Rather splendid and thrilling story originally by Franklin Coen and Frank Davis (based on the autobiography 'Le Front De L'Art' by curator Rose Valland) has the resistance trying to prevent the Germans from escaping with their priceless French artworks days before Paris is liberated. Tough train workers are Burt Lancaster, Michel Simon ('Papa'), Albert Rémy providing the warmth (Les Quatre Cents Coups), Charles Millot. With Jeanne Moreau, Suzanne Flon (playing Valland herself), Paul Schofield, Jacques Marin, Richard Munch.
Amazing shot in one take of Lancaster flying down a ladder, running and jumping on to a moving train. Great stunt work throughout.
"What do we do - stop the train with our bare hands?" Lancaster asks at one point, and ends up pretty much doing exactly that.
Really nicely photographed in deep focus by Jean Tournier (The Day of the Jackal) and Walter Wottitz (L'Armee des Ombres, The Longest Day), music by Maurice Jarre, edited by David Bretherton.
I was intrigued to learn that Lancaster had original director Arthur Penn fired after one day / two weeks (depending on your source) filming. Frankenheimer brought Ned Young and Howard Infell over and they re-wrote it with more emphasis on the action and the train itself.
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