Cross of Iron (1977)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Sam Peckinpah

Writers:

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

Release Date:

28 January 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:

Sergeant | Soldier | WWII | German Soldier | Arrogance

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)
Croix de fer (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Cruz de Ferro (Brazil) [pt]
Gvozdeni krst (Serbia) [sr]
Järnkorset (Sweden) [sv]
Jernkorset - og sergent Steiner (Denmark) [da]
La croce di ferro (Italy) [it]
La cruz de Hierro (Spain) [es]
O sidirous stavros (Greece) [el]
Rautaristi (Finland) [fi]
Seref madalyasi (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Zelazny krzyz (Poland) [pl]
Zeljezni kriz (Croatia) [hr]

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 German general who visits the hospital is dubbed by Robert Reitty.

Goofs:

Continuity: The way Kiesel holds his glass changes (early in movie).

Quotes:

Colonel Brandt: Why did you ask to be relieved of duty in France?
Captain Stransky: I want to get the Iron Cross.
Colonel Brandt: [reaching into his pockets] We can give you one of mine.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Oh, Du wunderschöner Westerwald

Astounding!

Cross of Iron is probably the second best film made by Sam Peckinpah, rivalled only by The Wild Bunch. It is a war film shich follows a unit of German soldiers as they escape from the front line as the Russians smash through their ranks. This was perhaps the most devastating line to be fighting on during World War Two, and as expected there is a lot of death and gore, not to mention filth, sweat and treachery.

James Coburn plays a German soldier with an almost God-like air of invincibility about him. He is not a comic book creation, but a hardened soldier who terrifies everybody, including his commanding officers. Max Schell plays a commanding officer who wants an Iron Cross, despite the fact that he a coward, and will go to the most treacherous lengths to get it.

This is an upsetting and unflinching film. It pre-dates Saving Private Ryan by two decades, yet is just as detailed and frightening, just as bloody, and maybe even better.

Anyone yet to see Cross of Iron must do so as soon as possible. It is one of the great war films, and an unforgettably chilling experience.