June 23 1965 

Von Ryan's Express, directed by Mark Robson, from a screenplay by Wendall Mayes and Joseph Landon, based on the best-selling novel by David Westheimer, opens nationally. Set in August of 1943, Frank Sinatra stars as Col. Joseph Ryan, a captured US pilot who, along with a contingent of mostly allied prisoners, facilitates a daring escape from a German POW camp in southern Italy aboard a commandeered freight train heading for the Swiss border. A thrilling, breathlessly propulsive chase adventure, shot on picturesque European locations in glorious wide-screen, with a solid supporting cast that includes Trevor Howard, John Leyton and Adolfo Celi. One of the year's biggest successes.

 

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