The Train (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'The Train' (directed by John Frankenheimer) is a superbly photographed black-&-white spy thriller set during the tail end of WWII that questions the sanity of war & pays homage to the French Resistance. As Allied forces are about to liberate France on August 2, 1944, fanatical Nazi officer, Col. von Waldheim (Paul Scofield), receives orders to assemble the art treasures of the Jeu de Paume Museum & transport them to Germany.
The museum is emptied of France's national art heritage, as priceless art works from the likes of Renoir, Manet, Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso, Cezanne, Degas & others are placed in crates in the boxcars of a train heading for Germany. The curator of the museum informs the French Resistance of the train shipment & pleas for Labiche (Burt Lancaster), an inspector of French railways (& secretly a member of the Resistance), to intercept the invaluable cargo & not destroy it.
Labiche is committed to sabotaging a German artillery train & tells the curator that it's not worth risking the lives of his operatives for art; something he doesn't appreciate. However, after one of his friends is killed trying to stop the train with the art, & after a deep moral conversation with a widowed hotel owner (Jeanne Moreau), Labiche resolves to save the cherished pieces of art with a plan to delay the art train with help from various railway personnel.
Labiche manages to drive said train around in circles by having the stations en route change their town names; thereby, having it arrive back at the train's original Vaires depot in Paris. He also causes further delay by orchestrating a collision of 2 steam locomotives (accomplished with great skill & nail-biting suspense). Everything culminates is a great climactic train track sequence, with Col. von Waldheim & Labiche caught in a duel of wits.
The Train's authenticity is enhanced by its use of real French locales & real trains rather than special effects or models. Scofield is excellent as the loathsome colonel; giving a creditable German accent, to boot. Lancaster makes no attempt at a French accent. However, he's a charismatic actor. And this film would not be remotely as successful as it is without his presence & fantastic performance. He performed all of his deadly dangerous stunts (I was in awe). And he even helped write/re-write a few scenes. With palpable tension, Maurice Jarre's lively score, & stellar performances, 'The Train' proves to be one of the best films of 1965.
The museum is emptied of France's national art heritage, as priceless art works from the likes of Renoir, Manet, Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso, Cezanne, Degas & others are placed in crates in the boxcars of a train heading for Germany. The curator of the museum informs the French Resistance of the train shipment & pleas for Labiche (Burt Lancaster), an inspector of French railways (& secretly a member of the Resistance), to intercept the invaluable cargo & not destroy it.
Labiche is committed to sabotaging a German artillery train & tells the curator that it's not worth risking the lives of his operatives for art; something he doesn't appreciate. However, after one of his friends is killed trying to stop the train with the art, & after a deep moral conversation with a widowed hotel owner (Jeanne Moreau), Labiche resolves to save the cherished pieces of art with a plan to delay the art train with help from various railway personnel.
Labiche manages to drive said train around in circles by having the stations en route change their town names; thereby, having it arrive back at the train's original Vaires depot in Paris. He also causes further delay by orchestrating a collision of 2 steam locomotives (accomplished with great skill & nail-biting suspense). Everything culminates is a great climactic train track sequence, with Col. von Waldheim & Labiche caught in a duel of wits.
The Train's authenticity is enhanced by its use of real French locales & real trains rather than special effects or models. Scofield is excellent as the loathsome colonel; giving a creditable German accent, to boot. Lancaster makes no attempt at a French accent. However, he's a charismatic actor. And this film would not be remotely as successful as it is without his presence & fantastic performance. He performed all of his deadly dangerous stunts (I was in awe). And he even helped write/re-write a few scenes. With palpable tension, Maurice Jarre's lively score, & stellar performances, 'The Train' proves to be one of the best films of 1965.