The Train

This is a really superb WWII film made all the better by being in black & white. The characters are beautifully drawn and the atmosphere suitably smokey & grimey. In the dying days of the Reich, Lancaster plays a war weary, short tempered, and long-suffering SNCF rail chief who is persuaded, against his better judgement, to join in an allied plot to save famous paintings from being looted to Berlin. Schofield is his indomitable foe, trying to use the might of the German wehrmacht to spirit away the masterpieces in a brilliant portrayal of a stero-typical Nazi automaton. I love this film more each time I see it!

I love this film the black & white adds to the dark side of this film. How the nazis' were plundering the whole of europe in there wave of distruction. And how a small band of people tried to hold them a bay, this realy is a story of the brave french resitance and there war to hold onto what was theres no matter what the cost, a fantastic film and another that the young should watch so these people are never forgot.

Absolutely OUTSTANDING film, one of the my favourites from this genre. The sadly, recently deceased Paul Scofield ("My ticket to Germany!"), steals the show but only just from an equally outstanding and masterly understated performance from Burt Lancaster who plays the disgruntled and weary French rail employee to a tee.

Fine acting all round, tremendous action sequences and suspense and arguably one of the great conclusions to any war film (up there with 'The Bridge on the River Kwai').

The script was deservedly nominated for an Oscar, not a word is wasted and conveys man's humanity/inhumanity and aspiration for a better world in cold, clear and stark terms.

This film is a major achievement for Frankenheimer and moves at pace from the get-go. It is an absolute must for anyone seeking a collection of outstanding films.