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IMDbPro

Breakthrough

Original title: Steiner - Das Eiserne Kreuz, 2. Teil
  • 19791979
  • PGPG
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
5.0/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
Richard Burton, Robert Mitchum, and Rod Steiger in Breakthrough (1979)
DramaWar
In 1944 a German sergeant gets involved in an anti-Hitler conspiracy, and saves the life of an American colonel.In 1944 a German sergeant gets involved in an anti-Hitler conspiracy, and saves the life of an American colonel.In 1944 a German sergeant gets involved in an anti-Hitler conspiracy, and saves the life of an American colonel.
IMDb RATING
5.0/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
    • Andrew V. McLaglen
    • Peter Berneis(screenplay)
    • Tony Williamson(screenplay)
    • Dagobert Lindlau(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Richard Burton
    • Rod Steiger
    • Helmut Griem
    • Andrew V. McLaglen
    • Peter Berneis(screenplay)
    • Tony Williamson(screenplay)
    • Dagobert Lindlau(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Richard Burton
    • Rod Steiger
    • Helmut Griem
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 36User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos26

    Breakthrough (1979)
    Richard Burton in Breakthrough (1979)
    Breakthrough (1979)
    Breakthrough (1979)
    Breakthrough (1979)
    Breakthrough (1979)
    Breakthrough (1979)
    Breakthrough (1979)
    Breakthrough (1979)
    Breakthrough (1979)
    Breakthrough (1979)
    Breakthrough (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Richard Burton
    Richard Burton
    • Sgt. Rolf Steiner
    Rod Steiger
    Rod Steiger
    • Gen. Webster
    Helmut Griem
    Helmut Griem
    • Maj. von Stransky
    Klaus Löwitsch
    Klaus Löwitsch
    • Uffz. Krüger
    Michael Parks
    Michael Parks
    • Sgt. Anderson
    Werner Pochath
    Werner Pochath
    • Schütze Keppel
    Véronique Vendell
    Véronique Vendell
    • Yvette
    • (as Veronique Vendell)
    Horst Janson
    Horst Janson
    • Capt. Berger
    Joachim Hansen
    Joachim Hansen
    • Capt. Kistner
    Walter Ullrich
    • Schütze Hauser
    Dieter Schidor
    • Cpl. Paul Anselm
    Bruno Dietrich
    Bruno Dietrich
    • Schütze Nissen
    Sonja Jeannine
    Sonja Jeannine
    • Jeanette
    Günter Clemens
    • Cpl. Dorfmann
    Michael Büttner
    • Schütze Junghans
    • (as Wolfgang Büttner)
    Dieter B. Gerlach
    • Uffz. Klingsmann
    Günter Meisner
    Günter Meisner
    • SS-Offizier
    Curd Jürgens
    Curd Jürgens
    • Gen. Hofmann
      • Andrew V. McLaglen
      • Peter Berneis(screenplay)
      • Tony Williamson(screenplay)
      • Dagobert Lindlau(screenplay) (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Robert Mitchum recalled that Richard Burton was drinking very heavily during filming and sometimes had to be carried onto the set.
    • Goofs
      They went to the trouble to get a lot of things right, from the German artillery pieces to the T-34 tanks. Even the German trucks are mostly right. They didn't necessarily do such a good job on the colors. That Kubelwagen in the dark-gray color scheme is anachronistic for the period. But then we come to the aircraft. I was taken aback to see U.S. Navy Corsairs dropping bombs on the Eastern Front. And what are all those Heinkel 111s doing in the air on D-Day?
    • Quotes

      Sgt. Rolf Steiner: NCOs cannot resign.

    • Alternate versions
      A longer German language version runs at 126 minutes, extra scenes includes:
      • An opening scene that starts at the railway station, Rolf Steiner and Paul Anselm meet again and discuss their current predicament. Captain Stransky appears out of the station building and sends Steiner and Anselm to check out a railway tunnel down the line. Steiner and Anselm meet up with Corporal Kruger before returning to the station. (8mins approx)
      • When Steiner returns to German lines, the scene where he meets his new platoon is longer and includes introductions to new comrades Rothe, Dorfmann and Keppel.
      • An extended scene between Yvette and Steiner at her apartment.
      • Steiner is mocked by an old woman as he leaves Yvette's apartment.
      • The two orphaned children Steiner looks at, at the end turn up earlier and throw rocks at Steiner.
      • The final battle is extended, there is more footage of the American GIs attacking the town, the American tanks cause greater damage to the town. Steiner shoots GIs whilst trying to defend the townspeople.
    • Connections
      Features Cross of Iron (1977)

    User reviews36

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    3/10
    Not too good
    A film can usually be judged on its own merits. But a film claiming to be a sequel to Peckinpah's "Cross of Iron" and featuring some of the greatest actors who ever lived needs to be held to a high standard. "Breakthrough" is a waste of time and fails in virtually all departments.

    The plot cannot be taken seriously. It begins in late May of 1944, during the German retreat on the Eastern Front. "Cross of Iron" is set in January of 1943, yet our sequel begins where it left off, yet it's almost 16 months later. We are immediately introduced to several familiar characters, none of whom seem to measure up with their personalities from the original film. Sergeant Steiner (Richard Burton) is ordered by Captain Stransky (Helmut Griem) to blow up a railroad tunnel in order to prevent the Russians from using it. Steiner's squad fails miserably. Stop again: Coburn's Steiner was a crack NCO. He wiped out several different Russian outposts, patrols and tanks – with style. It's out of character for Steiner to be defeated to easily by one lousy Russian tank. Anyway: Steiner takes a breather in Paris, right as the Allies land in Normandy. His unit is transported to France, where they occupy the village of St. Bologne. General Hoffman (Curd Jurgens) appears and orders Steiner to cross the enemy lines and inform the American commanders (Robert Mitchum and Rod Steiger) that the German high command is plotting to assassinate Hitler and would like to surrender. This plan comes undone, and the American forces move to attack St. Bologne – which Stransky has planned to blow up – a plot which will wipe out the attackers and the civilian inhabitants.

    That's quite a bit to cram into one film, and McLaglen doesn't seem to know where he's going with this material. This is a very open-ended film, with little to link the sequence of events except pure coincidence. The script is serviceable on its own, but nothing here compares to "Cross". For starters, this new film ignores the last ten minutes or so of "Cross" and picks up right after the death of Lt. Triebig. Steiner appears to have no remorse against Stransky and, along with Kruger (Klaus Lowitsch) and Anselm (Dieter Schidor), joins the retreating force. Burton's portrayal of Steiner is simply unacceptable. For one thing, he's a bit too old and haggard to be considered a combat sergeant. He never gets involved in any physical action for this exact reason. Instead, he merely delivers dialog with a phony German accent and kills just as many Americans as fellow Germans as he seems confused as to whose side he's on. Unlike Coburn's Steiner, Burton's fails to stand for anything: he is loyal to his men, but winds up killing several of them in order to keep a promise to Colonel Rogers (Mitchum).

    The film also fails miserably because, despite a slew of Hollywood legends and some familiar German actors, the acting is banal and limited. Mitchum and Steiger are both wasted in mediocre roles as American officers. Steiger's part is particularly disappointing, as he always seems sincere but isn't given very much to work with. The only American actor in the ensemble who seems properly placed in Michael Parks in a small but seemingly-enjoyed role as Sgt. Anderson, who tags along with Mitchum on various dangerous outings. Dare I forget to mention the presence of the legendary Curd Jurgens, who gets little to do here but plays his typical typecast role of an aristocratic German General with gusto despite his obviously forced surroundings!

    The cast is chock full of German supporting actors, all of whom are forced into roles beneath their acting ability. Helmut Griem ("The McKenzie Break") is a pretty sorry stand-in for Maximilian Schell. He sure seems interested in getting his Iron Cross, but theme is reduced to an occasional reference or gag. The new Stransky is nothing more than a typical, one-dimensional Nazi out for American blood. Klaus Lowitsch is back and is a lot of fun as Corporal Kruger, although his character has changed, too: now he's wearing a German uniform and it's hard to tell is his cynicism is sincere. Werner Pochath ("Wartime") is a predictable pervert amongst the ranks of Steiner's squad; Gunter Meisner ("Is Paris Burning?") pops up in his usual role as a creepy SS officer; Horst Janson ("Shout at the Devil") is completely wasted as Steiner's company commander; even Joachim Hansen ("The Eagle has Landed") has a minimal role as Hoffman's aide. This film yearns for James Mason and David Warner, whose characters are simply forgotten in the midst of the chaos.

    On its own, "Breakthrough" still fails to make any sort of impression. The lack budgetary restrictions show up in nearly every frame. The first few scenes are composed almost entirely of stock footage from "Cross of Iron" and "The Battle of Neretva", while the rest feature a tremendous lack of extras and flair. We rarely see more than half-dozen actors on screen at one time, and the battle in the St. Bologne uses many of the same shots more than once, alternate takes of some shots, and some rather shabby soundstages. The direction always seems pretty standard and unimaginative; McLaglen, who's usually at least a competent director, doesn't take any chances in this film. Nothing happens that we haven't seen before, and the lack of flair makes the whole affair seem even more pedestrian. The music score is ill-fitting and badly written. It's composed mostly of symphonic cues which belong in a spaghetti western – or perhaps one of Antonio Margheriti's early sci-fi adventures – but certainly not an anti-war film! Fans of the cast will be disappointed. Fans of its predecessor will be severely disappointed. It's even a let-down for me, and I consider myself a pretty opened-minded war film fan. Don't even bother with this one.
    helpful•17
    6
    • SgtSlaughter
    • Sep 25, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 1979 (Austria)
      • West Germany
      • German
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • St. Marx slaughterhouse, Vienna, Austria
    • Production companies
      • Palladium Film GmbH Spielfilmproduktion 2 KG
      • Rapid Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 55 minutes
      • Mono

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