Cross of Iron (1977)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Sam Peckinpah

Writers:

Julius J. Epstein (writer)
James Hamilton (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

28 tammikuu 1977 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

The Power of Peckinpah Has Never Been So Real...Or So Brilliant!

Plot:

In 1943, in the Russian front, the decorated leader Rolf Steiner is promoted to Sergeant after another successful mission...

Plot Keywords:

Squad | Sergeant | WWII | Soldier | German Soldier

Awards:

1 win

Cast

James Coburn	...	Unteroffizier / Feldwebel Rolf Steiner
Maximilian Schell	...	Hauptmann Stransky
James Mason	...	Oberst Brandt
David Warner	...	Hauptmann Kiesel
Klaus Löwitsch	...	Unteroffizier Krüger
Vadim Glowna	...	Gefreiter Kern
Roger Fritz	...	Leutnant Triebig
Dieter Schidor	...	Anselm
Burkhard Driest	...	Schütze Maag
Fred Stillkrauth	...	Gefreiter Schnurrbart ('Private Mustache') (as Fred Stillkraut)
Michael Nowka	...	Dietz
Véronique Vendell	...	Marga
Arthur Brauss	...	Pg. Zoll
Senta Berger	...	Eva
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Rietty	...	German Officer (voice)
Igor Galo	...	Leutnant Meyer (uncredited)
Ivica Pajer	...	(uncredited)
Nedim Prohic	...	(uncredited)
Slavko Stimac	...	Michail (uncredited)
Vladan Zivkovic	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Sam Peckinpah

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Julius J. Epstein		writer (as Julius Epstein)
James Hamilton		writer
Willi Heinrich		novel "The Willing Flesh"
Walter Kelley		writer

Produced by
Wolf C. Hartwig	....	producer
Arlene Sellers	....	producer
Alex Winitsky	....	producer

Original Music by
Ernest Gold

Cinematography by
John Coquillon

Film Editing by
Michael Ellis
Murray Jordan
Tony Lawson

Production Design by
Brian Ackland-Snow
Ted Haworth

Art Direction by
Veljko Despotovic

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Milos Antic	....	assistant director
Bert Batt	....	assistant director
Chris Carreras	....	second assistant director
Branislav Brana Srdic	....	assistant director
Mark Winitsky	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Harold Michelson	....	illustrator (uncredited)

Sound Department
David Hildyard	....	sound mixer
Rodney Holland	....	sound editor
Ray Merrin	....	dubbing mixer
Bill Rowe	....	dubbing mixer
Marton Jankov-Tomica	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Stunts
Peter Brayham	....	stunt coordinator
Milan Mitic	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Tony Breeze	....	assistant camera
Dennis Fraser	....	key grip
Branko Knez	....	assistant camera
Lars Looschen	....	still photographer
Herbert Smith	....	camera operator (as Herbie Smith)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Josef Satzinger	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Joseph Satzinger)

Editorial Department
George Akers	....	assistant editor
Pat Brennan	....	assistant editor
Ronny Reyer	....	assistant editor
Mark Winitsky	....	apprentice editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Robin Clarke	....	music editor
Ernest Gold	....	conductor
Gerard Schurmann	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Peter Brayham	....	action arranger
Marilyn Clarke	....	production secretary
Stipe Gurdulic	....	technical services supervisor
Katherine Haber	....	production assistant to director
Major A.D. Schrodek	....	military consultant
Claus von Trotha	....	military consultant
Trudy von Trotha	....	script supervisor

Thanks
Ron Hosberle	....	acknowledgment: archive still photographs provided by
Tim Page	....	acknowledgment: archive still photographs provided by

Production Companies

• EMI Films
• Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
• Radiant Film GmbH
• Rapid Film
• Terra-Filmkunst

Distributors

• AVCO Embassy Pictures (1977) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1990) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Hen's Tooth Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Hen's Tooth Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Constantin Film (1977) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Film & Teater (1977) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (2006) (Greece) (DVD)
• Continental Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• EMI Films
• Ekaterinburg Art Home Video (EAHV) (Russia) (VHS)
• Future Film (2001) (Finland) (DVD)
• Hen's Tooth Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2009) (Thailand) (DVD)
• Lumiere Home Video
• Lumière (Brazil) (VHS)
• Thorn EMI Video Australia
• Warner Home Video

Other Companies

• Jadran Film  technical and production facilities

Also Known As:

Steiner - Das Eiserne Kreuz (West Germany)

Runtime:

132 min | USA:119 min

Country:

UK | West Germany

Language:

English | Russian | French | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Australia:MA (cable rating) | Australia:M (alternate rating) | Australia:R (original rating) | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Italy:T | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Obrov, Slovenia

Company:

EMI Films

Trivia:

The ending wasn't the original ending in the script. At the time the film had run out of money so Sam Peckinpah got 'James Coburn' to improvise.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The Soviet planes that bomb the German trench system are actually U.S. Navy Vought F4U Corsairs. You can even see the U.S. military markings on them.

Quotes:

Captain Stransky: All right. I'll do it. I will show you how a Prussian officer fights.
Sargeant Steiner: And I will show you where the Iron Crosses grow.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Steiner - Das eiserne Kreuz, 2. Teil (1979)

Soundtrack:

Im Feldquartier

A Military Favourite

I can't add much to these reviews except to comment that I've found this film to be a great favourite among real soldiers. I once got to deliver the classic line to a Major and a Captain about hating all officers. Luckily(?) they knew I was quoting from the film!

I'm not bothered about the assortment of accents in the cast (that others have mentioned). It seems to me that if you believe in their situation and have immersed yourself in the film, as it was easy for me to do, then you don't even notice them after a while. I would argue that the cast (in terms of dialogue) in Private Ryan is far more of a problem, since these seem to be 1990s guys transported back to 1944 and are far too 'knowing'. Moreover, in Private Ryan I kept stepping back from the film feeling that I was simply being manipulated by the director. COI is far more chilling. I really liked (if that's the word) a scene where an artillery explosion killed both Germans and Soviets. Kind of emphasises the 'war is hell' message without preaching or being manipulative.

I think Steiner is one of the greatest military characters ever to appear on film (for what its worth, Gregory Peck as Savage in Twelve O'Clock High, and Jeff Daniels as Chamberlain in Gettysburg are also up there). I must say I didn't really like the ending, but I can't suggest a better one, but as an alternate "ending" I would certainly recommend that people *do not* see the awful sequel 'Sergeant Steiner' with Richard Burton(!) as Steiner.