Character Relationship Map: The Train

Characters

• Paul Labiche (played by Burt Lancaster) — protagonist

  Main protagonist. SNCF area inspector and Resistance leader tasked with delaying a German train carrying stolen French art. Initially reluctant, he orchestrates complex sabotage, derails the train to...

• von Waldheim (played by Paul Scofield) — protagonist

  Antagonist. German officer commanding the operation to transport stolen French modern art to Germany. Obsessed with protecting the cargo, he disregards civilian and hostage lives, ultimately abandonin...

• Christine (played by Jeanne Moreau) — supporting

  Local hotel owner in Rive-Reine who provides shelter and aids the injured Paul Labiche in his escape after he is shot during the Resistance's train sabotage operation.

• Mademoiselle Villard (played by Suzanne Flon) — supporting

  Museum curator who initiates the Resistance's mission by appealing to SNCF inspector Paul Labiche to delay the German transport of stolen French modern art.

• Jacques (played by Jacques Marin) — supporting
• Papa Boul (played by Michel Simon) — supporting

  Paul Labiche's former mentor who attempts solo sabotage on the German locomotive. His execution by German forces serves as the catalyst that convinces Labiche to commit fully to the Resistance mission...

• Railroad Worker (played by Louis Falavigna) — minor
• Robert (played by Christian Fuin) — minor
• Spinet (played by Paul Bonifas) — minor
• Major (played by Jean-Claude Bercq) — minor
• Didont (played by Albert Rémy) — supporting

  Resistance operative and SNCF member who collaborates with Labiche on the train diversion. He assists Robert in painting the wagons white to prevent Allied bombing but is ultimately killed by German f...

• Pesquet (played by Charles Millot) — supporting

  Resistance operative working alongside Labiche and Didont to orchestrate the railway diversion. He is killed by German forces during the execution of the sabotage plan.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• von Waldheim → Major (Power Commanding Officer) — Waldheim attempts to direct the retreating military movement.

  After the train is derailed, von Waldheim contacts a retreating German Army convoy and tells the Major that he will join the convoy shortly.

• Paul Labiche → Papa Boul (Professional Former Mentor) — Papa Boul's death becomes the decisive catalyst for Labiche.

  Papa Boul is described as Labiche's cantankerous former mentor, and his execution causes Labiche to change his mind about the mission.

• Spinet → Didont (Professional Resistance Coordinator) — Spinet coordinates a later stage of Didont's mission.

  Spinet later meets Labiche and Didont to plan the painting of the wagon roofs.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Paul Labiche → Railroad Worker (Alliance Resistance Collaborator) — Labiche's mission depends on railway workers participating in coordinated sabotage.

  Railroad workers associated with the Resistance help delay and divert the train, and Robert recruits railroad workers for the warning-paint operation.

• von Waldheim → Jacques (Conflict Enemy) — Waldheim's forces eliminate a railway worker connected to the sabotage.

  Jacques, the Rive-Reine stationmaster, is murdered during the Resistance operation against the train.

• von Waldheim → Pesquet (Conflict Enemy) — Pesquet is another Resistance casualty of Waldheim's mission.

  Pesquet is murdered by German forces during the plot to block and divert the train.

• von Waldheim → Robert (Conflict Enemy) — Robert's resistance activity brings him into direct conflict with Waldheim's forces.

  Robert is shot by German forces after staging a false air-raid alarm for the wagon-painting operation.

• von Waldheim → Didont (Conflict Enemy) — Didont is killed while opposing Waldheim's operation.

  German forces shoot Didont while he is helping paint the wagon roofs intended to protect the art train from Allied aircraft.

• Paul Labiche → von Waldheim (Conflict Arch Opponent) — Their opposing objectives drive the film's central conflict.

  Labiche repeatedly delays, damages, and finally derails Waldheim's art train before shooting him beside the abandoned cargo.

• Papa Boul → von Waldheim (Conflict Sabotage Opponent) — Papa Boul's solo resistance directly challenges Waldheim's transport mission.

  Papa Boul sabotages the locomotive and is summarily executed by the German forces under the train operation.

• Christine → Paul Labiche (Alliance Rescuer) — Christine protects the wounded Labiche during his escape.

  After Labiche is shot in the leg, Christine helps him escape on foot and provides shelter as the widowed owner of a Rive-Reine hotel.

• Jacques → Pesquet (Alliance Operation Associate) — They participate in the same sabotage network.

  Jacques and Pesquet are both identified as Resistance members involved in the plot to block the train at Rive-Reine.

• Jacques → Paul Labiche (Alliance Resistance Associate) — Jacques supports the railway-based Resistance operation.

  Jacques is the Rive-Reine stationmaster involved in the train obstruction plot, while Labiche participates in the same operation.

• Didont → Robert (Alliance Mission Partner) — They cooperate directly in protecting the train from Allied bombing.

  Didont helps carry out the plan to paint the tops of three wagons, while Robert recruits workers and stages a false air-raid alarm.

• Spinet → Robert (Alliance Resistance Collaborator) — Robert acts on the plan developed with Spinet and the Resistance.

  Robert is present when Labiche, Didont, and Spinet plan the warning-paint operation, and he recruits railroad workers for it.

Story Analysis

A Resistance railway inspector sacrifices allies and confronts an obsessive German officer to prevent stolen art from being taken away.

Plot Progression

1. The Mission Begins — German forces remove selected modern artworks from the museum and send them toward Germany. Mademoiselle Villard and Spinet ask Labiche to delay the train, but he initially refuses to risk lives for p...
2. A Mentor's Sacrifice — Papa Boul attempts to sabotage the locomotive and is executed. His death changes Labiche's position, leading him to repair the engine and join the Resistance operation.
3. Rive-Reine Resistance — Labiche, Didont, Pesquet, Jacques, and other railway workers divert the train through altered signs and deliberate collisions. Labiche is wounded, while German forces kill several Resistance participa...
4. White Roofs Under Fire — Labiche, Didont, Spinet, and Robert plan to paint wagon roofs white to prevent Allied aircraft from bombing the art. Robert and Didont are killed, but the marked train survives the air attack.
5. The Derailment — Labiche continues the sabotage alone and protects French hostages by detonating explosives early. He finally derails the train, forcing Waldheim to confront the collapse of his mission.