Von Ryan's Express

About this Broadcast

A courageous American colonel with a never-say-die attitude is held in a PoW camp. He boldly sets out to lead a group of Allied prisoners in a daring mass escape bid by hijacking a freight train and fleeing through occupied Italy to Switzerland. Second World War action adventure, starring Frank Sinatra, Trevor Howard, Brad Dexter and James Brolin

1965 HD subtitles

Adventure/War Historical/Period Drama Movie/Drama

Cast & Crew

Frank Sinatra (Actor) .. Col Joseph L Ryan

Trevor Howard (Actor) .. Maj Eric Fincham

Brad Dexter (Actor) .. Sgt Bostick

James Brolin (Actor) .. Pte Ames

Raffaela Carra (Actor) .. Gabriella

Sergio Fantoni (Actor) .. Capt Oriani

John Leyton (Actor) .. Orde

Edward Mulhare (Actor) .. Costanzo

Mark Robson (Director)

More Information

Did You Know..

Frank Sinatra (Actor) .. Col Joseph L Ryan

Trevor Howard (Actor) .. Maj Eric Fincham

Born: September 29, 1913 in Kent

Best Known For: Brief Encounter.

Early-life: Trevor Wallace Howard-Smith was born in Kent on September 29, 1913. He was educated at Clifton College and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He played a number of roles on the West End stage before being called up into the Army Signal Corps in 1940. He was discharged from service in 1943 for mental instability.

Career: Howard had small roles in the films The Way Ahead (1944) and The Way to the Stars (1945) before his big break in 1945, playing the stoic Dr Alec Harvey in David Lean's Brief Encounter. He went on to have an acclaimed film career, starring in The Third Man (1949), Outcast of the Islands (1951), The Cockleshell Heroes (1955), The Key (1958), Sons and Lovers (1960), Mutiny on the Bounty (1962), The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968) and Rawlinson End (1980). He died on January 7, 1988 at the age of 74.

Quote: "We don't have the Method School of acting in England. We simply read the script, let it seep in, then go put on whiskers - and do it."

Trivia: He was a member of the Marylebone Cricket Club. Received an Academy Award nomination for Sons and Lovers. He won a Primetime Emmy for The Invincible Mr Disraeli.