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The central figure in the action is Sergeant Steiner (James
Coburn), a man who is a legend among German soldiers. He fights
hard, but hates fanatics, and loves the men in his squad.
Steiner has no respect for authority - even for his understanding
colonel played by James Mason - and a newly arrived aristocratic
officer rubs him up the wrong way and starts a deadly personal
war.
Captain Stransky (Maximilian Schell) is rich and used to
getting his own way, so the rebellious Steiner becomes his
target for being hauled into line. Stransky is also desperate
to win Germany's Iron Cross for bravery and is jealous of
the sergeant's one.
Unfortunately Stransky's courage doesn't match that of the
veterans and so he tries to win the medal by falsely claiming
a dead officer's glory. After that it is all downhill for
Stransky's ambitions - unless he can find a way to get rid
of the annoying Steiner…
Cross of Iron is one of director Sam Peckinpah's greatest
films and is a no-holds barred war movie. Slow motion shots
capture the agonies of death as bullets riddle bodies and
troops are blown up by high explosives.
It is also one of James Coburn's best roles and he brings
to life the complex nature of a man who is tired of war and
yet is unable to leave it or his men behind. Schell is wonderfully
loathsome as the Prussian Stransky and while you don't like
him you have to admire his style and ruthlessness.
Sound-wise, the movie's stereo track is pretty good and while
it is not perfect, the video transfer is better than expected.
Cross of Iron is an exceptional movie.
Conclusion: Movie 95% Extras 20%
Continued:
DVD details at a glance >
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