Handlung
Italien 1943: Es gelingt den Alliierten, die Nazis in Richtung Deutschland zurückzudrängen. Während eines Einsatzes wird der US-Fliegeroffizier Col. Joseph Ryan abgeschossen und kommt in ein englisch-amerikanisches Gefangenenlager. Um das Lagerleben erträglicher zu machen, arrangiert er sich mit den Deutschen und bekommt schnell den Spitznamen „von Ryan“ verliehen. Fluchtpläne scheinen ihn nicht zu interessieren. Doch plötzlich lässt er die Maske fallen: Er übernimmt das Kommando des britischen Offiziers und organisiert die spektakulärste Massenflucht der Kriegsfilm-Geschichte. Gemeinsam mit den anderen Gefangenen kapert er einen Zug, mit dem die Männer von Italien bis zur Schweizer Grenze fliehen. Gnadenlos verfolgt von den Nazis, kämpfen die Männer um ihr Leben und ihren Weg in die Freiheit – bis zur letzten Sekunde.
Regie
Besetzung
Frank Sinatra
Col. Joseph L. Ryan
Trevor Howard
Maj. Eric Fincham
Raffaella Carrà
Gabriella
Brad Dexter
Sgt. Bostick
Sergio Fantoni
Capt. Oriani
John Leyton
Lt. Orde
Edward Mulhare
Capt. Costanzo
Wolfgang Preiss
Maj. Von Klemment
James Brolin
Pvt. Ames
John van Dreelen
Col. Gortz
Adolfo Celi
Battaglia
Vito Scotti
Peppino, Italian Train Engineer
Richard Bakalyan
Cpl. Giannini
Michael Goodliffe
Capt. Stein
Michael St. Clair
Sgt. Maj. Dunbar
Ivan Triesault
Von Kleist
Ian Abercrombie
English POW (uncredited)
Jacques Stany
Gortz's Aide (uncredited)
Robert "Buzz" Henry
American Soldier (uncredited)
John Daheim
American Soldier (uncredited)
James B. Sikking
American Soldier (uncredited)
William Berger
Man from the Gestapo (uncredited)
Arthur Brauss
Lr. Gertel - German Mess Officer (uncredited)
Horst Ebersberg
German Pilot (uncredited)
Donald F. Glut
Prisoner of War (uncredited)
Paul Müller
Hauptmann Josef Sonneberg (uncredited)
Michael Romanoff
Italian Nobleman (uncredited)
Rudy Germane
Controller (uncredited)
Don Ames
Prisoner of War (uncredited)
Al Bain
Prisoner of War (uncredited)
Al Beaudine
Guard (uncredited)
Nick Borgani
Messenger (uncredited)
John Burnside
German Officer (uncredited)
Robert Cole
German Officer (uncredited)
William Conroy
German Soldier (uncredited)
Bill Coontz
Guard (uncredited)
Domenick Delgarde
Italian Soldier (uncredited)
Alphonso DuBois
Guard (uncredited)
Tom Felleghy
German Officer (uncredited)
Barry Ford
Ransom's Batman (uncredited)
Brian Gaffikin
English Voices (voice) (uncredited)
Gino Gottarelli
Gortz's Aide #2 (uncredited)
Joe Gray
Prisoner (uncredited)
Peter Hellman
Pilot (uncredited)
Lars Hensen
Prisoner of War (uncredited)
Walter Linden
German Captain (uncredited)
Jim Michael
Guard (uncredited)
Eric Micklewood
Ransom (uncredited)
Ernesto Molinari
Italian Tailor (uncredited)
Benito Prezia
Italian Corporal (uncredited)
Christopher Riordan
Prisoner of War (uncredited)
Jerry Rush
Prisoner of War (uncredited)
Bernard Sell
Guard (uncredited)
Al Silvani
Prisoner of War (uncredited)
George Simmons
Guard (uncredited)
Lee Stanley
English Prisoner (uncredited)
Kevin G. Tracey
Prisoner of War (uncredited)
Max Turilli
German Officer at Plane Crash Sight (uncredited)
Ron Veto
Italian Soldier (uncredited)
Al Wyatt Sr.
American Soldier (uncredited)
