JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton
Cross Of Iron (1977)
Cross of Iron
Poster
Starring:James Coburn, James Mason, Maximilian Schell, David Warner, Roger Fritz, Klaus Lowitsch
Writer:Julian J Epstein, James Hamilton
Cinematographer:John Coquillon
“What will we do when we have lost the war?” – Colonel Brandt
”Prepare for the next one.” – Captain Kiesel
Blood, guts and bullets fly in Director Sam Peckinpah’s (The Wild Bunch, The Getaway, Straw Dogs, Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia) lone entry into the war genre; trust the ornery Director to tell his savage WWII tale from the German perspective.
A powerful statement that illustrates the awesome devastation and psychologically complex toll war has on the human race. Examining the final throes of the most casualty littered armed conflict of last century, through the loser's eyes. (Those who don’t write the history books)
After being drawn into a ground war waged upon the emptiness of the Russian landscape, defeat is imminent and the Nazi’s realise they have made a massive tactical error.
Using familiar archival footage the film opens with scenes of Adolf Hitler rallying the masses, flag waving, the Nazi propaganda machine that we have all seen before.
Meshing with original footage, the introduction ends with an explosion, immediately our view of history is challenged. We join a group of seasoned German soldiers fighting not for the socialist party, or world domination, but their lives. These are a desperate, hungry and exhausted group; courage comes from a need to survive.
We experience life in the trenches with the grunts, witnessing the repercussions of bereauocratic decisions. Situations are beyond their control and they are constantly engaged in squirmishes that hold little strategic value, death looms around every corner.
Iron Cross winner, Sgnt Steiner (James Coburn) leads the recon platoon. Thriving in combat he has grown to despise officers and those who give the orders that result in his men dying. Worthless loss of life, the futility of war has shaped him into a leader that does not stand on ceremony.
“Steiner... is a myth. Men like him are our last hope... and in that sense, he is a truly dangerous man.”- Captain Kiesel
Brandt (James Mason) is the Commanding officer, who respects Steiner, appreciates that he is a superb soldier and shows him some lenience when it comes to the military hierarchy.
The sexually ambiguous Captain Stransky (Maximiliam Schell) is an upper class glory hound who requested a transfer from the soft surroundings of France up to the front for one purpose, get himself an Iron cross. Manipulative and self serving, promotion is his highest form of currency, the stage is set for conflict and betrayal.
“Then I will show you where the Iron Crosses grow!”- Steiner
John Doe says:
By the time gruff Sam Peckinpah (Ride The High Country, Ballad of Cable Hogue) began work on this film he had pissed off most of the Hollywood establishment and the booze, drugs and women was tainting his work.
The cocaine fuelled tragedy of Convoy was only a few years away, but the Director pulled it together and with Cross Of Iron gave us one last carnage riddled celluloid masterpiece.
Shot on location in Yugoslavia and financed by a Euro-porn Producer the movie was of course met with disdain by many upon release. Time has been kind to this angry and reflective movie, the existential edge works and viewed with modern eyes the narrative holds deep relevance.
Horrific and brutal, the film shows the face of our enemies, not with blind hatred as the media and our leaders do but with a compassionate eye, an objective portrait of man at war.
The politics are removed and all we are left with is carnage, pettiness and the need to endure.
The cinematography by Peckinpah regular John Coquillon captures the spectacle, horrific graphic violence and gut wrenching emotion with a realists eye.
Dizzying editing gives the action scenes brevity, slow motion, cross cuts that stay in the mind long after the image has faded. Music is used sparingly and often the sound design is fuelled by artillery and off camera mayhem.
James Coburn (Magnificent 7, The Great Escape, Fistful of Dynamite, Affliction, Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid, Flint) is haggered, weary eyed, beaten down and with that raspy voice, impossible to ignore.
James Mason (Lolita, North By NorthWest, 5 Fingers, The Boys From Brazil, The Trials of Oscar Wilde, Odd Man Out) and Maximiliam Schell (Odessa File, Counter Point) both mould themselves memorable portrayals and the supporting cast are all committed to giving the film a gritty, heartfelt feel of truth.
A mighty effort, this unromantic, cold and observant film offers a unique point of view on the theatre of war and the seldom discussed morality and slaughter of our enemies.
The DVD
Available for $13.99 it’s a bargain to see this film in Widescreen and uncut for the first time since its cinema run. The 2.0 sound is clear and some lines I couldn’t make out on VHS are easily heard now. Extras would have been welcomed, I’m just thankful they have seen fit to give it an Aussie release.
Cinematographer:John Coquillon
“What will we do when we have lost the war?” – Colonel Brandt
”Prepare for the next one.” – Captain Kiesel
Blood, guts and bullets fly in Director Sam Peckinpah’s (The Wild Bunch, The Getaway, Straw Dogs, Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia) lone entry into the war genre; trust the ornery Director to tell his savage WWII tale from the German perspective.
A powerful statement that illustrates the awesome devastation and psychologically complex toll war has on the human race. Examining the final throes of the most casualty littered armed conflict of last century, through the loser's eyes. (Those who don’t write the history books)
After being drawn into a ground war waged upon the emptiness of the Russian landscape, defeat is imminent and the Nazi’s realise they have made a massive tactical error.
Using familiar archival footage the film opens with scenes of Adolf Hitler rallying the masses, flag waving, the Nazi propaganda machine that we have all seen before.
Meshing with original footage, the introduction ends with an explosion, immediately our view of history is challenged. We join a group of seasoned German soldiers fighting not for the socialist party, or world domination, but their lives. These are a desperate, hungry and exhausted group; courage comes from a need to survive.
We experience life in the trenches with the grunts, witnessing the repercussions of bereauocratic decisions. Situations are beyond their control and they are constantly engaged in squirmishes that hold little strategic value, death looms around every corner.
Iron Cross winner, Sgnt Steiner (James Coburn) leads the recon platoon. Thriving in combat he has grown to despise officers and those who give the orders that result in his men dying. Worthless loss of life, the futility of war has shaped him into a leader that does not stand on ceremony.
“Steiner... is a myth. Men like him are our last hope... and in that sense, he is a truly dangerous man.”- Captain Kiesel
Brandt (James Mason) is the Commanding officer, who respects Steiner, appreciates that he is a superb soldier and shows him some lenience when it comes to the military hierarchy.
The sexually ambiguous Captain Stransky (Maximiliam Schell) is an upper class glory hound who requested a transfer from the soft surroundings of France up to the front for one purpose, get himself an Iron cross. Manipulative and self serving, promotion is his highest form of currency, the stage is set for conflict and betrayal.
“Then I will show you where the Iron Crosses grow!”- Steiner
John Doe says:
By the time gruff Sam Peckinpah (Ride The High Country, Ballad of Cable Hogue) began work on this film he had pissed off most of the Hollywood establishment and the booze, drugs and women was tainting his work.
The cocaine fuelled tragedy of Convoy was only a few years away, but the Director pulled it together and with Cross Of Iron gave us one last carnage riddled celluloid masterpiece.
Shot on location in Yugoslavia and financed by a Euro-porn Producer the movie was of course met with disdain by many upon release. Time has been kind to this angry and reflective movie, the existential edge works and viewed with modern eyes the narrative holds deep relevance.
Horrific and brutal, the film shows the face of our enemies, not with blind hatred as the media and our leaders do but with a compassionate eye, an objective portrait of man at war.
The politics are removed and all we are left with is carnage, pettiness and the need to endure.
The cinematography by Peckinpah regular John Coquillon captures the spectacle, horrific graphic violence and gut wrenching emotion with a realists eye.
Dizzying editing gives the action scenes brevity, slow motion, cross cuts that stay in the mind long after the image has faded. Music is used sparingly and often the sound design is fuelled by artillery and off camera mayhem.
James Coburn (Magnificent 7, The Great Escape, Fistful of Dynamite, Affliction, Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid, Flint) is haggered, weary eyed, beaten down and with that raspy voice, impossible to ignore.
James Mason (Lolita, North By NorthWest, 5 Fingers, The Boys From Brazil, The Trials of Oscar Wilde, Odd Man Out) and Maximiliam Schell (Odessa File, Counter Point) both mould themselves memorable portrayals and the supporting cast are all committed to giving the film a gritty, heartfelt feel of truth.
A mighty effort, this unromantic, cold and observant film offers a unique point of view on the theatre of war and the seldom discussed morality and slaughter of our enemies.
The DVD
Available for $13.99 it’s a bargain to see this film in Widescreen and uncut for the first time since its cinema run. The 2.0 sound is clear and some lines I couldn’t make out on VHS are easily heard now. Extras would have been welcomed, I’m just thankful they have seen fit to give it an Aussie release.
"is that the best you can do? McQueen and I used to use guys like you as toothpicks"
