An action adventure tale, van ryans express remains quite credible until halfway through, when the action begins to pour and roar like walter mitty in full flood. This is not a forum for general discussion of the article s subject put new text under old text. Abused by a corrupt commandant adolfo celi, the men protest and resist. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. Ryan frank sinatra is locked up with british prisoners, after. While most of the prisoners are british, a resourceful american air force colonel frank sinatra takes charge and leads the escape, which requires that the prisoners get control of a prisoner of war train and. The story is straight forward and simple and doesnt require much attention to follow.
The author of the book, david westheimer, was a navigator on a b24 that. On which railway line were the action scenes at the end of the movie shot. The character has the same name in both the book and the movie. Taken from the book released two years prior, the film is set in an italian prisoner of war camp, where col. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. See more ideas about war film, trevor howard and film. A thousand british and american pows learn to hate the american. Like a strip from every schoolboys favourite, the commando comic, this is a ripping yarn of a wwii adventure story that also manages to rather subtly. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. The author of the book, david westheimer, was a navigator on a b24 that was. This movie is much better when seen in its original widescreen format. Joseph ryan frank sinatra is captured by nazis, he does what it takes to survive prison camp, including, by all appearances, befriend. While the majority of the prisoners at the camp are british, a strongminded, quickwitted american air force colonel takes charge and leads the escape, which requires that the prisoners to sneak onto a german train bound for switzerland. Feb 12, 2017 a war film starring frank sinatra and trevor howard.
Italys defeat may be imminent, but that causes only confusion for the british and american inmates. The screenplay concerns a group of allied prisoners of war who conduct a daring escape by hijacking a freight train and fleeing through germanoccupied italy to switzerland. An american pow leads a group of mainly british prisoners to escape from the germans in wwii. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books. Based on the novel by david westheimer, the film changes several aspects of the novel, most. Italys defeat may be imminent, but that causes only confusion for the british and. Based on the novel by david westheimer, the film changes several aspects of the novel, most notably the ending, which is considerably more upbeat in the book. As sao senior american officer, he quickly puts a stop to disorder, and becomes the most hated man in the camp. While the basic story line is the same in the book and the movie, i found the changes in the screenplay to have made the principal characters more interesting. While most of the prisoners at the camp are british, a determined, resourceful american air force colonel frank sinatra takes charge and leads the escape, which requires that the prisoners wrest control of a german train and propel it through. The story of an escape from a pow train, it was a bookofthemonth club selection before being. An american pow leads a group of mainly british prisoners to escape. The author of the book, david westheimer, was a navigator on a b24 that was shot down over italy in wwii and he was a pow in stalag luft iii. In the original ending which appears in the source novel, ryan is not killed as with the film s ending, he survives and with the other escaped pows, is able to get.
During ww ii colonel joe ryan crashes in italy and is interned at pow concentration camp 202. Westheimer captures the gritty oblivion of pow life, while the suspense builds as the prisoners try to plot their escape. Dust jacket has wear and tears on the edges but is in a mylar cover. More information about this seller contact this seller 3. World war, 19391945 in fiction, world war, 19391945, fiction, novelas, prisoners of war, world war 19391945 fast ocolcfst01180924. Italys surrender offers a chance of escape when the camp is being moved to germany. While the basic story line is the same in the book and the movie, i found the changes in the screenplay to have made the principal characters more interesting, more human and more appealing i came to. A thousand british and american pows learn to hate the american colonel who singlehandedly shapes them up. Italy s surrender offers a chance of escape when the camp is being moved to germany. When italy surrenders three days later, the germans capture the camp, and load everyone on a train to germany. Westheimer captures the gritty oblivion of pow life, while the suspense builds as the. It inspired me to write my first novel, 2 years later as a christmas present for my sister, which was, sadly, historically rather inaccurate. The houstonborn writer had served with distinction in world war ii as a b24 navigator distinguished flying cross. It is now the february book ofthemonthclub selection.