Throughout the history of cinema there are some truly unforgettable war films that have practically unanimous support from lovers of the seventh art. However, there are other titles as good or even better that do not have the same support outside the circles of the most knowledgeable. A good example of this is ‘The Train’, the sensational film by John Frankenheimer released 60 years ago.
Sensational
The truth is that Frankenheimer came to the film at the last minute, since Burt Lancaster was unhappy with the approach of Arthur Penndecided to fire him and quickly contacted the filmmaker with whom he had worked shortly before on the wonderful ‘The man from Alcatraz‘. With this, ‘The Train’ turned more towards action, becoming an impressive show that very freely adapted a striking true story.
For those who are not familiar with the film, ‘The Train’ tells the story of how a Nazi colonel has set out to transport countless works of art from France to Germany in the middle of the World War II when Paris is about to be liberated. Some members of the Resistance intend to prevent this, but at the same time they have to sabotage the enemy, they also have to be very careful not to destroy any of these works of art.
In the past I have commented on several occasions that if I had to choose a single film as my favorite, I would almost certainly opt for ‘Diabolic Plan’, the science fiction feature film that Frankenheimer released just two years after the one we are now dealing with. However, ‘The Train’ is a simply round work that I think is much easier to connect with on a general level, since it simply has everything and is also devilishly entertaining.
There is even an amazing scene that alone cost 150,000 dollars at the time, since the film also expresses the possibilities of trains and how that contributes to a film that ends up being an example of practically constant action. And once Frankenheimer catches you completely, he doesn’t let go until he reaches the end.
From the intensity that dominates its more than two hours of footage to an impeccable script – in which many changes were made after Penn’s departure – that offers the perfect material for both Frankenheimer to shine behind the cameras, offering a sensational show that knows how to take full advantage of being filmed in black and whitelike Lancaster in front of them, who manages to perfectly convey that obsessive determination of a character willing to do anything to accomplish his mission.
Also pay attention to his outstanding duel with Paul Scofield, well it is true that Lancaster is the big star of the show, but that does not mean that he is also very well accompanied. And in the end everything adds up, like the magnetic presence of Jeanne Moreau.
And ‘The Train’ is war cinema, yes, but it is also an action film that simply makes ridiculous the majority of contributions to the genre that have been released in recent years. Vigorous, thoughtful, exciting cinema that offers a curious approach to everything related to heroismWell, let’s not forget that the Resistance is willing to sacrifice as many lives as necessary to save works of art.
If you have been wanting to (re)watch ‘The Train’, airs tonight starting at 10:00 p.m. on Trece, within the Classics space hosted by José Luis Garci. By the way, at the time he was already green in ‘How great is cinema’ and here you have available what was commented then. In case you want to recover the movie in streaming, you will find it on Filmin.
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