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About
As the Allied forces approach Paris in August 1944, German Colonel Von Waldheim is desperate to take all of France's greatest paintings to Germany. He manages to secure a train to transport the valuable art works even as the chaos of retreat descends upon them. The French resistance however wants to stop them from stealing their national treasures but have received orders from London that they are not to be destroyed. The station master, Labiche, is tasked with scheduling the train and making it all happen smoothly but he is also part of a dwindling group of resistance fighters tasked with preventing the theft. He and others stage an elaborate ruse to keep the train from ever leaving French territory.
Theatrical
Mar 7, 1965
Box Office
$6.8M
Budget
$5.8M
Return
1.2x
DVD / Blu-ray
Feb 23, 1999
Theaters
2
Director
John Frankenheimer
Writers
Franklin Coen, Walter Bernstein, Albert Husson, Frank Davis, Nedrick Young
Producer
Jules Bricken
Music
Maurice Jarre
Studio
Les Productions Artistes Associés, Les Films Ariane, Dear Film, United Artists, Polyphony Digital, Vides Cinematografica
Quotes
See all →A Journey of Hope and Honor
Taglines
It carried their hopes, their nation's honour!
A Mission to Save Priceless Treasures
Taglines
One man's impossible mission - to save his country's priceless treasures!
Consequences of Help and Responsibility
Labiche
Thank you.
Christine
I don't want your thanks. If they'd caught me helping you, I would have been shot.
Labiche
I know. I'm sorry.
Christine
You think you can just run in and out of here and make trouble? I run a hotel, not a madhouse. Who's going to pay for the door? Who's going to pay for the lock? Do you think money grows on trees?
Labiche
There's a war...
Christine
You talk about the war. I talk about what it costs!
Labiche
I'll be leaving in a few hours. You can go back to your good customers.
Christine
They pay. That's what I'm in business for.
Ownership and Responsibility in Crisis
Labiche
He's just an old man. He didn't know what he was doing. Don't worry - I'll get your train through for you.
[attempting to save Papa Boule, whom the Germans want to execute for committing sabotage]
Papa Boule
His train? His? It's my train! I know what I'm doing. Do you?
[to Labiche]
Cast
Full credits →B
Burt Lancaster
Paul Labiche
P
Paul Scofield
von Waldheim
J
Jeanne Moreau
Christine
S
Suzanne Flon
Mademoiselle Villard
M
Michel Simon
Papa Boul
W
Wolfgang Preiss
Maj. Herren
A
Albert Rémy
Didont
C
Charles Millot
Pesquet
R
Richard Münch
General von Lubitz
J
Jean-Pierre Zola
Octave
J
Jacques Marin
Jacques
P
Paul Bonifas
Spinet
J
Jean Bouchaud
Schmidt
D
Donald O'Brien
Schwartz
A
Arthur Brauss
Pilzer
J
Jean-Claude Bercq
Major
H
Howard Vernon
Dietrich
L
Louis Falavigna
Railroad Worker
R
Richard Bailey
Grote
H
Helmo Kindermann
Ordnance Officer
