoyed the film and came running to class excitedly, wanting to see the next 40 mins! While being occupied with the main characters' activities and hoping they succeed in saving the Train and its cargo, the students also come to understand what is meant by the German Occupation of France; the bravery of men and women who worked for the Resistance at this time; the injustices and fear suffered by regular French citizens;and the appreciation the French still feel towards the Allies who freed their country from Occupation. A wonderful way to teach young people about that era in France's history!

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Burt Lancaster in the Train

A great movie -- I've watched it on TV several times and finally broke down and bought it. One of the best WWII movies.

They don't film them like this any more....

This movie was made in the mid 1960's and back then the actions scenes were either real, actual footage or models. The Train is real all the way. Those are real locomaotives being smashed in to each other. Greatest train wreck I've ever seen. View it with the director commentary on and you will find out many interesting things that went in to the production of the movie. Even if you've seen it already, it is worth buying for this feature alone.

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