The Battle of the Rails
La Bataille du rail
Synopsis
During the Second World War, many French railway workers participated in the resistance. Daily acts of sabotage, spectacular derailments: the railway network took many actions against Nazi occupation. Stationmanager Camargue and his deputy, Athos, risk their lives in managing the network in their sector.
Top Cast
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Charles Boyer
Narrator (voice)
Jean Clarieux
Lampin
Jean Daurand
Cheminot
François Joux
Cheminot
Tony Laurent
Camargue
Robert Le Ray
Chef de gare
Léon Pauléon
Chef de gare St-André
Michel Salina
Allemand
Fernand Rauzéna
Cheminot
Jacques Desagneaux
Athos (as Desagneaux)
Pierre Latour
Pierre Lozach
Pierre Mindaist
Marcel Barnault
Léon Pauléon
Redon
Max Woll
Release History & Theatrical Window
February 27, 1946
Wide Cinema Exhibition
August 11, 2022
Physical Home Media
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- René Clément
- Screenplay & Story
- René Clément
- Original Score
- Yves Baudrier
- Original Title
- La Bataille du rail
- Country of Origin
- France
- Spoken Languages
- French
- Runtime
- 1h 25m
- Production Studios
- Coopérative Générale du Cinéma Français
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
René Clément
René Clément, Colette Audry
Yves Baudrier
Henri Alekan
Jacques Desagneaux
Pierre Lévy-Corti
Department Leadership Roster
René Clément
Director
Colette Audry
Writer
Henri Alekan
Director of Photography
René Clément
Screenplay
Jacques Desagneaux
Editor
Pierre Lévy-Corti
Producer
Yves Baudrier
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Battle of the Rails.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Battle of the Rails.
European Cinema
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戛纳电影节金棕榈奖
70 years of the Palme d’or / 70 ans de la Palme d’or 戛纳电影节历届金棕榈奖（及前身大奖）获奖影片。 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:43:04 UTC+8)*
War: World War II
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Festival de Cannes - Best Director Winners 1946-2025
Festival de Cannes winners archive (Best Director Winners 1946-2025)
Festival de Cannes - Jury Prize Winners 1946-2025
Festival de Cannes winners archive (Jury Prize Winners 1946-2025)
leftist movies
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Battle of the Rails
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Battle of the Rails about?
During the Second World War, many French railway workers participated in the resistance. Daily acts of sabotage, spectacular derailments: the railway network took many actions against Nazi occupation. Stationmanager Camargue and his deputy, Athos, risk their lives in managing the network in their sector.
Who directed The Battle of the Rails?
The Battle of the Rails was directed by René Clément.
Who stars in The Battle of the Rails?
The principal cast of The Battle of the Rails includes Charles Boyer, Jean Clarieux, Jean Daurand, François Joux, Tony Laurent.
When was The Battle of the Rails released and how long is it?
The Battle of the Rails was released in 1946 with a total runtime of 1h 25m.
Who composed the musical score for The Battle of the Rails?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Battle of the Rails was composed by Yves Baudrier.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Battle of the Rails?
The Battle of the Rails holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).