Details
Movie Description
The duo of director John Frankenheimer and actor Burt Lancaster again join forces with the latter starring as French railway inspector Labiche. With Allied forces closing in on occupied Paris, Herman Goering orders Col. Franz von Waldheim (Paul Scofield) to move the priceless art from the Jeu de Paume Museum to Germany by train. The museum's curator, Mme. Villard (Suzanne Flon) tries to cajole Labiche into stopping the art train, but he's far more concerned with blowing up a German armaments train. Meanwhile, Papa Boule (Michel Simon), an aged railwayman, uses the distraction of the Allied bombing of a nearby munitions train to burn out the engines of the train carrying the art, and is killed by the Nazis for his efforts. Hotelkeeper Christine (Jeanne Moreau), has managed to persuade Labiche of the importance of the art, and when the livid Waldheim orders him to drive the treasure-bearing train, he's formulated a plan to foil the Nazi theft. He fabricates a series of interlocking ruses which lead the Germans to believe that the train has crossed into Germany, when, in reality, it's simply going in circles around Paris. Lancaster leads an exceptional cast in this engrossing film, based on a true story. Michel Simon is especially memorable, as is the gritty, minimally-lit black and white photography of Jean Tournier.
Synopsis
Burt Lancaster stars in this suspenseful World War II thriller about a railroad master who, together with other members of the French Resistance, attempts to prevent Nazis from smuggling a train load of French art out of the country.
At first reluctant to sacrifice men for paintings, Labiche finally agrees to stop the Germans from fleeing with the paintings. Then, Colonel Von Waldheim the manic German commander, forces Labiche himself to drive the train ahead of schedule. Now the members of the Resistance are frantically changing all the signs in the train's path to trick the Nazis into thinking that they are en route to Germany -- while they just keep going around in circles.
Film Notes
DVD Features:
Region 1 Encoding
Keep Case
Special Features: Audio Commentary by Director John Frankenheimer. Music-Only Track Highlighting Maurice Jarre's Score, Theatrical Trailer, 8-Page Booklet.
DVD Features:
Region 1 Encoding
Keep Case
Special Features: Interactive Menus, Scene Selections, Audio commentary by director John Frankenheimer; isolated Maurice Jarre music track; theatrical trailer.
Industry Reviews
"...Lancaster, the greatest physical actor ever, does his own stunts..."
USA Today - p.3D - Mike Clark
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