Filming "The Train" John Frankenheimer / Burt Lancaster

[29caddy]

I took the translations posted & attempted to locate them at the correct times within the film. I do not speak French, so I would like confirmation that they are in the correct places. I will send an RTF file to anyone who wants it for confirming. When confirmed, I will make another video with an English translation narration track overlaid on the original one. In the RTF file, the items identified with an ?? are ones that I am particularly uncertain of or that seem to be missing a translation.

[girlishfun]

interesting to see clips of this great film in color...but the black and white movie is just perfection.

[TheSecretmuseum]

unbelievably great! thanks!

[19Edurne]

Here’s your translation ! I hope there aren’t too many mistakes… If you know how to put subtitles into a video, feel free to do so. Good luck !

1944, somewhere in occupied France. No ! We are in 1964, on the filming locations of the movie “The Train”.

TheTrain : this title alone make us guess that the railway is the main location for the action. And a train is effectively the star of the movie, with stations, rail depot and rail tracks being the genuine locations.

[19Edurne]

Directed by John Frankenheimer and Bernard Farel, this movie show to the viewer a romanesque depiction of real life events and its interpretation reunite British, American and French actors.

Specially for the release of the movie, a special train brought on the filming locations members of the press and all those who, one way or another, participated in the making of the movie.

Popular actor Michel Simon kindly answered some questions and gave his impressions to the journalist :

[19Edurne]

“I had the first’s emotions of my childhood aboard a locomotive. My uncle, a Savoyard (Savoie is a region in the Alps, near Switzerland and Italy) was a train conductor, and when he had to retire for being too old, he asked for the job of conductor of a small train going up to Mont Revard, a small funicular, and sometimes, he let me drive it. That’s why I accepted with enthusiasm the role of a mechanic, allowing me to live for several weeks in places that reminded me of my youth.”

[19Edurne]

The shooting was almost entirely done in real railway places. It needed a considerable material and it’s obvious that without the permission of the SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer) and the help of railroad technicians, it wouldn’t have been possible, especially for very challenging scenes like the one where two locomotives crash into one another

[19Edurne]

The most spectacular scenes are the ones demanding a very precise preparation : it’s not that simple to organize a derailment or a crash ! Steel tracks must be replaced with ones made of sheet metal, and the cars promised to destruction carefully prepared by pre-cutting them.

Of course, drastic safety rules are needed, and only a few cameras were damaged during the shooting.

[19Edurne]

The exteriors shooting took place in La Glacière Gentilly, Argenteuil triage, Saint Ouen les docks…

For several months, part of the Vaires depot has been turned into a studio. That’s where were shot the first phases of the explosions, in which we can see Papa Boulle, the old mechanic I played, escaping the bombing with his train.

Part of the action lead by inspector Labiche, played by Burt Lancaster, takes place in a switching post which had to be entirely created by the artistic department.

[19Edurne]

A few days before the bombing scene’s shooting, the Vaires depot was invaded by a flock of crew members, actors and extras. Specialists worked for hours digging holes for the explosives. Since this scene was a very important one, and one we couldn’t shoot twice, a large number of cameramen were disposed so we could shoot a lot of different angles.

[19Edurne]

The result was exactly up to the expectations of the director : that fake bombing was a perfect success. But the second phase, needing an enormous display and a lot of work was entirely shot into the abandoned triage of Gargenville. It was out of question to destroy the Vaires depot, and were glad to see it again when we came back during the trip organized for the opening of the movie. So many memories…

[19Edurne]

“I knew the French railway men in 1905, and I met them again in 1944, and I really admire them and I love them because they were touching heroes, because of their humility. They never tried to drag attention upon themselves nor to be given homage, and I think the one they receive today even if it’s a bit late, is deserved a thousand times.”

[Kleman09]

@crayzzriggs to derail a train these days is too costly. it costs millions to rerail a train these days. The engines in unstopable were involved in preplanned real crashes.

[jaswmclark]

I grew up in a railway town and the was taken to a special showing by my father who taught railway sabotage at a spy training camp in Canada durring WW II. Dad could have been the orriginal for Paul Labich. His comment at the end, "That engine goes a long way without taking coal or water."

This has to be the best railway action movie ever.

Remake it! WHY?

[59n1tr0n72]

Those crazy french!!! what were they thinking?!

[WBDE]

Wonderful documentary! Thanks for posting it. I believe that most all of the railroad equipment used in this movie was very old World War I vintage; witness the belpaire firebox on the 4-6-0's used and the wooden cars which collapsed so easily in the wreck.

[chevaliervaillant]

Thanks for this. One of the best films, with real film-making, not CGI !

[LycoValleyRRFan]

I hope this movie is NEVER remade.

[stumpytrain]

@LycoValleyRRFan Me too! I would be terrible...

[LycoValleyRRFan]

@stumpytrain Thank for uploading this where did you get this? Nice to see the crash and bombing in color.

[stumpytrain]

@LycoValleyRRFan Somehow I stumbled across a French magazine / DVD on the internet called "La Passion Des Trains" subtitled "La collection des images du patrimoine SNCF en DVD - 33 Le Train Fair Son Cinema". Considering I can't read French I was very pleased with myself that I managed to order a copy!

[LycoValleyRRFan]

@stumpytrain Well thanks for uploading because I love this movie.

[19Edurne]

@stumpytrain

If you still want the translation, check the comments below and you'll find it !

[terentii]

@stumpytrain Imagine U571 transferred to a railroad setting. The mere thought makes my blood run cold...!

[juneshopper]

I know a little French, Mom took it for 4 years in high school, but I do better with seeing it written that I do when it's spoken. But I can see what's going on, looks so different in color.

[gqjohnny]

this is a terrific movie, many thanks for posting this .

[dogiehogan]

'Le Train/The Train': great, underrated WO-II film.

[lynchi33]

jador un filme ca! cest tres bon!!!!!! my favourite war movie, An scannan nios fearr liom! from ireland

[tomtomica2]

At 4:08 The steam engine that is derailed is in exposition at a train museum near my house :D

[stumpytrain]

@tomtomica2 You live in Acquigny? Amazing, I've been meaning to explore the locations used in The Train for too long!

[tomtomica2]

@stumpytrain No i mean The steam engine is a reproduction in the museum in Canada !

[calahan59]

très bon film! A voir

[trainagri]

Super vidéo !

Merci Thank you

[DASCO2136]

I first watched this movie when i was six or seven with my dad and i liked it due to all the train scenes. Now that im older, its still one of my all time favorite movies. If by some chance they remake this movie, i hope they do it in the same way as John Frankenheimer made it...B&W with the real stuff. No CGI or special effects.

[qaouali09]

These engines and wagons were to be destroyed anyway.

The crash scene like other scenes could not be filmed twice.

So technicians pre-sawed the most important part of their structures to be sure they'd break during the crash scene. If they had failed there were no engines left for this film...

[gtw4918]

Too bad they wrecked all those engines.

[qaouali09]

I hope this helps and you'll understand my English, it is far back; lol.

I was not very accurate with railway terms for they can't be in my Harrap's shorter...Did not mention the names of the small towns either, if someone interested, let me know.

[qaouali09]

With strict security measures there were only a few cameras broken and no injuries at all.

The false bombing was a great sucess for the film makers thanks to the brilliant explosive technicians.

Michel Simon concludes " I first met French railmen in 1905, then I met them again in 1945. They were touching heroes for they were very humble and never throve for honors. I think they really deserved this film as a tribute to their courage "

[qaouali09]

An enormous amount of professionals of the railway, drivers, mechanicians, etc..were need for most scenes were made on the very rails. Most scenes could not be done twice..So there was much time spend preparing them.

When the two locomotives crashed, there had been a lot of work preparing old wagons which were to be crashed and destroyed.

[qaouali09]

This film is about true stories gathering American, English & French actors.

A special train carried film makers, producerThen Michel Simon was interwied by a journalist :

"I deceided to take a part in this movie because my first emotions as a child were on a train. I had an uncle who was a train driver. When he retired he was given a small job as driver of a small mountain train, in Savoie. Sometimes he let me drive...For several weeks all this took me back to my youth."

[qaouali09]

" 1945 somewhere in occupied France ? No we're in 1964 on the very grounds where was filmed "the train".

The title in itself involves that everything related to the railway is going to serve the action.

[priapus56]

The Train..should be on everyone's must see list.. Brilliant film. What an interesting concept..the idea of train workers risking and losing their lives to save their country's cultural heritage in the form of a pile of painted canvases....Genius.

[sickkat44]

the color scenes of the rail yard attack are exceptional! a great picture that is greatly underrated. someone please post this with either subtitles or translate, us fans would be wholly appreciative, thanks

[switchstand]

This film would not have had the power or the right feel in color. A black and white "must" for this one!

[kirkwallboy]

It is a wonderful story. This is surely one of Lancaster's best films, and the production is a work of low key genius. All the actors are suitably downbeat, given the war and all of it's horrible results. My favourite character is Papa Boule, what a splendid actor Michel Simon is right until those moments when he leaves.

To the end, when there is a victory of sorts, the film retains it's dignified ragged sadness regarding the affair of war. Beautiful. Life affirming. And sad. And a great film.

[papaboule]

Thanks for the post--to see the actors & trains from my favorite movie of all time in Color! Sadly, I can't convince either of my kids to watch anything in B&W. Burt Lancaster was tops.

[raherecolston]

Great vid

thanks for posting Stumpy. By sheer coincidence I watched it just this afternoon in glorious B & W. but to see it in colour , fabulous! Wish I could understand what the narrator was banging on about.

[Hanglands]

Fancy seeing you here mate!

[Cool2BCeltic]

Interesting to see in colour a film that you're so used to seeing in black and white. But the deliberate destruction of trains for this film was shameful.

[raherecolston]

Know wot u mean Mr Cool. sad to see all the old puffers wrecked like that. However ,an old friend of mine who is in the railway trade and spends a lot of time in france told me that a lot of the locos here were due to be scrapped anyway. The same thing was happening here in England at much the same time. Steam locos being retired and replaced by steam and diesel locos.

[Cool2BCeltic]

Yes, and there would also have been a lot of rolling stock that was becoming obsolete. But in recent times in the UK we've had the Tornado. Maybe some steam locos that were seemingly lost forever will come back. Like the tall ship, the steam locomotive is an outmoded but still picturesque and fascinating form of transport.

[signalnorth]

Amazing stuff.!!!!! Would love to know the exact locations used , especially of that very last scene in the film.

[berge7f9]

Well- I dont know much french, but I have the first sentence beginning at :39: 1944, some part of occupied France? No We are in 1964 ?? on the set/?? of the film The Train

[Aravonian]

Wow! One of my favourite movies of all time. So realistic, no models here and the scenes of soldiers running away from crashing trains was genuine as nobody was quite sure if there would be boiler explosions! Where would I get a copy of this fab colour documentary - who cares about the language!

[vdrinker08]

I have always wanted to see this footage in color. THANK YOU!!

now...can someone please upload one with subtitles. hahaha

[stumpytrain]

I quite agree, if anyone can translate this please let me know and I will add subtitles!

[DMaustrap]

Wonderful, just wonderful color footage of the behind the scenes on this film. Thanks for the upload.

[SR722]

Wow, absolutely brilliant, it's amazing to see it in color. The train wreck scene always makes me grimace, though.

[sickkat44]

an unbelievably great movie that most people have never heard of! this color footage is great! to be there when it was shot must have been fantastic

[RMasters2007]

Awesome to see it in color, and how it was made. I don't think the movie would be any good in color. The black and white adds more dramatic to it.

Did you notice how close the crew was to the train during the bombing at 7:56? One even pushed another out of the way!

[RemyCT63]

Wow that was really cool to see how they made the film. It's a shame the film was not shot in color, but then again it still looks great in B+W. Thanks for posting this rare gem of a documentary!

[trainmaster844]

It certainly is a treat to see full-color footage of "The Train"... I got the movie for Christmas and it is one of the best action movies I have seen... EVER!

[DASCO2136]

Im glad that you think that way for a movie i recommended you to watch.

[huwjead]

Briliant - priceless !