
As the Allied forces approach Paris in August 1944, German Colonel Von Waldheim is desperate to take all of France's greatest paintings to Germany. He manages to secure a train to transport the valuable art works even as the chaos of retreat descends upon them. The French resistance however wants to stop them from stealing their national treasures but have received orders from London that they are not to be destroyed. The station master, Labiche, is tasked with scheduling the train and making it all happen smoothly but he is also part of a dwindling group of resistance fighters tasked with preventing the theft. He and others stage an elaborate ruse to keep the train from ever leaving French territory.
Cast

Burt Lancaster
Paul Labiche

Paul Scofield
von Waldheim

Jeanne Moreau
Christine

Suzanne Flon
Mademoiselle Villard

Michel Simon
Papa Boul

Wolfgang Preiss
Maj. Herren

Albert Rémy
Didont

Charles Millot
Pesquet

Richard Münch
General von Libitz

Jean-Pierre Zola
Octave

Jacques Marin
Jacques

Paul Bonifas
Spinet

Jean Bouchaud
Schmidt

Donald O'Brien
Schwartz

Arthur Brauss
Pilzer
Jean-Claude Bercq
Major

Howard Vernon
Dietrich
Louis Falavigna
Railroad Worker

Richard Bailey
Grote
Christian Fuin
Robert
Helmo Kindermann
Ordnance Officer

Roger Lumont
Engineer Officer

Gérard Buhr
Corporal
Christian Rémy
Tauber
Crew

John Frankenheimer
Director
Franklin Coen
Screenplay
Frank Davis
Screenplay

Walter Bernstein
Screenplay
Albert Husson
Screenplay

Nedrick Young
Screenplay
Rose Valland
Novel
David Bretherton
Editor
Gabriel Rongier
Editor
Jean Tournier
Director of Photography
Walter Wottitz
Director of Photography
Jules Bricken
Producer

Willy Holt
Production Design
Georges Bouban
Makeup Artist

Maurice Jarre
Original Music Composer



















