The movie takes place during World War II, and begins with Colonel Joseph L. Ryan (Frank Sinatra) being shot down over Italy. He is captured by the Germans and taken to an Italian POW camp, where he immediately begins to plot his escape. Ryan is a tough, no-nonsense officer who clashes with the British soldiers in the camp, particularly Major Fincham (Trevor Howard), who is in charge of the British prisoners.
Ryan's opportunity to escape comes when he and the other prisoners are loaded onto a train to be transported to a new camp. Ryan manages to hide a map and compass on his person, and when the train is attacked by American bombers, he takes advantage of the confusion to free himself and a small group of Americans.
With the Germans hot on their trail, Ryan and his men manage to hijack the train and set off on a wild ride across Italy, dodging enemy forces and trying to reach the safety of Allied lines. Along the way, they encounter various obstacles and challenges, including a sabotage attempt by a traitorous British soldier (played by Edward Mulhare).
As Ryan tries to win over the British soldiers under his command, he also faces difficult decisions about who to trust and how far to go in his defiance of the Germans. Ultimately, he leads his men to a dramatic and dangerous confrontation with the enemy, with the fate of the entire train and its passengers hanging in the balance.
Von Ryan's Express is a thrilling adventure movie that showcases Sinatra's talents as an actor and a leading man. The film is notable for its exciting train sequences, tense moments of suspense, and strong performances by the entire cast. It remains a classic of the war movie genre and a favorite of audiences around the world.