Quotes

Other

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.

Dialogue

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.

Dialogue

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.

Dialogue

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!

Dialogue

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.

Dialogue

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

Dialogue

Colonel von Waldheim: Do you think there will be sabotage attempts on this train? Labiche: I'm a railroad man, not a prophet. Colonel von Waldheim: Prophecy is not required, only determination. This train will get through to Germany.

Dialogue

Labiche: [attempting to save Papa Boule, whom the Germans want to execute for committing sabotage] He's just an old man. He didn't know what he was doing. Don't worry - I'll get your train through for you. Papa Boule: [to Labiche] His train? His? It's my train! I know what I'm doing. Do you?

Dialogue

Colonel von Waldheim: I asked for two cranes. Major Herren: It took an order from staff headquarters to get this one. With von Runstedt falling back, the army has other uses for railway equipment. Colonel von Waldheim: All von Runstedt can lose is men. This train is more valuable.

Dialogue

Octave: Boule, you are a good engineer, you have told me so. But in matters of culture, you are sadly deficient. Champagne and perfume can be replaced. But, not art. These paintings are important! Papa Boule: Really? Octave: The glory of France! Papa Boule: Glory of France?

Dialogue

Labiche: Thank you. Christine: I don't want your thanks. If they'd caught me helping you, I would have been shot. Labiche: I know. I'm sorry. Christine: You think you can just run in and out of here and make trouble? I run a hotel, not a madhouse. Who's going to pay for the door? Who's going to pay for the lock? Do you think money grows on trees? Labiche: There's a war... Christine: You talk about the war. I talk about what it costs! Labiche: I'll be leaving in a few hours. You can go back to your good customers. Christine: They pay. That's what I'm in business for. Labiche: You should be paid. How much for the damage? Christine: One hundred francs. Labiche: How much for saving my life?

Dialogue

Didont: With luck, no one will be hurt. Labiche: No one's ever hurt. Just dead. Didont: Paul, uh, have you ever seen any of those paintings on that train? I haven't. You know, when it's over, I think maybe we should take a look, hmm?

Dialogue

Labiche: Listen, you idiots! The war'll be over in a few days! Now leave it alone. Pesquet: You get caught up in something, you can't leave it alone.

Dialogue

Spinet: Right after dawn, all switching tracks and trains in the area will be bombed. The art train is not to be destroyed. Orders are to mark it so that the planes will pass it up. Labiche: Mark it! Spinet: White paint, on the top of the first three cars. London has decided the paintings must not be damaged. Labiche: Paint it? For von Waldheim - make him a present? To hell with London! We started this whole thing for one reason: to stop the train, because the Allies were going to be here! Well, where are they? Every day they've been due, and every day a man has been killed for thinking they were just over the next hill. I say to hell with them. Now they want us to paint the train? Let 'em blow it up! Didont: Paul, it'd be too bad, if it got blown up... that is, if it could be saved. Papa Boule, Pesquet, the others... they wanted it saved. Labiche: And they're dead. And they'll never know! Didont: But we will.

Dialogue

Labiche: Where are the Allies? Spinet: It has been arranged for a French division to reach Paris first. A gesture. Labiche: Gesture! They can make gestures! Let them make one for Pesquet, or Jacques! That kid of Lefèvre's... he'd appreciate a gesture.