A squad of german soldiers fighting on the eastern front during wwii led by a battlehardened officer fight to survive soviet attacks and dogmatic commanders in a chaotic and lethal environment in this sympathetic portrayal of another side of the war not commonly portrayed in hollywood film. End scene based on the novel about german soldiers on the eastern front, during the lull before the kursk offensive in july 1943. It also sets the tone of something that reminded me of another epic german film. Rolf steiner james coburn is a wellrespected member of the german military and a recipient of the iron cross, germanys highest military honor. The incompetent wehrmacht hauptman captain stransky maximillian schell admits he wants nothing more then to win the iron cross. Cross of iron is a britishgerman 1977 war film directed by sam peckinpah, featuring james coburn, maximilian schell, james mason and david warner. Interiors were completed at pinewood studios in england. In the midst of the madness, conflict brews between the aristocratic yet ultimately. Cross of iron is peckinpahs only militaryaction film he directed. The incompetent wehrmacht hauptman captain stransky maximillian schell admits. A very good film showing the german side of the war and to my surprise james coburn plays lead as a german enlisted man who gets the job done. Coburn said it all with that famous grin interviews.
Coburn said it all with that famous grin interviews roger. Steiner the iron cross is a 1977 war film directed by sam peckinpah, featuring james coburn, maximilian schell, james mason and david warner. For though the world stood up and stopped the bastard, the bitch that bore him is in heat again. German soldiers at the eastern front with an arrogant prussian captain hauptmann stransky who claims the iron cross for something that another leader did. War is hell and cross of iron 1977 is director sam peckinpahs proof. The german invasion of the soviet union during the second world war began in 1941. Besides being partial country of origin, the dramatic design is showcased best in the horizontal layout of the quad, making it the most prized poster for the film. Cross of iron is a 1977 war film directed by sam peckinpah, featuring james coburn.
Epstein and herbert asmodi, from the novel a willing flesh by willi heinrich phot. The film starred james coburn, maximilian schell, james mason and david warner. The film tells the story of a disgruntled yet highly decorated german sergeant, and his reconnaissance platoon that is fighting on the kuban bridgehead, soviet union. James mason, james coburn, senta berger, maximilian schell it is 1943, and the german armyravaged and demoralisedis hastily retreating from the russian front. Rent cross of iron 1977 starring james coburn and maximilian schell on dvd and bluray. A squad of german soldiers fighting on the eastern front during wwii led by a battlehardened officer fight to survive soviet attacks and dogmatic commanders in a chaotic and lethal environment in this sympathetic portrayal of another side of the war. The antiwar message of the film is brought home by peckinpah, with the choice of. Cross of iron is an antiwar film in that it focuses on the average foot soldier, the harshness of his daily existence, and the horrors inflicted on him by war. Rolf steiner james coburn is a wellrespected member of the german military and a recipient of. Steiner, on the other hand is cynical, defiantly nonconformist and more concerned with the safety of his own men rather than the horde of military decorations offered to him by his superiors. Trailer for cross of iron a very strong antiwar message film, set during world war ii and told entirely from the german perspective. Cross of iron is a 1977 wwii film directed by sam peckinpah and stars james coburn, maximilian schell, and james mason. The film focuses on a german sergeant, steiner james coburn.
Cross of iron 1977 posters the movie database tmdb. The thing is, if youre only going to do one such genre, then here the master director got it right from start to finish. Iron cross will be remembered as roy scheiders swan song and little else. This is regiment 2 headquarters calling corporal steiner. The film is set on the eastern front in world war ii during thesoviets caucasus operations against the wehrmachts kuban bridgehead on the taman peninsula in late 1943. Stransky is the only man who believes that the third reich. Cross of iron, released in 1977, was peckinpahs last major work, despite. The film was written and directed by british film director joshua newton.
It stars roy scheider, in his final film after he died in february 2008 before his filming was completed. Cross of iron original film poster movie poster studio 1598. I first saw this movie when i was very young and it has since then remained as one of the best movies i have seen and perhaps the best war movie ever. James coburn and maximilian schell star as wehrmacht officers battling each other in this slowmoving second world war film. Aug 20, 2016 cross of iron war drama 1977 iron cross afi 1114. This chapter focuses on sam peckinpahs cross of iron 1977, which revolves around a. If youre not familiar with peckinpah, hes the director quentin tarantino wanted to be when he was a kid. Cross of iron sam peckinpah, 1977 the new germany duration. Cross of iron official trailer restoration of a classic youtube. A cowardly german officer places a unit in jeopardy as an act of revenge over the sergeant who refused to lie for him. May 21, 2016 cross of iron is a world war ii film from 1977 directed by sam peckinpah.
Justicevengeance also known as iron cross in the united states is a 2009 british thriller film. Cross of iron is a 1977 war film directed by sam peckinpah, featuring james coburn, maximilian schell, james mason and david warner. Then seeing a cross cut with a soviet and german dying at the same time. Stransky is desperate to win an iron cross a medal steiner has already earned, but considers worthless and so promotes the highlyrecommended steiner to sergeant. Cross of iron 1977 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Movie title from the film cross of iron 1977, directed by sam peckinpah, starring james coburn, maximilian schell, james mason, senta berger. It was a genuine antiwar film in all senses without a shred of political bias of influence. With james coburn, maximilian schell, james mason, david warner. The antiwar cross of iron 1977 was an uneven production that featured intense action sequences but lacked focus. Cross of iron 1977 2 hr, 12 min, 41 sec is one of sam peckinpahs best. However, within his pompous persona lies a quivering coward who longs for the iron cross so that he can return to berlin a hero. Cross of iron james coburn, maximilian schell cross of iron. His embarrassment was completed, however, by his attempt to shake hands.
German commander captain hauptmann stransky maximilian schell places a squad in extreme danger after sergeant rolf steiner james coburn refuses to lie for him. Peckinpah chose to direct a film which dealt with war on an entirely different level. These men dream about survival, peace, sex and home. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comic con sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. Cross of iron war drama 1977 loyalty to platoon first.
Britishgerman 1977 war film directed by sam peckinpah. James mason, james coburn, senta berger, maximilian schell. Kritzerland kr 200149 country united states format cd release date 16mar2010 upn 857252001497 limited edition of copies. Cross of iron is a war film centred on the german army on the eastern front during the last days of the second world war, so, although it remains deeply peckinpahian in its themes and methods, it is, perhaps, outside his central focus i say perhaps because it can be seen as part of the late 1970s cycle of films about the vietnam war. Cross of iron depicts the brutal collapse of the wehrmacht. A clint eastwood role for sure, some very good actual. Stransky is the only man who believes that the third reich is still vastly superior to the russian army. Angloemi londonrapid film munichterra filmkunst west berlin prod. The film is based on a famous german novel and is set on the russian front during wwii.
It is 1943, and the german armyravaged and demoralisedis hastily retreating from the russian front. Gallery of 33 movie poster and cover images for cross of iron 1977. But coburns own favorite movies, he said, were made by his favorite director, sam peckinpah, who used him for the first time in major dundeea 1965 western that was not widely seen at the time, but has become, in retrospect, one of peckinpahs masterpieces. Hartwig and the other money men pulled the plug on cross of iron while. Cross of iron is not a musical but it makes me wanta sing it seems to me ive seen that war before, only without so much blood and gore.
Rolf steiner is a wellrespected member of the german military and a recipient of the iron cross, germanys highest military honor. The film focuses on the class conflict between a newly arrived, aristocratic. Sam ps input is obvious throughout and characters keep this film rolling for its long duration. For one thing, the narrative is unlike any wartime film. Overview of cross of iron, 1977, directed by sam peckinpah, with james coburn, maximilian schell, james mason, at turner classic movies.
Epstein, james hamilton, willi heinrich and walter kelley. A german army sergeant doggedly struggles to keep his platoon intact while surviving the horrors of the russian front in 1943. A classic and unforgivably forgotten film set during the worst conflict in history. Cross of iron good luck, miss wyckoff music composed by. In the midst of the madness, conflict brews between the aristocratic yet ultimately pusillanimous captain stransky and the courageous corporal steiner. During a siege, stransky hides in his bunker, terrified of battle, only to later file a report.
Cross of iron is a britishgerman 1977 war film directed by sam peckinpah featuring james coburn maximilian schell james mason and david warner the film i. Roger ebert was the film critic of the chicago suntimes from 1967 until his death in. He used him again in pat garrett and billy the kid 1973, a revisionist version of western history, and in cross of iron 1977, a. Cross of iron is unusual among second world war movies in. Cross of iron internet movie firearms database guns in. Corporal steiner, having completed another successful mission. The acting, however, was noteworthy, with coburn, maximilian schell, and james mason as german soldiers fighting on the russian front in 1943.
Nov 20, 2002 coburn said it all with that famous grin. All is going as well as can be expected during a retreat until a zealous, but inexperienced, captain turns. I also find the script perfectly paced, cross of iron lasts nearly two and a half hours but no matter how many times i watch it i never find it dragging in any way. The sense of men under assault in sam peckinpahs 1977 cross of iron is relentless. Cross of iron is a world war ii film from 1977 directed by sam peckinpah. Cross of iron is a 1977 film about conflicts that arise within the leadership of a wehrmacht regiment during the german withdrawal from the taman peninsula on the soviet crimea in 1943 on the eastern front of world war ii. Cross of iron is a war film centred on the german army on the eastern front. Read famous quotes from cross of iron, 1977, directed by sam peckinpah, with james coburn, maximilian schell, james mason. Cross of iron good luck, miss wyckoff music composed.
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