Overview
A gripping tale of art and resistance unfolds as the clock ticks down to liberation.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- propulsive
- austere
- classic cinema night
- war film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a highly accomplished and suspenseful World War II thriller, praising its performances, railway action, and technical precision.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Labiche's resistance strategy depends on manipulating schedules, routes, station procedures, and German transport plans.
The resistance must stop the removal of France's paintings while obeying orders not to destroy the artworks.
Station master and railwayman Labiche turns his knowledge of train operations into an elaborate deception against the occupying forces.
The film uses black-and-white cinematography and extensive practical railway action to give its wartime set pieces documentary force.
Films like The Train, and why
The Great Escape
world war ii resistance suspense, moral conflict, and large-scale practical action
Army of Shadows
wartime rail transport, occupied Europe, and tense resistance-centered thriller structure
The Bridge on the River Kwai
black-and-white world war ii drama centered on resistance, sacrifice, and ethical decisions
Von Ryan's Express
classic war thriller built around logistics, pursuit, and escalating railway peril
Movie Details
- Director
- John Frankenheimer
- Release Date
- 1964-09-24
- Runtime
- 133 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (398)
Cast
- Burt Lancaster
- Paul Scofield
- Jeanne Moreau
- Suzanne Flon
- Michel Simon
- Wolfgang Preiss
- Albert Rémy
- Charles Millot
- Richard Münch
- Jean-Pierre Zola
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Train about?
- A French railwayman turns schedules, sabotage, and nerve into a desperate bid to keep a Nazi trainload of stolen masterpieces from leaving France.
- What is The Train like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Train as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Train violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Train as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Train?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a highly accomplished and suspenseful World War II thriller, praising its performances, railway action, and technical precision.
- Which films are like The Train?
- Films with a similar feel include The Great Escape, Army of Shadows, The Bridge on the River Kwai, and Von Ryan's Express.
- How long is The Train?
- The Train runs 133 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Train?
- In United States, The Train streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
