Cross of Iron (1976) Reviews

Cross of Iron (1976)
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A quote from Bertolt Brecht ends this bitter and angry war film by Sam Peckinpah: "Do not rejoice in his defeat, you men. For though the world has stood up and stopped the bastard, the bitch that bore him is in heat again." Peckinpah's intense and belligerently non-commercial work, (based on the book by Willi Heinrich), is a World War II tale told from the German perspective, following a platoon of German soldiers in the Russia of 1943, when the German Wehrmacht forces had been decimated and the Germans were retreating along the Russian front. James Coburn is Steiner, a German corporal and recipient of the Iron Cross who feels that he owes his loyalty to his family and fellow soldiers and not to Hitler and the German war machine. But when a new commander, Captain Stransky (Maximillian Schell), takes over the platoon, Steiner and Stransky come into immediate conflict. Stransky is a career soldier, the complete opposite of Steiner, and a man who pledges himself heart and soul to Hitler and the war. But he envies Steiner for having been awarded an Iron Cross and deeply desires one himself. The problem is Stransky is a complete coward and recognizes that the only way he can be awarded an Iron Cross would be to get the bitter Steiner on his side. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Starring:
James Coburn, Maximilian Schell, (more)
Director(s):
Sam Peckinpah
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
R
Format(s):
DVD
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Average Ratings

(25 member reviews)  

Member Reviews

Mark O.

Enjoyed both James Coburn and Max. Schell in their performances as well as a unique perspective from the German side which is realistic in that the typical soldiers were not like Hitler or were monsters as one might think. The movie brings out the struggle between the Russians and Germans on the Eastern front of WWII. Not an up to date hollywood stylish type movie but good, just the same.

Yes   |   No


David D.

Really enjoyed this movie and that rare look cinema gives us into the lives of these men while holed up in a bunker for months on end.

Yes   |   No


Bob K.

I liked the movie. The story line was very good. I especially liked the lead into the movie with actual German war footage with young children voices in the background. I fully expected the movie to be very violent; that's typical of a Peckinpah movie. I agree that voices were difficult to hear and the absence of closed captioning is a drawback. However, the cc omission is not a surprise for a 30 year old movie, which probably has a very small demand.

Yes   |   No


Erana D.

I loved this movie one of the few movie that does not have a american bias twords it this film does show the horrors of war as any film does : James Coburn , Maximilian Schell , James Mason worked very well to bad they did not team up again this film is not rememberd very well which is sad.This film shows the german soldiers as they truely were as patriots and not some kinda low-lifes their should be more movies like this.

Yes   |   No


Vahid K.

old movie. doesn't know where the beginning or the end is.

Yes   |   No


Karol R.

I realize that Nazi Germany was a terrible time in history, but this story depicts Hilter's very discipilined, huge and won many victories. This story shows their army and officers are complete idiots, undiscplined and plainly stupid. I do agree that James Coburn was good, but I believe he should have passed this ridiculous movie role. Does anyone believe that Germany was as undisciplined and idiotic as these soldiers were portrayed in this movie. Hilter had this enormous army that was well disciplined and it had walked across most of Europe and Africa. Don't bother to see this movie unless you want to see how Hollywood depicts Nazi Germany.

Yes   |   No


Mark B.

I understand the original, and complete version of this movie is quite good for a war movie. However, the quality and enjoyability of this "Hen's Tooth" release is atrocious. It is a shortened edited version and the transfer is Full-Frame. As a result of editing, the movie is disjointed and difficult to follow. This release doesn't appear to be Pan & Scan...the full-frame transfer appears to be simply framed from the middle of the wide-screen original film. The color is sometimes saturated and other times very faded. It's difficult to understand much of the dialogue some of the time and to hear the music background most of the time. Closed Captioning would help to understand the dialogue tremendously.

Yes   |   No


N V.

Great cast, great premise, bad directing, bad script, bad cinematography, no captions for the hearing impaired, no special features, no director commentary. Should have been a great movie. I slept thru the last half the first time I watched it. It wasn't any better the second time.

Yes   |   No


Josh P.

That was a brutal attempt. Not much action and the dialogue was weak. I somehow watched the first 45 minutes at which point I finished "listening" to the movie as I worked on the computer.

Yes   |   No


Randy J.

Like many "Spaghetti Western" style movies, this one will require it's own "cult" to have any future. For the rest of us, it's a total and I mean total, waste of time. If you're really into torture, rent Night of The Living Dead or Dog Day (not Dog Day Afternoon which was acceptable) to complete the task.

Yes   |   No


 
 
 

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    Member Reviews
    Read all (25)
     
    Mark O.

    Enjoyed both James Coburn and Max. Schell in their performances as well as a unique perspective from the German side which is realistic in that the typical soldiers were not like Hitler or were monsters as one might think. The movie brings out the struggle between the Russians and Germans on the Eastern front of WWII. Not an up to date hollywood stylish type movie but good, just the same.

    Yes   |   No

     
    David D.

    Really enjoyed this movie and that rare look cinema gives us into the lives of these men while holed up in a bunker for months on end.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Bob K.

    I liked the movie. The story line was very good. I especially liked the lead into the movie with actual German war footage with young children voices in the background. I fully expected the movie to be very violent; that's typical of a Peckinpah movie. I agree that voices were difficult to hear and the absence of closed captioning is a drawback. However, the cc omission is not a surprise for a 30 year old movie, which probably has a very small demand.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Read All 25 Reviews
       

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