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Von Ryan's Express
List Price: Unknown [Buy now and save at Amazon]
Review
Features:Anamorphic Widescreen, aspect ratio 2.35:1. Interactive menus. Scene Selection. Original Theatrical Trailer. Audio: Remastered English (Stereo), Original English (Mono), French Mono. Subtitles: English, Spanish.
The Movie
Though not as well known as some of the other World War II action dramas of the 1960's, "Von Ryan's Express" is a superbly crafted, tautly plotted, and thoroughly enjoyable production from start to finish. Frank Sinatra is excellent in the title role of Col. Joseph Ryan, who's given the nickname "Von Ryan" after his plane is shot down over Italy and he's held in a Nazi prison camp, where his fellow captives initially think he's sucking up to the camp's untrustworthy Italian commandant. Before long, however, Ryan earns the trust of the other prisoners and masterminds an escape involving the takeover of a German prison transport train. What follows is a quickly paced chase across Italy and into Switzerland (allowing for some truly breathtaking location scenery), with Sinatra's group impersonating Nazis to pass through various German checkpoints. The Nazis are never far behind, and the pursuit culminates in a thrilling showdown near a treacherous mountain pass – exciting stuff all the way, with a downbeat ending that makes the film even more effective.
The Picture
As with nearly all of Fox's archival issues, the DVD mastering for "Von Ryan's express" is as good as one could hope for. The film is fully preserved in glorious 2.35:1 widescreen, the colors are accurate throughout, and there aren't any scratches or other visual anomalies worth mentioning. The film looks almost brand new, which is quite a revelation for anyone who's only seen it on full-format video or TV broadcast.
The Sound
You're not going to get fantastic 5.1-channel sound here, and you shouldn't expect to. The original mono soundtrack has been expertly remastered for stereo, however, and the film's Oscar-winning sound effects are presented with total fidelity.
The Extras
How nice it would have been to hear Sinatra talk about this movie, or director Mark Robson. Both men are gone, sadly, and although James Brolin appears in one of his earlier screen roles, his part's too small to warrant a commentary from him. So, make do with a theatrical trailer and enjoy the movie itself. No other goodies available.
Conclusion
If you enjoy smart, well-executed action films of any kind, from any period, "Von Ryan's Express" is worthy of purchase or rental. This is first-rate filmmaking, and Sinatra shows his latter-day stardom in full bloom, commanding the screen with a subdued but highly effective performance. Recommended.
Features:Anamorphic Widescreen, aspect ratio 2.35:1. Interactive menus. Scene Selection. Original Theatrical Trailer. Audio: Remastered English (Stereo), Original English (Mono), French Mono. Subtitles: English, Spanish.
The Movie
Though not as well known as some of the other World War II action dramas of the 1960's, "Von Ryan's Express" is a superbly crafted, tautly plotted, and thoroughly enjoyable production from start to finish. Frank Sinatra is excellent in the title role of Col. Joseph Ryan, who's given the nickname "Von Ryan" after his plane is shot down over Italy and he's held in a Nazi prison camp, where his fellow captives initially think he's sucking up to the camp's untrustworthy Italian commandant. Before long, however, Ryan earns the trust of the other prisoners and masterminds an escape involving the takeover of a German prison transport train. What follows is a quickly paced chase across Italy and into Switzerland (allowing for some truly breathtaking location scenery), with Sinatra's group impersonating Nazis to pass through various German checkpoints. The Nazis are never far behind, and the pursuit culminates in a thrilling showdown near a treacherous mountain pass – exciting stuff all the way, with a downbeat ending that makes the film even more effective.
The Picture
As with nearly all of Fox's archival issues, the DVD mastering for "Von Ryan's express" is as good as one could hope for. The film is fully preserved in glorious 2.35:1 widescreen, the colors are accurate throughout, and there aren't any scratches or other visual anomalies worth mentioning. The film looks almost brand new, which is quite a revelation for anyone who's only seen it on full-format video or TV broadcast.
The Sound
You're not going to get fantastic 5.1-channel sound here, and you shouldn't expect to. The original mono soundtrack has been expertly remastered for stereo, however, and the film's Oscar-winning sound effects are presented with total fidelity.
The Extras
How nice it would have been to hear Sinatra talk about this movie, or director Mark Robson. Both men are gone, sadly, and although James Brolin appears in one of his earlier screen roles, his part's too small to warrant a commentary from him. So, make do with a theatrical trailer and enjoy the movie itself. No other goodies available.
Conclusion
If you enjoy smart, well-executed action films of any kind, from any period, "Von Ryan's Express" is worthy of purchase or rental. This is first-rate filmmaking, and Sinatra shows his latter-day stardom in full bloom, commanding the screen with a subdued but highly effective performance. Recommended.
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