Von Ryan’s Express

Colonel Joseph Ryan is shot down over Italy and taken to a Fascist POW camp run by Major Basilio Battaglia and Captain Vittorio Oriani. As the senior Allied officer, Ryan assumes command and replaces Major Fincham, setting off a tense power struggle. His early actions reveal a willingness to challenge the camp's hierarchy while prioritizing prisoner welfare.

Ryan declines to support Fincham's escape attempts, arguing that Italy is close to surrender and escape prospects are dwindling. This stance fuels a growing rift between the two officers and strains morale in the camp. The fissure between leaders shapes the camp’s dynamics from the start.

Ryan orders the distribution of Red Cross medical supplies to the seriously ill prisoners after American prisoners are caught stealing from a secret British hoard. The decision demonstrates his emphasis on welfare but stirs resistance from Fincham. The camp's moral complexities come to the fore as aid intersects with punishment.

Ryan reveals an escape plan to Battaglia in exchange for better treatment of the prisoners. Battaglia refuses to issue new clothing, prompting Ryan to push for drastic measures. The exchange intensifies tension and tests Battaglia's authority within the camp.

Battaglia refuses to issue clothing, prompting Ryan to have prisoners strip and burn their filthy uniforms. Battaglia retaliates by throwing Ryan into the sweat box as punishment. The punitive act deepens the volatile relationship between Allied officers and the camp commander.

Italy surrenders and camp guards flee, releasing Ryan. He learns Battaglia is on trial for war crimes and intervenes to save him from execution by sentencing him to his own sweat box. The act reshapes loyalties and cements an uneasy alliance between Ryan and Battaglia.

A German fighter plane overflies the camp, forcing the prisoners to flee into the Italian countryside. Oriani agrees to contact Allied forces on their behalf, offering a glimmer of hope for rescue. The escape underscores the danger and urgency of their situation.

The next morning, the Germans recapture the prisoners and force them into train boxcars. Fincham suspects Oriani betrayed them, while Battaglia gloats at their misfortune. Major von Klemment takes command of the transport and the train heads north.

Ryan, Fincham, and several POWs climb out of their car and free more prisoners, using the captured uniforms as disguises. They locate von Klemment and Gabriella in the command car, triggering a tense confrontation as loyalties are tested. The escape route hinges on keeping up the ruse under pressure.

To pass through Florence, Captain Costanzo impersonates the German commander while Fincham and Ryan dress as German soldiers. The deception buys time and helps the group move toward safety, though exposure remains a constant risk. Tension climbs as the plan unfolds.

A Gestapo officer boards the train to buy Ryan's watch, prompting a quick-witted exchange. The prisoners use a forged typewritten order to switch their train onto a different line at Bologna, delaying pursuit. The ruse buys crucial time but raises the stakes with German authorities.

Orders reveal the trains are headed for Innsbruck, Austria. Ryan is forced to shoot von Klemment and Gabriella after they escape from the train, a deed that disgusts Italian civilians who now see him as a Nazi. The moral cost of survival weighs heavily on the escape.

The German High Command probes the situation while an Allied bombing raid hits the area. Oriani and the train's engineer propose rerouting the prisoners to neutral Switzerland via Milan to preserve their escape. The plan hinges on exploiting rail routes and avoiding capture by German defenses.

SS troops close in as the prisoner train nears the Alps. The prisoners capture a signal box and reroute the train to Switzerland. In the Alps, rockets from a German aircraft trigger boulders onto the track, forcing repairs with rails from behind the train. A brutal battle erupts as Ryan, Fincham, and the remaining POWs fight for survival.

With the track repaired and the train moving toward Switzerland, Ryan stays behind to buy time against pursuing guards. The train finally reaches Switzerland, but Ryan is killed just as it steams to safety. His sacrifice ensures the others reach safety and complete their escape.