Train, The (1964) [DVD]

Director John Frankenheimer's THE TRAIN was released in 1965. Set in the final days of Nazi occupied Paris during the WWII it tells a tale of how the French Resistance attempted to stop a train carrying a cargo of paintings from entering into Germany. The paintings had been held in a museum in Paris throughout the German occupation. These were not works by the old masters but instead were works painted by the impressionist and post impressionist artists whose paintings had been labeled degenerate by Nazi Germany. Though labeled degenerate or depraved by the Nazis these paintings had not been destroyed. At the beginning of the film we are introduced to German Colonel von Waldheim played by Paul Scofield. At first he appears to be a sympathetic character who allowed the museum curator Miss Villard to remain in charge of these paintings. She thanks him for not removing her and expresses that she detects his appreciation for the paintings after he admits to her that as a German officer he should not have been moved by degenerate art. When German soldiers come into the museum and crate all the paintings for railway shipment to Germany it is evident that the paintings have a monetary value to the Nazis if not an aesthetic one. Colonel von Waldheim uses this point to procure a military train. Miss Villard seeks out the help of the French Resistance namely Labiche, a railway yardmaster, played by Burt Lancaster to stop the train. Labiche is at first disinterested because the efforts of the Resistance should be aimed at military targets. However, Villard pleads that the paintings are part of the French culture and part of France itself and should never leave the country. Labiche gives in and the story focuses on the determination of Labiche and German Colonel von Waldheim to thwart each other's attempts from accomplishing their tasks. This is one of Burt Lancaster's greatest performances demonstrating his athletic abilities and his intuitive sense of histrionics to create a visual screen presence of pure determination to stop an equally determined foe who represents a [badness] gone beyond the limits of an already [horrible] Nazi regime. Paul Scofield's performance is the complete opposite but equally determined played with a strange and enigmatic detachment. As the movie progresses we see that von Waldheim's [character] degenerates even though he remains oblivious to his own shortcomings as a human being. The more obstacles that Labiche puts in the way of the train we see von Waldheim respond with firing squads for all those that assist Labiche. Colonel von Waldheim has stolen and transports the paintings under the pretense that they a resource to the Reich. In fact von Waldheim has convinced himself that he alone or only a man like him is capable of appreciating such paintings. Air raids, derailments, staged locomotive crashes, diversions, detours and so on hamper the train ever mile on its way to Germany. Near the end of the movie von Waldheim puts French hostages along the walkways of the locomotive to stop Labiche from blowing up the tracks and engine. ... Composer Maurice Jarre's score ends the film on a melancholy note of reflection using the dynamic melody he created for the French Resistance now played on a muted harmonica in a bittersweet comment on the futility of war. ... Director John Frankenheimer created this epic with such precision that you just can not appreciate the labors of all the technicians and actors went into making this film. John Frankenheimer is one of my favorite directors. He's way up there on the list. This film is a cinematic achievement of storytelling, action and great ... soul searching.

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

Pas d'audio, ni sous-titres français, malgré la description du language. Toutefois l'image est très belle.

Le blu-ray est renseigné doublé en français, or il est en allemand et en anglais et même pas de sous-titres en français !

Great movie. Great service. Super fast delivery. All great.

Bra utgåva

It's July 1944, the allies have landed on the beaches of Normandy, Paris has been occupied by the Germans forover 1500 days, liberation will soon come for the City.Nazi Colonel 'Von Waldheim' (Paul Scofield) an art lover has all the most valuable paintings at the Museum boxedup for transportation to Germany.His intent for these priceless works of art is to load them onto a Berlin bound train.....ahead of the fast approachingAmerican forces.The Museum curator seeks out the French Resistance to ask for help, she speaks to 'Labich' (Burt Lancaster) alongwith the other two remaining Resistance fighters, 'Labich' explains that the unit he commands once had 18, nowit's just the three, he is reluctant to risk lives for the sake of a few paintings........however, these are National Treasures.'Labiche' has a senior post at the local Rail - Terminal, he dreams up several delay tactics for the now loaded trainsdeparture.However the Nazi Colonel realizes that the delay of his precious cargo is a deliberate ploy, he has the engine dr iverexecuted and puts the responsibility to get the train and the paintings to Germany on 'Labich's' shoulders.Keeping the paintings in France will come at a heavy cost ahead of the Allied Forces arrival in Paris.........Filmed in Black and White the 1964 film has been given an acceptable upgrade.The film portrays the heroism of the few to keep priceless National Treasures including works from the likes of 'VanGogh' and 'Picasso' where they belong.A superb WW2 drama worthy of a viewing.Features - ( SPECIAL EDITION CONTENT)* High definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of the film * Uncompressed 1.0 mono PCM audio * Optional EnglishSub-titles for the deaf and hard of hearing * Audio Commentary by Director John Frankenheimer * Optional isolatedscore by Maurice Jarre * Burt Lancaster in the sixties - a newley-filmed interview with with Lancaster's biographerKate Buford, tracing the actors career throughout the decade * French television news report on the making of - TheTrain, containing interviews with the locals of Acquigny - Archive interiew with Michael Simon * Footage of The Train'sgala screening in Marseilles * Theatrical Trailer * Reversible Sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artworkby Vladimir Zimakov * Collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Sheldon Hall. illustrated with originalStills artwork.