Cross of Iron

Cross of Iron is the only war movie director Sam Peckinpah ever made, and it is a fantastic piece of cinema that will stay relevant for years to come. And the reason for that is because the battle scenes are all done with real actors and equipment. This film was made way before the development of CGI and it shows in the superb action sequences which are numerous. The film will also stand for generations to come because it depicts the greatest land conflict in history between two countries, Germany & Russia during WWII. Some will argue that the film has too many battle scenes but I do not hold that view. While it's a story about the Germans slow retreat from Russia, it focuses on a small company of german troups led by war weary Cpl Steiner played by James Coburn. Maximillian Schell plays Coburn's new Captain, an aristocratic prussian officer who seeks the Iron Cross that Coburn already possesses. James Mason is also present as the Colonel in overall command, who overlooks Steiner's insubordination because he is such a superb soldier in battle. The story goes that Peckinpah ran out of money to finish the film and that the ending was largely improvised by Coburn & Schell so the picture could be finished. You'd never know that by seeing the finished product and this has to go down as one of the finest war films ever made in my view.

The book on which this is alleged to be based is one of the great anti-war stories, a harrowing account of the sheer pointlessness and misery of the Russian front. I'm not going to try to recapitulate it; it's a book you should get and read. This movie abandons most of the story, and relies on lots of people being blown up, shot, or otherwise killed. The "hero", Steiner, is so shallow that he comes over more as grumpy rather than war-weary. James Mason does his best as the sympathetic colonel, but isn't given much to work with; it's hard to imagine him commanding troops in combat. Maximilian Schell is a caricature aristocratic coward. Steiner platoon never develops as the close-knit team described in the book. Peckinpah obviously loved having lots of toys to play with (I think this was his only war movie) and forgot that spectacle is no substitute for plot and character. In short, it's just plain awful.As for people who attack the movie as glorifying the Nazis, I am baffled. Of all the officers and men only one is a staunch Nazi, and he is an outcast. The others mock Hitler's ambitions and the Thousand-Year Reich (though, inevitably, less eloquently than in the book).As for the reviewer who described Region 2 format as "bull crap", I strongly recommend (a) reading the product description (b) getting a region-free DVD player and (c) avoiding pointless obscenities in reviews (or, in the case of this movie, reserving the obscenities for the movie itself rather than the format...).

Back in 1977, I saw this classic war movie in a Times Square movie theater while working at the Copacabana Discotheque. It was my day off. This movie blew me away; it was so original, powerful, unpredictable, and on a such a high level of artistic attainment (for a war movie) - I came back the next week and saw it again. Looking back now at Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down, and We Were Soldiers - I can appreciate that a long time again I witnessed movie history for war movies with Cross of Iron. A masterpiece is like that: it comes out of the fire; it rises above other movies that are excellent but not quite as powerful; it reaches into the soul of the fighting men and speaks to their heroism, courage, sacrifice, and stamina - in battle, in combat, after surviving combat, after being delivered from trench warfare against a superior fighting force with tanks and machine guns; it stands tall as a mentor to the solid war movies that followed its artistic introduction to the world of movie goers. I have seen it many times since 1977; that old Times Square movie theater is probably long gone, but this movie lives on.

This is just remarkable. The film quality is just great. I also have the 2006 wide screen speicial edition, that DVD is pretty good too, but there was too much motion blur on a high def tv. The 2006 Henstooth version looks better on a standard analog tv. So I got the blue ray and I'm not disappointed, its so crystal clear but it still has the old 1977 saturated look to it, but just more clear. There is a very little slight motion blur at times but not nearly as bad as the 2006 DVD other wise the motion of the blu ray is tight and fluid. It looks so real it almost feels like you're there with Steiner, Brandt and Stransky, it feels like you could reach out touch them. When seeing blood and explosions it seems its gonna splatter in you're face. It's the Japanese studio canal release I it plays in region A, in America which is where I live and its in english language. It plays in other regions too.

Brutal anti-war movie from the bad guys point of view ( the protagonists are a German Wehrmacht Infantry Recon Platoon), but it is Peckinpahs only war movie and an excellant depiction of war on the eastern front ( Taman Peninsula 1943 ) James Coburn ( and really the whole cast) is excellent. The gear and uniforms are pretty accurate except for the T-34/85 Tanks the Russians use ( too early in the war it is pre 1944) probably some other stuff thats pretty minor as well. And well it is Peckinpah. Not a happy flag-waving movie at all. Not too happy of an ending either. But what did you expect. When I first saw this film many years ago I was of the opinion that in a contest between 2 loathsome factions ( Nazi's and communists) not really sad to see either side perish ( lots of perishing going on here), some of the characters are played as unwilling villains/dupes and some are less overtly evil than the usual goose-stepping SS drones that are the expected fare. I love this film for its intense intricate action scenes, parts are a bit slow, and maybe a bit bizarre and surreal at points as well, its not for everyone.

Legendary Director Sam Pekinpah's retelling of The Will Heinrich Novel Cross Of Iron is an absorbing Battle of wits between German and Russian soldiers. Not since 1930s All Quiet On The Western Front as The horror's of frontline warfare been captured so vividly and brutally. James Coburn heads what should have been an Oscar winning performance as Corporal Steiner a soldier awarded The iron cross who becomes bitter with The whole Hitler war machine he is involved with. Pekinpah captures some Truly memorable performances from The outstanding cast he has assembled. Hollywood Legend James Mason coming To The end of his remarkable career when he made Cross Of Iron as a war weary senior officer is Truly memorable. on The other side of The scale we have our own David Warner really just kick starting his own impressive movie career as a Troubled soldier under The command of Steiner. The only real female lead in The movie in a short cameo as a Nurse helping The wounded Steiner back To health is Senta Berger. Berger was a screen beauty in her day who had really been in semi retirement prior To cross of iron yet her relatively short Time in The movie you find yourself riveted To The screen with her. Cross Of Iron is filled with many of Sam Pekinpah's famous Trademarks The slow motion death scenes as soldiers are brutally mowed down from guns Tanks all in slow motion. The Blu-ray Transfer is outstanding as a Green look about it as The many Trench and forest scenes are captured beautifully . an impressive set of extras really make This Disc full English and German Trailers for The movie interviews with James Coburn, Senta Berger, and David Warner and an in depth Documentary on legendary film maker Sam Pecinpah himself. That fine actor Orson Wells once remarked That Cross Of Iron could well be The Greatest war movie ever made.and you know Mr Wells could might well be right it's certainly one of The best movies about The German army itself if you know what I mean. I will however leave it up To you To decide in The meantime This is an outstanding five star release.

THE BLU RAY.Very good HD transfer, maintaining the original and fascinating dirt and grain, with a pretty good audio quailty and interesting extra, including a long abstract of Passion and Poetry, a german documentary on Peckimpah.THE FILMOne of his best and least known. A brave and bitter tale of misery, courage and desperation from the "wrong" point of view: that of the german side.You find his main topics like honor, rebellion toward authority, pervert fascination for violence and war and an even bigger sense of nihilism and lack of hope.With a gigantic James Coburn (maybe at the levels of Leone's Duck you sucker!") and James Mason, subtle, mean and however fragile and passive/aggressive like he could only do like that.

Great film which shows the brutality of war on the Eastern Front from a German perspective. Following Steiners platoon it shows the personal aspects of war from brotherly comradeship to petty vindictive ambitions right down to the insanity of it all

sam peckinpah's only war film,told from the point of view of sgt.steiners' hard but grizzled veteran on the eastern front.james Coburn is in cracking form as sergeant steiner.effects ,explosions realistic as the sounds of the ensuing combat scenes.one of my favourite Hollywood attempts on the great patriotic war,as our Russian allies calledworldwar2.

The ultimate war film with James Coburn playing Sergeant Steiner. He is an aging vet of the war and is in charge of a Recce platoon on the Russian front.It is full of action and details the horror and camaraderie endured in the second world war. A must have film for the classic war movie collection.