Maj. Eric Fincham: [Final lines voiceover] I once told you, Ryan, if only one gets out, it's a victory.
Maj. Eric Fincham: You'll get your Iron Cross now, "Von" Ryan!
Sergeant Bostick: [referring to Fincham and the Britsh] It took 200 years to turn out these men, Sergeant. It took me 90 days.

Sergeant Bostick: They're nuts, sir.

Colonel Joseph L. Ryan: Maybe so, but it's their ball game.

Private Ames: And we're still shut out!

Corporal Giannini: We did that good with just a sergeant!

Private Ames: Now we got us a bird-colonel.

Colonel Joseph L. Ryan: A bird colonel outranks a bird brain... clear?

Corporal Giannini: [contemtuously after Ryan walks away] Bird is right... chicken!

Sergeant Bostick: OK, OK, now we know we're on our own.
Colonel Joseph L. Ryan: Major, you will order the men to strip.

[pause]

Colonel Joseph L. Ryan: Major, I said "strip." Get it? All clothes, off. Naked.

[Major turns around]

Maj. Eric Fincham: [Yelling] Parade...

[his voice drops]

Maj. Eric Fincham: strip.
Maj. Eric Fincham: It would take you too long to strangle a man, Colonel. The average Nazi would get impatient while you were doing it.
Costanzo: [to Gabriella, obviously the mistress of the Nazi Von Klemment] Um... uh... What on Earth are you doing here, my child?

Maj. Eric Fincham: [amazed at his naiivety] Oh, Padre, you are priceless!
Capt. Oriani: He says you are no gentleman, Colonel.

Colonel Joseph L. Ryan: Only by an act of Congress.
Sergeant Bostick: I once told you, Ryan, if only one gets out, it's a victory.
Maj. Eric Fincham: If you crab this, the Germans won't have to kill you; I'll do it myself.
Maj. Eric Fincham: [after Ryan spares Battaglia] You fool! You soft-headed sentimental fool!

Colonel Joseph L. Ryan: That's privilege of rank.

Maj. Eric Fincham: Damn your rank!
Colonel Joseph L. Ryan: [to Orde, who is guarding Von Klemment] Lieutenant, if he wiggles, put a hole in him.
Colonel Joseph L. Ryan: Captain Costanzo, I said strip off all your clothes.

Costanzo: Sorry, sir, but I take being a member of the cloth literally.

[the men laugh]

Colonel Joseph L. Ryan: I bow to your convictions, Captain.
Italian Train Engineer: [having been asked to drive the train and help the POWs escape] But the Allies are the enemy!

Capt. Oriani: And the Germans are our friends?

Von Ryan's Express Quotes

Extended Reading

Von Ryan's Express short comments

Keyshawn 2022-04-23 07:05:20

Standard WWII action thriller. Although old, it is still wonderful and beautiful, especially the exciting battle on the Swiss border at the end. This film is obviously an ode to the United States. The brave American colonel symbolizes the rescue of the United States to Europe in World War II, and finally lost his life. Frank Sinatra should sing a song. But it is still too mentally handicapped to write about the Germans. 7.4
Clotilde 2022-03-21 09:03:26

The plot is very tight, one of the best WWII movies. The protagonist showcases all the great qualities a man can have. But the setting of an American officer escaping with a group of British prisoners of war is a bit dark.