Pacific 231 is a 1949 short film directed by French film theorist Jean Mitry.
The film soundtrack uses the orchestral work of the same name, composed by Arthur Honegger.[1]
Pacific 231 pays tribute to the steam locomotive featuring the SNCF 231E 24 ex Nord 3.1194, and includes close-up footage of driving wheels, running gear and railroad operations, mostly taken at speed, and cut/choreographed to the music.[2] [3]
The film was awarded the Short Film Palme d'Or, the highest prize given for a short film at the 1949 Cannes Film Festival.[4]
Stanley Kubrick cited this as one of his favorite films and praised its editing.[5]