The Train

I don't share your enthusiasm for art. Even if I did, it would not be centered on this degenerate trash. Nor would I expect priority over vitally needed war transport.

The Train (1964 film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Colonel von Waldheim: Might it not be unwise to leave a billion gold reichsmarks in the Bank of France? Enough money to equip ten panzer divisions? General Von Lubitz: Make your point, Colonel. Colonel von Waldheim: Money is a weapon. The contents of that Train are as negotiable as gold and more valuable. I feel Berlin would prefer it in the hands of the Third Reich.

The Train (1964 film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Spinet: London agrees the art is important. Anything we can do to save it... but they leave it up to us. Labiche: Why not? What can they lose? This morning we had four men left in this group. Now we have three. One, two, three. Pesquet: Bernard? Labiche: We started with eighteen. Like your paintings, mademoiselle, we couldn't replace them. For certain things we take the risk, but I won't waste lives on paintings. Mlle. Villard: They wouldn't be wasted! Excuse me, I know that's a terrible thing to say. But those paintings are part of France. The Germans want to take them away. They've taken our land, our food, they live in our houses, and now they're trying to take our art. This beauty, this vision of life, born out of France, our special vision, our trust... we hold it in trust, don't you see, for everyone? This is our pride, what we create and hold for the world. There are worse things to risk your life for than that. Labiche: I'm sorry, mademoiselle, we can't help you.

The Train (1964 film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Mlle. Villard: I knew of books being burned, other things... I was terrified that these would be lost. Colonel von Waldheim: A book is worth a few francs; we Germans can afford to destroy those. We all may not appreciate artistic merit, but cash value is another matter. Mlle. Villard: You won't convince me that you're cynical. I know what these paintings mean to you. Colonel von Waldheim: You are a perceptive woman. Colonel von Waldheim: We're removing the paintings. Pack them carefully. Mlle. Villard: Where are you taking them?! Colonel von Waldheim: To a safe place. Mlle. Villard: But no place is as safe as Paris!

The Train (1964 film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Didont: I don't like it. Pesquet: Who does? Didont: I mean the art train. If the Germans want it so much, maybe we should do something.

The Train (1964 film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Pesquet: You can get killed stopping a train. Didont: Especially if you're French, and the train's German.

The Train (1964 film), CC BY-SA 4.0