- Whilst the official run time is 133 minutes, the BBFC website has two separate entries, one with a theatrical 'U' rated certificate in 1964 running at 141 minutes 31 seconds and the other entry with a theatrical 'A' rated certificate in 1959 running at 90 minutes 37 seconds. Though the second entry seems incorrect due to the erroneous date of certification being 21 October 1959 (the film was being made in 1963 and is copyrighted in 1964) and a much shorter run time, the BBFC reference numbering is in sequence with the later video rated entries so it is unknown if this 1959 entry is a much shorter cut of this film or this is an error in the BBFC records. It is also not known if the 142 minute entry is a longer cut of the film that has simply not been since it's UK theatrical release in 1964.
- There is a French version of the film which exists and is 8 minutes longer, bringing it to the 141 minutes registered by the BBFC. Included are scenes in which Burt Lancaster sees French escapees removed from a train car by German soldiers, a two-minute scene in the engine's cab between Lancaster and Michel Simon, various other short scenes and an alternate editing of the bar scene with Simon. In particular, one scene has Paul Scofield walking through a French town at night while the engine is being repaired during which he enters a church, stops the priest from rehearsing singing children and points out a masterpiece on the church wall. The priest admits it has been put there to protect it from the Germans. Scofield appears to be sympathetic and leaves the church, tossing a coin into the charity box. Several scenes later, when Scofield is speaking to an officer about the status of the train, the camera pans over to a corner and there is the church's masterpiece. There have been remarks from Frankenheimer about the French assistant assigned to him, Bernard Farrel, listed as Associate Producer on the American version. Needed participation from the French government (probably with financial incentives) required Farrel to be listed as Co-Director on French posters and credits. No doubt, Frankenheimer was not pleased. Frankenheimer claims in an interview with Charles Champlin that he accepted Farrel if "I never meet him. He can never come to the set. He can never direct a foot of film... The French version will consist of two close-ups that I will do where somebody says 'Oui' instead of 'Yes.' Then you can say you did a French version and then we'll dub it." It is possible that Farrel indeed directed some short scenes which were then cut for the American version. The longer French version was broadcast on Quebec television from a 16mm print.
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