The Train (1964)

In 1944, one German general orders all the paintings in a Paris museum transported to Germany. The Resistance tries to stop the train without harming the works of art inside it.

No question of it being an attractive story, and well-filmed. The philosophical discussions it brings forward are interesting too. The Frenchmen who are in charge of  the action are not art lovers, but this is neither here nor there, it is a consequence of the characteristics of the Occupation. There is also the question of whether it is worth it to sacrifice people in order to save objects of art. But perhaps the most relevant question of all is: is a cruel murderer entitled to claim any status as a true art connoisseur? That art he admires, doesn't it stem from, and somehow stand for values which are opposite to his conduct and the regime he works for? Sometimes, Art is admired without being understood; it is an empty admiration.
I must confess to not having fully understood a certain plot detail of this film in which Labiche sneaks out of his hotel room in order to, as it appears, make a phone call. I thought he was calling the 'Maurice' guy to give him some information about the train, but later in the film we see that they still need to call this guy. Perhaps he was called, and had to be called again, to be fed more information?

Rating: 59