Cross of Iron (1977)

In 1943, in the Russian front, the decorated leader Rolf Steiner is promoted to Sergeant after another successful mission. Meanwhile the upper-class and arrogant Prussian Captain Hauptmann ... See full summary »

Director:

Sam Peckinpah

Writers:

Julius J. Epstein (screenplay), Walter Kelley (screenplay),

Stars:

James Coburn, Maximilian Schell, James Mason

2 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
James Coburn	...	Unteroffizier Feldwebel (S / Sgt.) Rolf Steiner
Maximilian Schell	...	Hauptmann (Capt.) Stransky
James Mason	...	Oberst (Col.) Brandt
David Warner	...	Hauptmann (Capt.) Kiesel
Klaus Löwitsch	...	Unteroffizier (Cpl.) Krüger
Vadim Glowna	...	Gefreiter (Pvt.) Kern
Roger Fritz	...	Leutnant (Lt.) Triebig
Dieter Schidor	...	Anselm
Burkhard Driest	...	Schütze Maag
Fred Stillkrauth	...	Unteroffizier (Cpl.) Schnurrbart ('Private Mustache') (as Fred Stillkraut)
Michael Nowka	...	Dietz
Véronique Vendell	...	Marga (as Veronique Vendell)
Arthur Brauss	...	Pg. Zoll
Senta Berger	...	Sister Eva

Storyline

In 1943, in the Russian front, the decorated leader Rolf Steiner is promoted to Sergeant after another successful mission. Meanwhile the upper-class and arrogant Prussian Captain Hauptmann Stransky is assigned as the new commander of his squad. After a bloody battle of Steiner's squad against the Russian troops led by the brave Lieutenant Meyer that dies in the combat, the coward Stransky claims that he led his squad against the Russian and requests to be awarded with the Iron of Cross to satisfy his personal ambition together with his aristocratic family. Stransky gives the names of Steiner and of the homosexual Lieutenant Triebig as witnesses of his accomplishment, but Steiner, who has problems with the chain of command in the army and with the arrogance of Stransky, refuses to participate in the fraud. When Colonel Brandt gives the order to leave the position in the front, Stransky does not retransmit the order to Steiner's squad, and they are left alone surrounded by the enemy and...

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Plot Keywords:

russian | sergeant | commander | prussian | german soldier | 

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Taglines:

Men on the front lines of Hell.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | War

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK West Germany

Language:

English Russian French German

Release Date:

8 March 1977 (UK)

Also Known As:

Croix de fer

Filming Locations:

Obrov, Slovenia

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

EMI Films, Rapid Film, Terra-Filmkunst

Technical Specs

Runtime:

132 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (archive footage) Black and White (archive footage) Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film's final closing coda is a quote from Bertolt Brecht: It states: "Don't 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."

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Goofs

Many Russian infantrymen in the film are carrying Mosin-Nagant (M-N) M44 Carbines, some with extended bayonets. However, the M44 did not enter service until the year 1944, and the battle depicted in the movie took place in 1943. The standard Russian rifles during that year were the older M-N M1891/30 rifle and the M-N M38 carbine.

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Quotes

Captain Stransky: What of your platoon?
Sargeant Steiner: Two killed, one missing.
Captain Stransky: Two killed, how?
Sargeant Steiner: Bullets. Mortar fire, artillery, heavy salvos, bad luck, terminal syphilis, the usual things, Captain.

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Crazy Credits

In the End Credits in the North American BETA/VHS & DVD versions of the movie "Cross of Iron"(1977),there is the following quote; "Don't rejoice in his defeat, you men. For though the world stood up and stopped the bastard, The bitch that bore him is in heat again." -Bertolt Brecht

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Star Force: Fugitive Alien 2 (1991)

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Soundtracks

"Oh, Du wunderschöner Westerwald"
(german traditional)

User Reviews

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.