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A Movie A Day: Quint catches VON RYAN’S EXPRESS (1965)
I once told you Ryan, if only one gets out, it's a victory.

Two months in by Napoleon Park	Aug 3rd, 2008 04:11:42 AM
still gping strong, another great review, and at last we get a link to where we can watch the movie for free on-line. Let's hope it doesn't take another two months to do that again.
Gotta Love Those Old Lines by TroutMaskReplicant	Aug 3rd, 2008 04:21:09 AM
"I once told you Ryan, if only one gets out, it's a victory" I need to learn to write like that. Also, I was just pondering today the use of epilogues in films. Some of those old films have jarring climactic endings that cut straight to the credits. I'm thinking of Vertigo for instance, but even 80's films like The Fly and Robocop have them. Interesting.
Heh, I love Hulu by Lukecash	Aug 3rd, 2008 04:22:02 AM
Damn fine service. sure you see a few commercials. But they are a few seconds and boom, you are back to the movie.
Napoleon Park- by Lukecash	Aug 3rd, 2008 04:23:30 AM
Unfortunately, not everything is free and online like this. Hulu is a great little site. Somebody Should make a site that has all of the great films that are in public domain up...I would go to a site like that.
Von Ryans' Express was 5 years BEFORE Kelly's Heroes. by No Respectable Gentleman	Aug 3rd, 2008 04:28:45 AM
And I'd advance an argument that this is the first MODERN action film. Think about it. The POW camp is gritty and grotty like nothing in THE GREAT ESCAPE. The Germans speak subtitled German and the Italians speak subtitled Italian. There's brutal mid-60s "profanities" and even nudity (of a sort). The hero shoots a woman in the back. The hero gets killed at the end. The music is totally masculine (apart from that early burlesque stuff).
Different ending in the book by evilned1	Aug 3rd, 2008 05:31:11 AM
I found the book in the library a long time ago. As usual, they changed the ending in the movie and did so radically. In the book, the train is stopped in Switzerland and Col, Ryan lived. He gets off and is walking back when he spots someone painting a big sign on the side of one of the box cars. It read "Von Ryan's Express" Ryan looked at it, and in an obvious realization that he and the others were safe now, collapsed into hysterical laughter. When I read that after seeing the movie, I decided the makers had screwed up. This ending would have worked better. Just my opinion.
No Respectable Gentleman by chipps	Aug 3rd, 2008 05:58:43 AM
thanks for the spoiler warning. I just love the fact that you have all these dudes floating around who sat out the war drinking martinis and go on to make a shitload of 'look how tough i am' movies. How did people give them credibity. Fucking John wanye and the like, convincing dudes to join the army just in time for vietnam. pussies. not too mention real tough guys who actually fought and shit go on to play 'nice guy roles' like jimmy stewart. Course then there are dudes lee marvin who kicked ass in the movies and out.
Keep 'em coming Quint. by Manos	Aug 3rd, 2008 06:03:10 AM
Don't burn yourself out, but keep 'em coming.
Hulu sucks ass by brock landers baby	Aug 3rd, 2008 06:56:44 AM

As I've said before, this was the only by Grammaton Cleric Binks	Aug 3rd, 2008 07:25:51 AM
Sinatra movie that ever impressed me. I mean it's the only one I've seen in it's entirety as others I've caught bits and pieces then turned it off. Movies like this were made when men were men, not boys. Movies like this are hard to make today because we see boys in the lead roles. Saving Private Ryan is a good example of putting men in this type of role.
dude you need to get two or three days ahead by Rupee88	Aug 3rd, 2008 07:54:30 AM
on this project and then get your sleep when you need it. not to sound like your mother, but you are kind of nuts to force yourself to watch a movie every day...just watch two in a day when you aren't to tired...you can't be objective if you are in a sleep deprived state anyhow.
but I'm enjoying the series by Rupee88	Aug 3rd, 2008 08:05:18 AM
and didn't mean to sound unnappreciative ....this is a cool part of AICN now and I am enjoying it.
Re: abrupt endings. by rbatty024	Aug 3rd, 2008 08:06:35 AM
I have always had a suspicion that the reason older films have abrupt endings is because they viewed themselves as more similar to short stories than novels. Ever since Poe short stories have traditionally done without a denouement. A short and sweet ending is sometimes an improvement and some recent films should take note.
Good movie. by Nasty In The Pasty	Aug 3rd, 2008 08:07:49 AM
And the isolated Jerry Goldsmith score on the DVD is priceless. 60's/70's Goldsmith was his prime period.
Keep it up Quint! by Rando Calrisian	Aug 3rd, 2008 09:09:54 AM
Great job Quint. Someone said it earlier, but this will make a great book if you can make it through a whole year. I've been impressed with the range of films you've been selecting. You've even had me going into my own collection and watching the titles I just never put in the DVD player. It's amazing how many there are. Unfortunately, they are rarely the ones you are watching, but there have been a few. BTW Netflix is also offering a bunch of that can be watched instantly now. You can actually invite people from all over the world to watch a movie at the same time as you - very cool. Keep up the great work!
Here's another true story about Wayne: by rbatty024	Aug 3rd, 2008 09:46:58 AM
Back in the day I installed two-way mirrors in his pad in Brentwood, and he come to the door in a dress.
probably my favorite sinatra movie by palewook	Aug 3rd, 2008 09:56:48 AM
its a solid war movie.
Kelly's Heroes by Charlie_Allnut	Aug 3rd, 2008 10:09:08 AM
Kelly's Heroes came out after this movie, not before. Von Ryan's is a great little known gem.
Hey Hulu has The Dana Carvey Show... by Alonzo Mosely	Aug 3rd, 2008 11:43:38 AM
Featuring a very young Carrell and Colbert... Sorry, I always loved Von Ryan's Express, need to watch it again, haven't seen it in at least a decade...
No love for Sinatra by Project424	Aug 3rd, 2008 12:37:12 PM
I've seen Ocean's Eleven and The Manchurian Candidate and that's it... am I missing anything?
M-o-M, never saw any more than a clip or by Grammaton Cleric Binks	Aug 3rd, 2008 12:37:34 PM
two of The Man with the Golden Arm. Am I missing out? I'll get the detail on Crystal Lake in the other post too.
I forgot all about Manchurian Candidate by Grammaton Cleric Binks	Aug 3rd, 2008 12:39:26 PM
Never seen it, but I guess I should.
original Manchurian Candidate is a classic. by palewook	Aug 3rd, 2008 12:49:42 PM
another great Sinatra film. the remake is truly a shell of the original.
Sinatra met Mia Farrow while making this film by Tacom	Aug 3rd, 2008 02:06:36 PM
She was filming that TV show Peyton Place in the nearby and Sinatra came by and they started seeing each other. I don't get what he saw in her though. I don't know how a man that got to fuck Ava Gardner would be satisfied with Mia Farrow!
That being said, Tacom... by palimpsest	Aug 3rd, 2008 02:48:38 PM
why have Mia Farrow when you can have her much younger adopted daughter? Woody, you old rascal...
GOLDEN ARM is great by palimpsest	Aug 3rd, 2008 02:52:33 PM
as is the 60s MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE. He's also very good in THE DETECTIVE (tho that's a wildly dated movie indeed).
Sinatra! Wayne! Marvin! Bronson! Cobern! Douglas! Lancaster by bswise	Aug 3rd, 2008 03:02:27 PM
All great... But how 'bout Christian Effing Bale in the NEW TERMINATOR TRAILER!!!
Yes, that shamelessly off-topic. by bswise	Aug 3rd, 2008 03:07:09 PM
Sorry Quint. Seriously, this is a great column.
Ava Vs Mia... by Alonzo Mosely	Aug 3rd, 2008 03:38:42 PM
I think you are missing Tacom's point... It was nothing to do with their ages and everything to do with how one had the physical attributes of a healthy woman and the other a healthy 12 year old boy...
Mebbe he wanted his chimneys cleaned. by palimpsest	Aug 3rd, 2008 03:49:23 PM
Just a thought.
So you are saying it was Mia or Dick Van Dyke? by Alonzo Mosely	Aug 3rd, 2008 03:53:00 PM
I had never considered that... That would be a tough choice...
john wayne story by chipps	Aug 3rd, 2008 04:51:23 PM
I think i saw it on parkinson, anyway a story that michael caine told of wayne was that when he first came to hollywood he was waiting in the lobby of a famous hotel for a meeting with someone. While waiting wayne walked past, stopped, looked at him and said 'are you that actor what's in that movie alfie?' caine said 'yes'. then wayne said (if you wan't to do well in movies) "talk low, talk slow, and don't say too much"
HAS ANYBODY SEEN A MOVIE CALLED MIRAGE WITH GREGORY PECK? by BringingSexyBack	Aug 3rd, 2008 05:28:46 PM
I watched that ages ago in school and haven't been able to find it anywhere. Not even on Netflix.
Awesome column by speed	Aug 3rd, 2008 08:49:19 PM
Along with Harry's movie roadshow a few years back, Mori's 25 years ago summer flicks and the original Sly stuff, this stands as great stuff for AICN.
Men on a Mission by William Munny	Aug 3rd, 2008 09:07:07 PM
OK - some parts are goofy. And Sinatra does a little bit of his Rat Pack schitck - listen to how he talks when they're typing up the fake German orders. It's like he's performing at the Sands in Vegas. But as an adventure story - this is great stuff. I saw VRE when I was 10 - in 1965 - and I've probably seen it 10 times since that first formative viewing. Sinatra wears a very nice looking Dubow A2 pilot's jacket at the beginning - and you don't see it again until the very end of the movie. Also, anyone notice the watch that Sinatra wears? The one that the Gestapo agent is coveting? I wonder what make/model of watch that is? Ever wonder why most adventure movies feature a watch of some type on the protagonist? It's a very common staple of adventure-type stories. Must be part of the writer's code. BTW, Sinatra suggested the final ending twist that we all see. The director and producers wanted something more positive. Can't imagine that movie any different now. It just wouldn't have worked.
bswisem M-o-M, I've said it before: take by Grammaton Cleric Binks	Aug 3rd, 2008 09:15:33 PM
The Dirty Dozen, add The Magnificent Seven, dont' forget The Duke, and Clint Eastwood, and there you have it: Hollywood's original bad mo fos.
bad ass film by Gungan Slayer	Aug 3rd, 2008 09:51:34 PM
this film is awesome dude. Really enjoyable. filmed partially near Malaga, Spain too, where I'm from.
Memories-Of-Murder by Grammaton Cleric Binks	Aug 4th, 2008 06:49:56 AM
You can't take out a component of The Magnificent Seven, even if you feel it's the weakest. But you're right about Peck. I'm so used to thinking Atticus Finch that I forgot all the hard roles he did. Don't get between him and a whale. Plus, he took on Satan and almsot won. Furthermore Atticus can shoot better than Mark Walberg's Shooter. I haven't seen enough Mitchum, but I do know him and Peck did Cape Fear, and he was hardcore, so I'll take your word for it.
I've seen MIRAGE BringingSexyBack by Tacom	Aug 4th, 2008 11:08:28 AM
I saw it on AMC a few years ago. It's all right. It's from the writer of CHARADE.
Hogan's Heroes played straight? by Napoleon Park	Oct 17th, 2008 06:51:08 AM
Both Goldsmith's "not quite comedy" poppy strings and Sinatra's leather jacket are reminding me of a certain infamous '60s sit-com. A month and a half after this review appeared the film is airing on AMC so I just dropped in to check out Quint's review. I have some chores to run so it's nice to know I can catch it later on Hulu.

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A Movie A Day: Quint catches VON RYAN’S EXPRESS (1965)
I once told you Ryan, if only one gets out, it's a victory.

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A Movie A Day: Quint catches VON RYAN’S EXPRESS (1965) I once told you Ryan, if only one gets out, it's a victory.

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A Movie A Day: Quint catches VON RYAN’S EXPRESS (1965)
I once told you Ryan, if only one gets out, it's a victory.