Von Ryan's Express
| Von Ryan's Express | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Mark Robson |
| Written by | David Westheimer Wendell Mayes Joseph Landon |
| Produced by | Saul David |
| Starring | Frank Sinatra Trevor Howard |
Release date | 1965 |
Running time | 117 min |
| Languages | English, German, Italian |
Von Ryan's Express is a 1965 World War II film produced and directed by Mark Robson. It starred Frank Sinatra and Trevor Howard. It is based on the novel by David Westheimer of the same name. Template:Spoiler Colonel Ryan (Sinatra) is a American pilot who is shot down and taken to a Prisoner of War camp in Italy, populated by mainly British prisoners. Ryan is a strict disciplinarian. As senior officer, he assumes command of the prisoners and antagonises the POWs with seemingly strange orders which give the impression of collaboration with the Italian guards and earns him the prefix "Von". However, he is equally strict with the Italians; for example, when the Italians refuse to issue stocks new uniforms, Ryan orders the prisoners to strip naked.
On hearing of the Italian capitulation in 1943, he leads the POWs out of the unguarded camp, but they are betrayed to the incoming Germans. The prisoners are put on a train which they manage to seize by over-powering their guards. The remainder of the film and book concerns them fleeing from the pursuing Germans as they head for neutral Switzerland. In addition, the book delves into the character of Ryan, whose carelessness as an air cadet cost the life of a fellow cadet.