Never have understood the anti-Peckinpah posture taken by critics. He brought us out of the sanitized and painless version of American history and into a thought-provoking and honest era of film making. And with "Cross Of Iron" we arrive in a foreign place yet strangely familiar, and left to do battle with our own need to take sides and find heroes. As Americans how can we root for the Germans?....so we root for the survival of those who sacrifice, who want nothing more than to survive and return home in one piece. This is a raw and humanistic work that deserves to be seen............Enjoyed your take..thanks.
Thanks for your very literate comments, Danny. Peckinpah incurred a lot of critical negativity for his depictions of violence and women in the main. Many critics felt the violence was gratuitous and exploitational and his treatment of female characters borderline misogynist and needlessly mistrustful. Along with his macho attitudes in a time of prolific feminism and women's rights campaigns, it didn't do a lot to endear himself. There's some validity to some extent in the case against him, as there is with Hitchcock, but I don't think it should detract from his visual poetry or his abilities as a magnificent movie craftsman...or achievements as an artist. For what it's worth. Thanks again, Danny, appreciated. T.
@@tonybush555 Much more to the point, however, is the fact that films like "Cross of Iron " stepped away from the Hollywood depiction of war as a simplistic and nationalistic portrayal as a fight between the Americans - the "good guys" - and everyone else as the "bad guys". Gungho representations of warfare where American soldiers, sailors and airmen, save the world, while other allied nations sat back in awe and wonderment, are a slap in the face to the military forces of other countries who also fought and died in the struggle against the Axis powers.
Met two of the cast: James Coburn back in 2000 when he was gearing up to do “Affliction”. It was by chance @ an event in BH & the first thing practically out of my mouth was “Cross of Iron” & Sam Peckinpah; well, that was all I had to say - he invited me to sit down with him & the rest of the evening (about four of five hours) we drank Bourbon & talked “Cross of Iron”, Peckinpah, acting, & film. He expounded on it @ length & it was clear he was immensely proud of it. He bought shots, I bought shots, his friend with him bought shots, how the hell I made it home in one piece is a miracle unto itself. He was one kool kat, no airs, no Hollywood BS, just down to earth & real. God bless you Jim, we miss you. Also David Warner, who - when he was in town - liked to hang out @ Ye Old King’s Head in Santa Monica. Saw him in there one night & approached him: a very classy & gracious man. He worked with Peckinpah over three films & had nothing but positive & glowing remarks about him.
That is a fantastic anecdotal story and one of the very best comments this channel has seen. Thanks so much for posting. Such things make it all seem worthwhile. I haven't reviewed Cable Hogue, but I have covered Straw Dogs in which Warner appeared albeit uncredited: ruclips.net/video/vp_ruWK6uFw/видео.html A review of Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid is due to appear soon - well, as soon as I iron out a few YT-shaped issues. Thanks again. T.
James Coburn cited this as his greatest role - glad to hear it,because he was nothing short of superb in it.The depth to his character was fantastic.Helped by a great supporting cast,ofc.
Watched this again yesterday. The last location is set on the Taman Pen. which is now the eastern end of Putin's Kerch Bridge connecting to Crimea. 1977 before videos i had to get my parents to take me to see this, on occasion dad had his hand over mum's eyes...
thank you brother - as a kid i saw this movie and never forgot it - i had read the book many times - my enlistment in the army was a result of this and i failed in the army - the movie was a motivator but we all find our own weakness when pushed to the limits - i was a paratrooper in a unit that did small unit actions - as i am dying of old age and health - i leave behind the book in my treasures for a new generation to find - and in the end life is a wonderful gift but have to wonder about the fallen so young - i grew up with vietnam news nightly - and yes death and war suck - my mom was murdered at home in 88 that terror changed me forever - but the story in all my ptsd and trauma never left me - steiner the man deep inside we all wish we are --- but find are not -- but in character stiener still lives
You've made a very poignant and striking comment, Alysson Manson, thank you for taking the time to do that. Any response I make is going to be inadequate, so I will simply wish you tranquility and peace. Thanks again. T.
Saw Cross Of Iron when I was maybe 11 or 12 - BBC aired it. I can honestly say it changed my life. Its a classic. I find the contemporaneous reviews completely mystyfying!? thanks for the great summation!! Coburn!!! Steiner!!!
As it's the review with most views on the channel and draws in mostly positive comments about the film, I would infer from that most of those critics were out of step with the impressions of the audience. And/or over time the film has been perceived differently. Peckinpah was one of those directors, one of those people, who seemed to magnetically attract conflict. Critics had a tendency to knee-jerk react adversely to his work I think, in part, because they felt it was expected of them. Always seemed to be a lot of prejudgment going on. Anyway, thanks for commenting, Tim. Appreciated. T.
@@tonybush555 thanks - I knew precious little about Peckinpah as a 10 yr old. I didn't see any of his other films (which I now love!!) until i was well into my 20s/30s... I guess being weened on WW2 fare like A Bridge Too Far/Bridge At Remagen which could be said to fall into the 'anti-war' film camp as well - seeing Cross Of Iron seemed to sit squarely alongside them... Where Eagles Dare it is not!
Thank you so much for this retrospective of one of the best, not just war films, but I believe one of the best offerings to cinema of all time. That was an amazing year, 1977, for we were also given the amazing war film, A Bridge Too Far. James Coburn is magnificent in the role of Steiner, I can see why he considered it his favorite appearance in film. Again, thank you so much for this retrospective.
On the contrary, Uncle Drayton, thank you for taking the time to watch and leave a comment. Appreciated. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours!
Star Wars, ABBA -The Tour and Rocky beat all this over intellectualism of a War film, there’s better Russian movies than this all over the place movie, the Richard Burton sequel was marginally better.
I first saw this movie on VHS while I was on active duty in the US Army stationed in Achaffenberg Germany in 1984. Since then I purchased it on DVD. I have watched it several times. It is one of my favorite war movies. 👍😌
My dad was born in Berlin in 1928 to a German father and Polish mom, both originally from Posen. He was in a Hitler Youth anti aircraft unit from 1943-1945 and in the Battle of Berlin at the end at 17 yrs old. His dad died in the war. Everything lost and so forth and so on. I grew up in the USA and mom is from New York. WW2 could be a touchy subject, not something I really understood as a kid but more fully understood as I got older. I only brought it carefully from time to time when I thought he would talk about it and got the full story over time. I walked into the living room in the early 80s, I was about 12 and he was watching this movie. I had no idea what was going on with the plot (since I walked in when it was well underway) but there was a scene were people were getting mowed down, I think as a result of Maximilian Schell characters betrayal of troops. I kept asking too many questions when my dad yelled "you don't understand!". I was taken aback but I realized that this movie had put him in one of those depressive states. I have meant to go back and watch this and this reminds me to put it on watch list.
Many ordinary enlisted men were not card-carrying party members or simpatico with those ideals. This film is about them and how they fare in the meat-grinder. Many thanks for your relevant and reflective comment, cold water. Appreciated. T.
A cat by another colour, Captain Stranski. If you think yourself socially and genetically superior to the guys who think themselves "the master race" then that makes you "the master race" over and above. And equally, if not more, delusional. Thanks for commenting, Mike. Appreciated.
I love this movie. Saw it many years and in recent years fruitlessly looked for it. Finally found it recently and watched it again. The best war movies evoke tge absurdity of war and the sacrifices of regular people to satisfy the egoes of the elitw
Brilliant review. My father film producer Roy Baird was bought on board to get the film finished for EMI because it was in so much trouble. He had to go to Yugoslavia and reschedule the shoot with a British key team. The film was then bought back to Pinewood for Editing and Dubbing and I was lucky enough to meet Peckinpah at Pinewood when I was 13 years old and learn some proper swear words.
Thank you very much, Mark. It’s great to get comments from people with a personal connection to films I love. I’m envious but in a good way. Much appreciated. T.
I read all theses style books in the late 80’s while serving in Northern Germany. I can never understand anyone being pro-war as it is only the politicians and corporates that win one the back of the common man. Great review… keep them coming…
Has to be mentioned, in regard to Sven Hassel, to the best of my knowledge, there never has existed a 27. Panzer Penality Regiment. Here in Denmark, due to the experience of Nazi occupation, Sven Hassel was never forgiven. His books not really promoted, even though they sold more than 53.000.000 copies, worldwide. Well, hopefully, in time he will be forgiven, and then, perhaps, we can start focusing on filmatizing his excellent books. With the new digital technology, they are classics waiting for the big screen.
Ice cold in Alex- North west frontier- Where eagles dare- Cross of iron- All quiet on the western front [ 1930 ]. Great movies. The opening shots in Cross of iron with the kids climbing the mountain singing was [ i no it is not his film ] that editing was worth an Oscar alone.
Agreed, James. Where Eagles Dare was one of the first reviews I did when I was learning how to put videos together and get to grips with RUclips: ruclips.net/video/DGizI0ka_9M/видео.html Sadly I don't think I'm much the wiser now than I was then. Ah, well.
As you say a very real classic. Living in Manchester at the time, many great films where not screened because of the wankers in the councils. Straw Dogs, A Clockwork Orange I saw in Salford ( which is stuck with superglue to Manchester ), I never got to see Cross of Iron on the big screen so I had to rent it on video. The guy who owned the shop told me, " I hope your not wasting your money mate." I rented it four times, and I told the owner to put as a Pick of the Week, ( which he did ), and he recorded it a number of times because word of mouth. From the begining you know its an anti-war film, critics are wankers anyway. If Hitchcock had directed Cross of Iron exactly the way Sam did, they would have hailed it as another masterpiece. If Peckingpah had directed Family Plot as Hitchcock did, the critics would have laughed. I don't listen to critics, Film fans never do. They enter the cinema see the film, when they come out and say either it was a good film or a bad film, simple really. Thanks Tony for another good blog.
Thank you for this great review. I first saw this at a movie theatre in 1977. I then watched it 5 years later with an aging Vietnam war vet. The combat sequences put my veteran friend into a PTSD stupor where I did not see him again for a month. I watched it again 10 years later with a senior WWII vet and had a similar effect. For all his flaws Peckinpah was a cinematic genius who created magic with minimal budgets and B list actors.
Really enjoying catching up with your past reviews Tony. This is a great film by any standard and it was amazing how it all came together in the end, considering Peckinpah was off his face for most of the time. The opening credits montage is incredible and I feel this alone puts the film on another level. The Sven Hassel books were very popular in my age group at the time. Of course they would be banned today. A truly dreadful film adaptation of 'Wheels of Terror' exists from 1987, a great cast wasted amongst other things.
I'm both impressed and grateful to see you're backtracking through the earlier stuff. Cross Of Iron is now the most watched of my videos on this channel so it seems a fair few people either like it or are interested in it. Which is great. It deserves a wider audience I feel. Thanks for your input, backrowbrighton. T.
At first the pictures in the final scene made the movie look bad, but then I realized that Peckinpah also knew the pictures were fake and that was genius!
Fanfukkintastic review! You tell it like it is/was ! No sweet talk, just the bare & brutal facts, in the style Sam would really have appreciated. Thanks again!!!!!
Great piece about a great movie, I enjoyed it as an under age viewer and I absolutely love it as a 5Osomting cinema connoisseur 📽🎞🍿 Thank you for doing it creative justice, so yeah, to the damn cross it was nailed to, here's to Peckinpah's classic, Gruß 🍻✨
Thanks, flamezealous. I'm quite surprised at the popularity of the film these days. The review gets more views than anything else I've done. I guess over time more people became aware of just how good it is. T.
What gave it extra realism was that filming in 1970’s Yugoslavia, under Tito (who had no problem allowing Western film crews), was the T-34’s were WW2 issue from stores, as are the uniforms and weapons, presumably Soviet ones also from storage and the German ones likely captured during Tito’s war against the German occupation.
There is just something wonderful about this film that I can't quite put my finger on. It is however in my top 5 films of all time and I am a serious film buff.
I'm on the same page. Genius is seldom, if never, perfect; without imperfections it wouldn't be genius in the same way. Sometimes it's the flaws that provide added interest. Thanks for commenting, CaptainFutura. T.
This is one of those films that I picked up on during the Christmas/New Year holidays, one year(I can't remember which), during the time when films on tv over Christmas were still a big deal, especially if A) it was one of your favourites, or B) you had never seen it before. The late night ones were always good, when you had a bit of a drunken haze going on and a midnight snack to view the film with. I always remember it being impactful.
I remember when I first saw it they had just installed a new sound system at my local flea pit - multiple speakers. At the time, the effect with the enhanced sound really augmented the visuals and the movie in general. Same with Dario Argento's Suspiria, the sound design of which blew me away. But even on TV, Cross Of Iron still hits home ,as you indicate. Many thanks, Lee.
I recently watched the full film for my 23rd birthday. It’s such a great war movie, and as aspiring film director, one of the films that I will look to the most for inspiration. Maybe, I’ll even try and remake it!
I saw this movie in the cinema many years past and that was the only time I've seen it I believe. It is an interesting point of view that's not taken very often. I remember thinking that it ended too soon and I would have liked it to keep going but I guess that was it. It must be a great movie because I've never forgotten it.
Most war films are not anti-war. They usually show the courage and devotion and other positive qualities of soldiers as well as the negative. People like to see tanks, military aircraft, warships in action and thousands of soldiers in military formation. They also like the good looking uniforms and Gung Ho nature of soldiers going to war and kicking ass while having a stirring soundtrack in the background. Many people enjoy watching soldiers actually fighting and killing their enemies and accomplishing their military objectives.
Most war films are lightweight Hollywood entertainment. They do not show the tragic and brutal reality of warfare, as Cross of Iron does. The very words you use - "gungho", "good looking uniforms", "kicking ass", "stirring music", "people enjoy watching soldiers actually fighting and killing their enemies" - show you have a very shallow, nationalistic view of war. You obviously have not the slightest interest empathy for the innocent civilians killed on both sides of a conflict. It is not just soldiers that die in war. What about women and children? Or do you think they deserve to die? How inhuman of you.
@@davidlauder-qi5zv I was just explaining what the average viewer of war films feels when they are watching these type of films. I wasn’t given my personal opinion of my views towards war. Geez you could improve your reading comprehension skills . And so quick to villainize me by calling me “inhuman “. I guess people like you read what they want read so they can direct their hatred.
I can only repeat what others said of "The Cross Of Iron" being the greatest war movie of them all. However I would like reviewers to look at an underseen and underrated war movie because it's thought of as a mere western : "Fort Massacre"(1958) with Joel McCrea
Sorry, I watched this video 3 times now, it cracks me up every time. This guy Tony Bush knocks it out of the park with a cracking, honest look at Cross of Iron. X-rated commentary so be warned, by, hey, if you have seen the film then you are no kid.TB, please do something for The Wild Bunch and Major Dundee.
Thanks Chris, appreciated. If you're a Peckinpah fan I've already covered Straw Dogs (ruclips.net/video/vp_ruWK6uFw/видео.html) , Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia, (ruclips.net/video/oEh1A9bGarU/видео.html) and The Killer Elite (ruclips.net/video/5WvOfpNEv_U/видео.html). The Wild Bunch is a key film for me, so it's on the cards, just no telling when. Major Dundee would also be an interesting one to tackle, so, you never know...
@@tonybush555 Hey, Tony. Yeah, 'fan' don't even cover it. I am writing 4 books simultaneously on Sam Peckinpah, so if you need some stills I have these on RUclips. - Cross of Iron - ruclips.net/video/TpqpJtynzkg/видео.html The Killer Elite - ruclips.net/video/BdUgZ0mzvtg/видео.html Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid - youtu.be/YrQBS-dlNQ The Getaway - ruclips.net/video/sxt1NCxczDs/видео.html Junior Bonner - ruclips.net/video/hs-aNdIA6fI/видео.html Straw Dogs - ruclips.net/video/jNLb9TFtJq0/видео.html The Ballad of Cable Hogue - ruclips.net/video/gQHyE0e7gQM/видео.html The Ballad of Cable Hogue colr bts - ruclips.net/video/iH1O_Jx2mGk/видео.html The Wild Bunch - ruclips.net/video/mmruZI1Lb2Q/видео.html The Wild Bunch (Sam Peckinpah stills) - ruclips.net/video/osmynRMlpnM/видео.html Major Dundee - ruclips.net/video/H9tjksKiQZc/видео.html Ride the High Country - ruclips.net/video/3MfuPMMaJgY/видео.html The Deadly Companions - ruclips.net/video/ZfjImElgLtw/видео.html I have thousands more if you need them. Cheers, bro.
Still somewhat forgotten and underrated war film, perhaps due to its strong european background and rather limited marketing budget and theater distribution. Still, one of the best classics of the genre and perhaps my favourite since I first saw it around 35 years ago. Quite different from the book, even regarding Steiner, who is around 25 years old compared to Coburn’s middle aged grunt. Still, in film format using older actors gives characters certain credibility, roughness and depth that a young hollywood hotshot couldn’t convey considering films overall tone. Casting is top notch and IMO using familiar first class english and american actors such as Coburn and Mason was a perfect choice for western movie goers: we are watching everything from the german view point, who usually are the villains in war movies, but through those actors Peckinpah sets the tone that they are too people. Some are bad, some are good, that is they are just like ”us”. Story and message of the movie is universal. Young russian boy soldier being killed by his own countrymen was one of the most impactful moments of the movie. And just few seconds earlier Steiner told the boy that all this is an accident of hands, his and others. All without mind. That is war and innocent children suffer from the insanity and mistakes of grown ups.
Can't remember when I first saw it, sometime in the 80s on TV perhaps. It was unusual, at the very least, to have a film seen set on the eastern front. As you say obviously not a pro war film. Great performances all round. Some of it looks a bit dated now but still one of the best war movies full stop.
TEN OUT of TEN! | As always, your excellent review of the substance of "Cross of Iron" (1977) and of the film-makers is true and accurate. When I soldiered on active duty, I witnessed and lived such nonsense as an infantryman in the U.S. Army; the careerist officer (usually an ROTC poseur) 'a RESERVE officer citizen-soldier' (paying for college with 'some service' in the active army) who lords his MANAGER status over the professional-soldier sergeants - the DOERS - by demanding textbook soldiering to make The Officer appear competent to the chain of command . . . all from the comfort of a heated command-post tent. In the U.S. of 1977, "Cross of Iron" disappointed some war-movie aficionados, especially the right-wingers did not expect an anti-war movie from the director of "The Wild Bunch" (1969). Peckinpah's thematic parallels of the Nazi-invader metaphor were obvious to right-wing Americans (specifically, the "USA! USA! USA!" patriot cohort who ALWAYS dodge soldiering) who insisted that "the U.S. losing colonial Viet Nam" was not a defeat. Moreover, "Cross of Iron" is Peckinpah's psychologically accurate deconstruction of the shameful pro-Nazism of the U.S., by representing the CHARACTER differences among the SS and the Nazis and Wehrmacht soldiers. Thank you, for your usual perceptive review.
Wow. And thank you, Mariano, for a tremendous comment that succeeds in adding some rich context and perspective to the review. Such commentary makes for a flattering companion piece. Very much appreciated. Regards, T.
Ahh, yes 1977, the year cinema died...or at least became mortally wounded. Another lost masterpiece of this time, was William Friedkin's "Sorcerer" which came out just around the same time as "that space cowboy movie" and like "Cross of Iron" died at the box office and was largely forgotten until very recently. At least "Cross of Iron" used to get shown on local tv channels during the late 70's and 80's, which is where I discovered it. I agree with Coburn, it's probably his best performance (and he gave quite a few good ones over the years).
Reviews by experts are useful as they can reveal qualities in the production that aren't apparent when casually watching a movie. I never particularly liked this film upon first viewing because I was young, and just saw James Coburn with his American accent; looking a bit old to be realistic. Although I imagine men would have grown old quickly in appearance when suffering brutal warfare and the associated daily privations. It raises the eternal question, when is film violence stylised for entertainment's sake, and when is it underlining the extreme brutality of warfare as a warning. Anyway good to re examine this relatively old movie by modern standards. It always amazes me how many eighties-born people I've worked with, who have haven't seen so many classic movies made during this cinematic era.
I think the older combat veteran aspect in WW2 reflects the fact that many men fought in both wars. Coburn's Steiner is something of a counterpart to Marvin's Sergeant in Fuller's The Big Red One. They spanned both conflicts. It may sound sad and old, but I'm finding more worth and validity in these films than I perhaps did at the time. There was a balance between messaging and entertainment, an understanding that the two were co-dependent. Maybe we tend not to appreciate the craftsmanship so much at the time. I'm certainly guilty of that to some extent. I would like to thank you for commenting. Appreciated. T.
Just seen this video mate, I saw it at the pictures when it went only general release, have to agree the greatest anti war,war movie ever made. Brilliant actors and acting, great characters too. Just pipping Das Boot but doing so all the same.
Great review for one of my favorite movies of all time. Never saw Stransky as a coward though, just way out of his depth and his self percieved "superiority" couldnt hide his lack of front line experience....a slap in the face to those who think birth and money makes them superior to everyone else. Thats my thought anyway....
Wow I had Sven Hassell books as a kid aged 10 I had the one about the Penal Battalion ( kind of a Dirlewanger unit ), I always had mature taste. I remember reading Piece of Cake about Hurricane squadron in Ww2 around the same age which was great ..These books are nasty but great reads. I’m going to start collecting the Hassell books again. Interesting that irl the SS officer FELIX Steiner is the one Hitler had the rage about in Downfall. Oh - I remember an incident just like the one that happened to Zöll when he’s assaulting the woman and what she does to him in a Sven Hassell book can’t remember which one.
This movie reminds me of the Blue Max. Similar plot. I grew up in the 60's and most WW2 movies gave the impression that the USA won the war with some help from Britain and a little assist from Russia. Of course England was fighting Germany and Japan several yrs before we got directly involved and 70% or more of the Nazi war machine was crushed by Russia at the cost of 30 Million Russian people, soldiers and civilians.
Thanks for your input, Earl. But don't underestimate the role of the USA in accelerating the end of the Second World War and contributing massively to the destruction of the Third Reich. Without their intervention things would have dragged on far longer. They may have been late to arrive, but they did their bit. I'm glad of your comments. Appreciated. T.
@@tonybush555 Much of what my country did for the war effort involved supplies, Ships,Tanks, Planes and Guns. The Arsenal of Democracy, I believe Roosevelt called it. And yes we did sacrifice many dead and wounded soldiers in the savage conflict. 16 Million american's joined the military to fight Nazi and Japan. I respect the brave men and women that served in the war, I also respect and honor those of other countries that served in the conflict.
England wasn't fighting Germany and Japan. Britain was. Why do Americans ALWAYS refer to England when you mean the United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The UK is NOT just England. And please don't say it doesn't matter. It does. By simply referring to England fighting, you dishonour those Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish vets who also fought and died in WW2. (By the way, the late Queen was not, as many Americans persist in believing, "the Queen of England". She was, as King Charles is, monarch of the United Kingdom.)
@@earlleeruhf3130Millions of Brits and Commonwealth soldiers also fought. And don't take the wrong way, it is simply a statement of fact. But in terms of the number of deaths, the US and the British lost around the same numbers - around 400,000 each. The Soviets lost 27 million, soldiers and civilians.
It is very easy to see why some critics would dismiss this film as merely an excuse to have as many explosions going off as possible, the combat scenes are extremely badly edited. This isn't a ding on the overall quality of the film, however. I'll give two examples : in the final scene where Steiner drags Stransky out to fight you see Soviet machine gunners firing, then this cuts to a clip of two Soviet soldiers being gunned down. With the traditional use of film language this would mean that the Soviets are just gunning down their own men for no reason, but this is likely not what is really supposed to be happening. In another scene during Steiner's attempt to escape after being left behind, you get a cut of German infantry that switches to an interior shot of a Soviet tank crewman loading a gun, then back to a shot of German infantry (the same ones? who knows). There is no exterior shot of the tank in any of these three clips, with an edit that flows better the shot of the gun being loaded would come before or after a shot of the tank near some German infantry, and likely show it firing, so we have some cause & effect going. The battle scenes are largely shots that feel put together randomly so you can't build any sense of the ebb and flow of battle or have any sense of who is doing what to whom. I can see how this might be a deliberate choice to try and convey some of the frenetic chaos of battle to the audience, but your mileage will vary on how successful this is. The sequel sounds a bit of an odd duck- currently you can watch it free on RUclips while the original disappears as fast as is gets posted, so you can see how much the rights holders care about that film. Steiner is still serving under Stransky, but now in France, so the first film might as well as not have happened. This might even spoil your enjoyment of the first film a little bit- while a possibility exists that Stransky survives that film the odds are incredibly low, but canonically he definitively survives, so no comeuppance here.
I have a tendency to be very forgiving of Peckinpah, for me his films are often far more than the sum of their parts. The ending was originally planned as a cataclysmic battle, but when the time came to shoot it the various production companies ran out of money and wanted to close the film down. Coburn reportedly had executives removed from the set and the concluding scenes, with Steiner and Stransky, were improvised and shot in something of a rush so that the film had an ending of sorts. I don't think Peckinpah's issues with alcohol and other substance misuse helped during the making of the film, but he did pull himself together to some extent and spent five solid weeks editing it into something that could be released. Despite its' flaws (and I certainly won't deny them) I still class it as a great movie. Yes, there are elements that could have been tighter and better executed, but I like it the way it is. I fully understand, though, that not everybody will feel the same, but when certain critics accuse it of glorifying war it does cause me to wonder if they watched the same film because I don't see it like that at all. The, errm, "sequel" bears little resemblance to Cross Of Iron. It's detached to such an extent that I'm sorry I ever watched it because it was such a depressing experience. It's best forgotten about and I wouldn't recommend it. Unless you're hyper-curious because it's certainly a curio - only not in a good way. Thanks once again for a thoughtful and interesting comment, Chris. Enjoyed and appreciated.
Loved this movie since it came out, in 1977! Was in 10th grade, when I first seen it! Have the DVD in my collection, as well! Great video, brother! Thank you for telling it like it is, about a great movie!
I saw the film at our base theatre in 1981. I didn't think of it as great or even very good honestly but it made an impression with its graphic war scenes and view from the German side.
@@tonybush555 exceptional review of the film by the way.👍. I also read that Peckinpah was promised a load of planes and tanks but was only given 3 of each, but through brilliant editing made it seem as if there was a whole tank division. And after running out of money improvised the final train yard shoot out scene in one afternoon completely unrehearsed
Brilliant film. I know some people would say Bring Me The Head of Alfredo Garicia is Peckinpah last masterpiece. I always felt this is Peckinpah's masterpiece from the violence to the performances with cast James Coburn to the kids music which is harrowing. Highly recommended.
I saw Breakthrough without knowing anything about The Cross of Iron. It was a struggle to sit through. But, shut your mouth about Convoy 😘. I just watched The Cross of Iron for the first time. Although somewhat ham fisted in places, the characters and performances were spot on. They captured all the little details that make characters real. I came straight to youtube to see what others thought of it. I enjoyed your analysis. ......but I've never understood the concept of the anti-war movie. While there are plenty of movies that glorify war, what does anti-war even mean. If I made a Peckinpah version of the Gillingham bus disaster, would that be anti-public transportation? Obviously, war is bad. People die and are maimed. Following fanatical leaders isn't a good idea. The majority of people have no desire to kill anyone. But, only the best Christians and the French allow someone to attack them and do nothing about it. If war comes to one, the options are submit or fight, there is no anti-war choice. Hello, we're here to war you. Oh, no thank you. We don't believe in war. Good day.
Whilst I get your point Chris, the term “anti-war” film for me refers more to the type of movie and the way its content is framed and mounted. It’s not entirely about stating the obvious as such - war is not nice, etc - but using a more critical tone and style to depict the whys and wherefores of war philosophically and existentially in a more humanistic and questioning sense. So, it’s a different kettle of nitro to something like, say, Where Eagles Dare (one of my all-time favourite films ever) where the emphasis is on action-centric entertainment and slam-bang thrills and spills. So called “anti-war” films may be more realistic or more abstract in their approach to the subject. As a term it’s not ideal, suggesting that if there are “anti-war” films then conversely there must be “pro-war” films - and I can’t immediately think of many if any that push the message that war is a good thing and we should embrace it as such. However, that’s just the way I understand it in terms of cinema. Many thanks for taking the time to watch and comment. Appreciated. T.
Critics can have very strange reactions at times. I myself wouldn't take a job that compelled me to watch every single movie released and in addition not at a time of my own choosing. Maybe there's bleed-over from one set of films they see to another set. Maybe they react to something in one director's earlier film and are still in that mind-set when watching the next. Maybe if they saw the movie a day later, or at another time of day, then they might have responded differently. Maybe some of them are jerks, or see the critic as the essential part of the film business. Who knows. It's not a job that anyone is properly qualified to do on a constant basis.
Just one more thing. Samuel Fuller's 'The Big Red One' came out around this time. Were these two films the end of the 'grown-up' war movie, before the film industry shifted out of the downbeat 1970's?
@@CaminoAir Very possibly. I very much rate The Big Red One. The home video version was banned in the UK during the Video Nasty hysteria because some censorship mad pillock only looked at the title and thought it was a porno flick. Now that certainly is a case of passing judgement on a film without actually having watched it. Something a lady called Mary Whitehouse was very big on once upon a time. She didn't need to watch something to know it was harmful and amoral. Just being aware of its existence is apparently enough. Interesting mindset. Thanks again, Numinous20111.
Best and deepest quote from the film was when steiner was releasingthe rusian boy. Still pertinent today : "It's all an accident... an accident of hands mine, others... all without mind... one extreme to another... and neither works... nor will ever! and we stand in the middle... in no mans land you and I... go home." Never really understood it when I was younger. As I got older, well hell, it's all there.
After watching this review. I thought "now he's a chap that knows his ass from a hole in the ground, when It comes to movies...I immediately became a subscriber. keep up the lord's work
Starring James Coburn, James Mason, Maximillian Schell, Senta Berger. Directed by Sam Peckinpah. Best war and anti- war film ever made. EDIT: and a truly epic supporting cast whose members never missed a beat.
Not only that but the Best 'Germans at war in WW2' film! Over the years, I've found most German WW2 fiction (novels, fictional movies) to be 'unbearably' politically sensitive. The soldiers, invariably are mopey, morose and demoralized, even at a time when the armed forces of Germany are virtually at their peak of power and success. OF COURSE, I have been told (and I understand completely) that the 'political realities' prevent the 'Landser' from being shown as 'patriotic' or virtuous because it would be social/political suicide for a German Author/Filmmaker. That being said, Peckinpah had a few milksop quotes from Brecht at the start and end of the film, but Steiner's platoon were tough, brave, loyal to each other and 'their' officer and NCO and, when they had to, they could kick some serious ass. I guess you needed an alcoholic American to direct the perfect German War Movie.
This is one of those movies you see and it never leaves you.
Agree, Numbbie. Thanks for commenting.
Saw that movie decades ago, I was somewhere aroud 7yo. We are still recalling it with my elder brother as one of our favourites
YES, Just like the Green Berrets
don't forget about Come and See.... that fucks with you.
Never have understood the anti-Peckinpah posture taken by critics. He brought us out of the sanitized and painless version of American history and into a thought-provoking and honest era of film making.
And with "Cross Of Iron" we arrive in a foreign place yet strangely familiar, and left to do battle with our own need to take sides and find heroes. As Americans how can we root for the Germans?....so we root for the survival of those who sacrifice, who want nothing more than to survive and return home in one piece. This is a raw and humanistic work that deserves to be seen............Enjoyed your take..thanks.
Thanks for your very literate comments, Danny. Peckinpah incurred a lot of critical negativity for his depictions of violence and women in the main. Many critics felt the violence was gratuitous and exploitational and his treatment of female characters borderline misogynist and needlessly mistrustful. Along with his macho attitudes in a time of prolific feminism and women's rights campaigns, it didn't do a lot to endear himself. There's some validity to some extent in the case against him, as there is with Hitchcock, but I don't think it should detract from his visual poetry or his abilities as a magnificent movie craftsman...or achievements as an artist. For what it's worth. Thanks again, Danny, appreciated. T.
@@tonybush555 Much more to the point, however, is the fact that films like "Cross of Iron " stepped away from the Hollywood depiction of war as a simplistic and nationalistic portrayal as a fight between the Americans - the "good guys" - and everyone else as the "bad guys". Gungho representations of warfare where American soldiers, sailors and airmen, save the world, while other allied nations sat back in awe and wonderment, are a slap in the face to the military forces of other countries who also fought and died in the struggle against the Axis powers.
A very Vietnamese feel about it I’d offer 😂
Seeing the world as it is now, I root for the Germans. I also root for the Russians now, since the west started the war in Ukraine.
Orson Welles said it was the best anti-war film since “All Quiet on the Western Front “. Peckinpah was very proud of that endorsement.
Welles knew a little something about cinema. Thank you for commenting. T.
Met two of the cast: James Coburn back in 2000 when he was gearing up to do “Affliction”. It was by chance @ an event in BH & the first thing practically out of my mouth was “Cross of Iron” & Sam Peckinpah; well, that was all I had to say - he invited me to sit down with him & the rest of the evening (about four of five hours) we drank Bourbon & talked “Cross of Iron”, Peckinpah, acting, & film. He expounded on it @ length & it was clear he was immensely proud of it. He bought shots, I bought shots, his friend with him bought shots, how the hell I made it home in one piece is a miracle unto itself. He was one kool kat, no airs, no Hollywood BS, just down to earth & real. God bless you Jim, we miss you.
Also David Warner, who - when he was in town - liked to hang out @ Ye Old King’s Head in Santa Monica. Saw him in there one night & approached him: a very classy & gracious man. He worked with Peckinpah over three films & had nothing but positive & glowing remarks about him.
That is a fantastic anecdotal story and one of the very best comments this channel has seen. Thanks so much for posting. Such things make it all seem worthwhile. I haven't reviewed Cable Hogue, but I have covered Straw Dogs in which Warner appeared albeit uncredited: ruclips.net/video/vp_ruWK6uFw/видео.html A review of Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid is due to appear soon - well, as soon as I iron out a few YT-shaped issues. Thanks again. T.
Great movie. I was a German WW2 reenactor for many years, we quoted this movie non stop.
Well if you're going to be a German WW2 reenactor this is probably the film to see. Thanks for commenting, funker419. T.
One of my all time favourite movies... just such a powerful and classic piece of filmmaking.
Absolutely, Chris. Many thanks. T.
James Coburn cited this as his greatest role - glad to hear it,because he was nothing short of superb in it.The depth to his character was fantastic.Helped by a great supporting cast,ofc.
No disagreement from me, Richard. Thank you for commenting. Appreciated.
@@tonybush555 thanks.
Look forward to your net review.
@@richardscanlan3167 Which, coincidentally, looks at another movie featuring James Coburn. I'll post it soon. Thanks again. T.
@@tonybush555 :))
"A man is generally what he feels himself to be." Steiner to the officer(Maximilian Schell) who's aspiring for the Iron Cross.
Like Das Boot, two of the greatest anti-war films ever made, and my two favourite films of all time.
With you all the way. Many thanks. T.
I second your choices.
Watched this again yesterday. The last location is set on the Taman Pen. which is now the eastern end of Putin's Kerch Bridge connecting to Crimea. 1977 before videos i had to get my parents to take me to see this, on occasion dad had his hand over mum's eyes...
Thanks for commenting. Appreciated. T.
Easily the best opening scene to any war movie! The score is fantastic & haunting.
Appreciate the comment, Carter. Thanks. T.
Saw it in the theatre as a teen. I've owned a copy ever since it became available on VHS. simply one of the best war films ever made.
I'm in full agreement with you, Richard. Thank you for commenting. Appreciated. T.
One of my all time favourite films, with many memorable lines. The action scenes are simply stunning. A Classic so far as I'm concerned.
I agree, Mayank. Thank you for taking the time to comment. Always good to encounter another Cross Of Iron aficionado. T.
thank you brother - as a kid i saw this movie and never forgot it - i had read the book many times - my enlistment in the army was a result of this and i failed in the army - the movie was a motivator but we all find our own weakness when pushed to the limits - i was a paratrooper in a unit that did small unit actions - as i am dying of old age and health - i leave behind the book in my treasures for a new generation to find - and in the end life is a wonderful gift but have to wonder about the fallen so young - i grew up with vietnam news nightly - and yes death and war suck - my mom was murdered at home in 88 that terror changed me forever - but the story in all my ptsd and trauma never left me - steiner the man deep inside we all wish we are --- but find are not -- but in character stiener still lives
You've made a very poignant and striking comment, Alysson Manson, thank you for taking the time to do that. Any response I make is going to be inadequate, so I will simply wish you tranquility and peace. Thanks again. T.
Ernest Shackleton, the Antarctic explorer may have been a real live Steiner.
One of the absolutely finest war movies made in the 20th Century.
Agreed. T.
Saw Cross Of Iron when I was maybe 11 or 12 - BBC aired it. I can honestly say it changed my life. Its a classic. I find the contemporaneous reviews completely mystyfying!? thanks for the great summation!! Coburn!!! Steiner!!!
As it's the review with most views on the channel and draws in mostly positive comments about the film, I would infer from that most of those critics were out of step with the impressions of the audience. And/or over time the film has been perceived differently. Peckinpah was one of those directors, one of those people, who seemed to magnetically attract conflict. Critics had a tendency to knee-jerk react adversely to his work I think, in part, because they felt it was expected of them. Always seemed to be a lot of prejudgment going on. Anyway, thanks for commenting, Tim. Appreciated. T.
@@tonybush555 thanks - I knew precious little about Peckinpah as a 10 yr old. I didn't see any of his other films (which I now love!!) until i was well into my 20s/30s... I guess being weened on WW2 fare like A Bridge Too Far/Bridge At Remagen which could be said to fall into the 'anti-war' film camp as well - seeing Cross Of Iron seemed to sit squarely alongside them... Where Eagles Dare it is not!
Thank you so much for this retrospective of one of the best, not just war films, but I believe one of the best offerings to cinema of all time. That was an amazing year, 1977, for we were also given the amazing war film, A Bridge Too Far. James Coburn is magnificent in the role of Steiner, I can see why he considered it his favorite appearance in film. Again, thank you so much for this retrospective.
On the contrary, Uncle Drayton, thank you for taking the time to watch and leave a comment. Appreciated. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours!
Star Wars, ABBA -The Tour and Rocky beat all this over intellectualism of a War film, there’s better Russian movies than this all over the place movie, the Richard Burton sequel was marginally better.
I first saw this movie on VHS while I was on active duty in the US Army stationed in Achaffenberg Germany in 1984. Since then I purchased it on DVD. I have watched it several times. It is one of my favorite war movies. 👍😌
One of mine too, joseph. Thanks for commenting. T.
My dad was born in Berlin in 1928 to a German father and Polish mom, both originally from Posen. He was in a Hitler Youth anti aircraft unit from 1943-1945 and in the Battle of Berlin at the end at 17 yrs old. His dad died in the war. Everything lost and so forth and so on. I grew up in the USA and mom is from New York. WW2 could be a touchy subject, not something I really understood as a kid but more fully understood as I got older. I only brought it carefully from time to time when I thought he would talk about it and got the full story over time. I walked into the living room in the early 80s, I was about 12 and he was watching this movie. I had no idea what was going on with the plot (since I walked in when it was well underway) but there was a scene were people were getting mowed down, I think as a result of Maximilian Schell characters betrayal of troops. I kept asking too many questions when my dad yelled "you don't understand!". I was taken aback but I realized that this movie had put him in one of those depressive states. I have meant to go back and watch this and this reminds me to put it on watch list.
Many ordinary enlisted men were not card-carrying party members or simpatico with those ideals. This film is about them and how they fare in the meat-grinder. Many thanks for your relevant and reflective comment, cold water. Appreciated. T.
Capt Stranksi wasn’t really a master race fan - in fact he hated Hitler. He was a Prussian Monarchist
A cat by another colour, Captain Stranski. If you think yourself socially and genetically superior to the guys who think themselves "the master race" then that makes you "the master race" over and above. And equally, if not more, delusional. Thanks for commenting, Mike. Appreciated.
I love this movie. Saw it many years and in recent years fruitlessly looked for it. Finally found it recently and watched it again. The best war movies evoke tge absurdity of war and the sacrifices of regular people to satisfy the egoes of the elitw
Like all of Peckinpah's films, it leaves a lasting impression. Thanks for commenting. Appreciated. T.
Just got the 4K steelbook version. Masterpiece
A wise buy, The Fifth Doctor. Thanks. T.
I didn't know there WAS one.. thanks, I will start looking for it. 👍
Brilliant review. My father film producer Roy Baird was bought on board to get the film finished for EMI because it was in so much trouble. He had to go to Yugoslavia and reschedule the shoot with a British key team. The film was then bought back to Pinewood for Editing and Dubbing and I was lucky enough to meet Peckinpah at Pinewood when I was 13 years old and learn some proper swear words.
Thank you very much, Mark. It’s great to get comments from people with a personal connection to films I love. I’m envious but in a good way. Much appreciated. T.
It's a pleasure.
Seems like everyone who played a part in this movie has discovered your channel, you’re the Algorithm Gold Medalist for the year.😂
I always loved when they’d play Cross of Iron on History Channel. What an incredible movie.
With you all the way, Professor.
When did this play on the history channel?
Subscribed. Great job reviewing this classic war movie. Peckinpah was a genius director.
Thank you, John. Appreciate your subscribing. T.
The Cross of Iron is one of the best movies ever!
No argument from me, guitarzite. Many thanks. T.
"A good kill"
Never going to forget that line.
as Steiner removes the empty clip from his schmeisser ( good directing,that).
I read all theses style books in the late 80’s while serving in Northern Germany. I can never understand anyone being pro-war as it is only the politicians and corporates that win one the back of the common man.
Great review… keep them coming…
Thanks Clifford. I've got some new reviews planned - early stages, but I'm working on it.
Has to be mentioned, in regard to Sven Hassel, to the best of my knowledge, there never has existed a 27. Panzer Penality Regiment. Here in Denmark, due to the experience of Nazi occupation, Sven Hassel was never forgiven.
His books not really promoted, even though they sold more than 53.000.000 copies, worldwide. Well, hopefully, in time he will be forgiven, and then, perhaps, we can start focusing on filmatizing his excellent books. With the new digital technology, they are classics waiting for the big screen.
@@ThePRCommander "Penality"? No such word. You mean "Penal".
As you say , Cross of Iron is a GREAT war movie and supremely underrated .
Thanks for commenting, r Kurz. Appreciated.
Ice cold in Alex- North west frontier- Where eagles dare- Cross of iron- All quiet on the western front [ 1930 ]. Great movies. The opening shots in Cross of iron with the kids climbing the mountain singing was [ i no it is not his film ] that editing was worth an Oscar alone.
Agreed, James. Where Eagles Dare was one of the first reviews I did when I was learning how to put videos together and get to grips with RUclips: ruclips.net/video/DGizI0ka_9M/видео.html Sadly I don't think I'm much the wiser now than I was then. Ah, well.
@@tonybush555Danny boy calling broadsword
As you say a very real classic. Living in Manchester at the time, many great films where not screened because of the wankers in the councils. Straw Dogs, A Clockwork Orange I saw in Salford ( which is stuck with superglue to Manchester ), I never got to see Cross of Iron on the big screen so I had to rent it on video. The guy who owned the shop told me, " I hope your not wasting your money mate." I rented it four times, and I told the owner to put as a Pick of the Week, ( which he did ), and he recorded it a number of times because word of mouth. From the begining you know its an anti-war film, critics are wankers anyway. If Hitchcock had directed Cross of Iron exactly the way Sam did, they would have hailed it as another masterpiece. If Peckingpah had directed Family Plot as Hitchcock did, the critics would have laughed. I don't listen to critics, Film fans never do. They enter the cinema see the film, when they come out and say either it was a good film or a bad film, simple really. Thanks Tony for another good blog.
Thanks once again, pambos, for taking the time to leave an informative and incisive anecdotal commentary. Very much appreciated. T.
Yup, have to say, I was a Sven Hassel, and Leo Kessler fan💂♂️🪖⛑️🏴🇨🇦
I read them avidly in my early teens. And I remain unapologetic. Thanks for commenting, Wardog. T.
Seen it twice in the summer of 77 when I was 15 and couldn't believe how realistic and awesome it truly was and still do!! It aged superbly!!
That would put us around the same age. When I first saw it I felt the same. Feel the same now. Thanks for commenting, John. Appreciated. T.
@@tonybush555 after that we went and watched Rolling Thunder ,a revenge flick with William Devane!! Cool summer of 77!!
@@malemesjager41 I have Rolling Thunder slated for a review in the very near future. Watch this space.
Thank you for this great review. I first saw this at a movie theatre in 1977. I then watched it 5 years later with an aging Vietnam war vet. The combat sequences put my veteran friend into a PTSD stupor where I did not see him again for a month. I watched it again 10 years later with a senior WWII vet and had a similar effect. For all his flaws Peckinpah was a cinematic genius who created magic with minimal budgets and B list actors.
Glad you liked it, Joe, and many thanks for commenting. T,
One of my favourite war (anti war) films, it is a great film.
Really enjoying catching up with your past reviews Tony. This is a great film by any standard and it was amazing how it all came together in the end, considering Peckinpah was off his face for most of the time. The opening credits montage is incredible and I feel this alone puts the film on another level. The Sven Hassel books were very popular in my age group at the time. Of course they would be banned today. A truly dreadful film adaptation of 'Wheels of Terror' exists from 1987, a great cast wasted amongst other things.
I'm both impressed and grateful to see you're backtracking through the earlier stuff. Cross Of Iron is now the most watched of my videos on this channel so it seems a fair few people either like it or are interested in it. Which is great. It deserves a wider audience I feel. Thanks for your input, backrowbrighton. T.
One of my favourite war movies.
Mine too, Ricky. Thanks for commenting. T.
Great film, and a mostly German cast was a real plus. By the films ending, the return to the German line was heartbreaking.
Grateful thanks for commenting, R Fletch. T.
At first the pictures in the final scene made the movie look bad, but then I realized that Peckinpah also knew the pictures were fake and that was genius!
Fanfukkintastic review! You tell it like it is/was ! No sweet talk, just the bare & brutal facts, in the style Sam would really have appreciated.
Thanks again!!!!!
Hey, Tim, thanks for your very kind and much appreciated comments. Regards. T.
Great piece about a great movie, I enjoyed it as an under age viewer and I absolutely love it as a 5Osomting cinema connoisseur 📽🎞🍿 Thank you for doing it creative justice, so yeah, to the damn cross it was nailed to, here's to Peckinpah's classic, Gruß 🍻✨
Thanks, flamezealous. I'm quite surprised at the popularity of the film these days. The review gets more views than anything else I've done. I guess over time more people became aware of just how good it is. T.
What gave it extra realism was that filming in 1970’s Yugoslavia, under Tito (who had no problem allowing Western film crews), was the T-34’s were WW2 issue from stores, as are the uniforms and weapons, presumably Soviet ones also from storage and the German ones likely captured during Tito’s war against the German occupation.
Thanks for adding some additional background, Graham. Appreciate you commenting. T.
An excellent review. Cheers. Kudos. The story and script are brilliant, and the film is woefully under-rated.
Thank you, Abdullah Drury, for commenting. Very much appreciated.
There is just something wonderful about this film that I can't quite put my finger on. It is however in my top 5 films of all time and I am a serious film buff.
Thank you, mr sose. Appreciated.
@@tonybush555 Steiner 2 (1979) is also a good watch sir!
Thank you for this. For all its faults I have loved this film for the best part of 40 years.
I'm on the same page. Genius is seldom, if never, perfect; without imperfections it wouldn't be genius in the same way. Sometimes it's the flaws that provide added interest. Thanks for commenting, CaptainFutura. T.
Great film, great review. My Dad took me to see this when it came out. Only time in my life he took me to the movies.
Well, at least he took you to see something good. Thanks for commenting. Appreciated. T.
This is one of those films that I picked up on during the Christmas/New Year holidays, one year(I can't remember which), during the time when films on tv over Christmas were still a big deal, especially if A) it was one of your favourites, or B) you had never seen it before. The late night ones were always good, when you had a bit of a drunken haze going on and a midnight snack to view the film with. I always remember it being impactful.
I remember when I first saw it they had just installed a new sound system at my local flea pit - multiple speakers. At the time, the effect with the enhanced sound really augmented the visuals and the movie in general. Same with Dario Argento's Suspiria, the sound design of which blew me away. But even on TV, Cross Of Iron still hits home ,as you indicate. Many thanks, Lee.
I recently watched the full film for my 23rd birthday. It’s such a great war movie, and as aspiring film director, one of the films that I will look to the most for inspiration. Maybe, I’ll even try and remake it!
Glad you draw inspiration from it and I wish you well in your career. Thank you for commenting. Appreciate it. T.
This is a good and fair appraisal of Peckinpah and his only war film. I laughed at this guy Tony Bush's frank and funny narrative. Good one!
Thanks, Chris. Much appreciated. T.
I saw this movie in the cinema many years past and that was the only time I've seen it I believe. It is an interesting point of view that's not taken very often. I remember thinking that it ended too soon and I would have liked it to keep going but I guess that was it. It must be a great movie because I've never forgotten it.
It does stay in the memory, Valinor. Thanks for commenting. T.
Most war films are not anti-war. They usually show the courage and devotion and other positive qualities of soldiers as well as the negative. People like to see tanks, military aircraft, warships in action and thousands of soldiers in military formation. They also like the good looking uniforms and Gung Ho nature of soldiers going to war and kicking ass while having a stirring soundtrack in the background. Many people enjoy watching soldiers actually fighting and killing their enemies and accomplishing their military objectives.
そして 平和活動家(偽善者)が 血眼になって批判する戦争映画が 一番反戦映画になると言うことですね。
Most war films are lightweight Hollywood entertainment. They do not show the tragic and brutal reality of warfare, as Cross of Iron does. The very words you use - "gungho", "good looking uniforms", "kicking ass", "stirring music", "people enjoy watching soldiers actually fighting and killing their enemies" - show you have a very shallow, nationalistic view of war. You obviously have not the slightest interest empathy for the innocent civilians killed on both sides of a conflict. It is not just soldiers that die in war. What about women and children? Or do you think they deserve to die? How inhuman of you.
@@davidlauder-qi5zv I was just explaining what the average viewer of war films feels when they are watching these type of films. I wasn’t given my personal opinion of my views towards war. Geez you could improve your reading comprehension skills . And so quick to villainize me by calling me “inhuman “. I guess people like you read what they want read so they can direct their hatred.
I can only repeat what others said of
"The Cross Of Iron" being the greatest war movie of them all.
However I would like reviewers to look at an underseen and underrated war movie because it's thought of as a mere western :
"Fort Massacre"(1958)
with Joel McCrea
When I get a moment I'll check it out. Thanks for commenting. T.
Sorry, I watched this video 3 times now, it cracks me up every time. This guy Tony Bush knocks it out of the park with a cracking, honest look at Cross of Iron. X-rated commentary so be warned, by, hey, if you have seen the film then you are no kid.TB, please do something for The Wild Bunch and Major Dundee.
Thanks Chris, appreciated. If you're a Peckinpah fan I've already covered Straw Dogs (ruclips.net/video/vp_ruWK6uFw/видео.html) , Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia, (ruclips.net/video/oEh1A9bGarU/видео.html) and The Killer Elite (ruclips.net/video/5WvOfpNEv_U/видео.html). The Wild Bunch is a key film for me, so it's on the cards, just no telling when. Major Dundee would also be an interesting one to tackle, so, you never know...
@@tonybush555 Hey, Tony. Yeah, 'fan' don't even cover it. I am writing 4 books simultaneously on Sam Peckinpah, so if you need some stills I have these on RUclips. - Cross of Iron - ruclips.net/video/TpqpJtynzkg/видео.html
The Killer Elite - ruclips.net/video/BdUgZ0mzvtg/видео.html
Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid - youtu.be/YrQBS-dlNQ
The Getaway - ruclips.net/video/sxt1NCxczDs/видео.html
Junior Bonner - ruclips.net/video/hs-aNdIA6fI/видео.html
Straw Dogs - ruclips.net/video/jNLb9TFtJq0/видео.html
The Ballad of Cable Hogue - ruclips.net/video/gQHyE0e7gQM/видео.html
The Ballad of Cable Hogue colr bts - ruclips.net/video/iH1O_Jx2mGk/видео.html
The Wild Bunch - ruclips.net/video/mmruZI1Lb2Q/видео.html
The Wild Bunch (Sam Peckinpah stills) - ruclips.net/video/osmynRMlpnM/видео.html
Major Dundee - ruclips.net/video/H9tjksKiQZc/видео.html
Ride the High Country - ruclips.net/video/3MfuPMMaJgY/видео.html
The Deadly Companions - ruclips.net/video/ZfjImElgLtw/видео.html
I have thousands more if you need them. Cheers, bro.
Great picture. My favourite war film.
You are a person of taste, Ax18. Thanks for commenting. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
@@tonybush555 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you as well
Still somewhat forgotten and underrated war film, perhaps due to its strong european background and rather limited marketing budget and theater distribution. Still, one of the best classics of the genre and perhaps my favourite since I first saw it around 35 years ago. Quite different from the book, even regarding Steiner, who is around 25 years old compared to Coburn’s middle aged grunt. Still, in film format using older actors gives characters certain credibility, roughness and depth that a young hollywood hotshot couldn’t convey considering films overall tone. Casting is top notch and IMO using familiar first class english and american actors such as Coburn and Mason was a perfect choice for western movie goers: we are watching everything from the german view point, who usually are the villains in war movies, but through those actors Peckinpah sets the tone that they are too people. Some are bad, some are good, that is they are just like ”us”. Story and message of the movie is universal.
Young russian boy soldier being killed by his own countrymen was one of the most impactful moments of the movie. And just few seconds earlier Steiner told the boy that all this is an accident of hands, his and others. All without mind. That is war and innocent children suffer from the insanity and mistakes of grown ups.
Thanks for posting an interesting and insightful comment, TheGrunt76. Appreciate your taking the time and making the effort. T.
Can't remember when I first saw it, sometime in the 80s on TV perhaps. It was unusual, at the very least, to have a film seen set on the eastern front. As you say obviously not a pro war film. Great performances all round. Some of it looks a bit dated now but still one of the best war movies full stop.
Thanks for commenting, Richard. Appreciated. T.
My favourite film of all.
A fine choice, richard. Many thanks. T.
Great video of an Great movie. My favorite all time movie!
Thank you, GSG5master. T.
A great fucking movie with the best ending of any war movie ever.
A great appraisal. T.
One of the best war movies ever. Now on beautifull 4k. I just love this movie,dirty as it is. War is hell.
Thanks for commenting, James. Much appreciated. T.
Good job; I've got to see this one again.
Thanks for commenting, Tector. Appreciated. T.
I guess my favourite war film is still Apocalypse Now, but Cross of Iron is very close behind.
Apocalypse Now is an excellent choice. Mine still remains Where Eagles Dare, but like you, Cross Of Iron is close. Thanks for commenting. T.
Absolute legend💪💪🔥🔥🔥
Thanks for your comment, Peter. Appreciated.
What a story! Thanks!
No, thank you, Erv. Appreciated.
Read the book and saw the movie. Love it.
Thanks for commenting. T.
TEN OUT of TEN! | As always, your excellent review of the substance of "Cross of Iron" (1977) and of the film-makers is true and accurate. When I soldiered on active duty, I witnessed and lived such nonsense as an infantryman in the U.S. Army; the careerist officer (usually an ROTC poseur) 'a RESERVE officer citizen-soldier' (paying for college with 'some service' in the active army) who lords his MANAGER status over the professional-soldier sergeants - the DOERS - by demanding textbook soldiering to make The Officer appear competent to the chain of command . . . all from the comfort of a heated command-post tent.
In the U.S. of 1977, "Cross of Iron" disappointed some war-movie aficionados, especially the right-wingers did not expect an anti-war movie from the director of "The Wild Bunch" (1969). Peckinpah's thematic parallels of the Nazi-invader metaphor were obvious to right-wing Americans (specifically, the "USA! USA! USA!" patriot cohort who ALWAYS dodge soldiering) who insisted that "the U.S. losing colonial Viet Nam" was not a defeat. Moreover, "Cross of Iron" is Peckinpah's psychologically accurate deconstruction of the shameful pro-Nazism of the U.S., by representing the CHARACTER differences among the SS and the Nazis and Wehrmacht soldiers. Thank you, for your usual perceptive review.
Wow. And thank you, Mariano, for a tremendous comment that succeeds in adding some rich context and perspective to the review. Such commentary makes for a flattering companion piece. Very much appreciated. Regards, T.
@@tonybush555 --- I comment as I do, because you are a film critic who deals with the style and the substance of a film.
Ahh, yes 1977, the year cinema died...or at least became mortally wounded. Another lost masterpiece of this time, was William Friedkin's "Sorcerer" which came out just around the same time as "that space cowboy movie" and like "Cross of Iron" died at the box office and was largely forgotten until very recently. At least "Cross of Iron" used to get shown on local tv channels during the late 70's and 80's, which is where I discovered it. I agree with Coburn, it's probably his best performance (and he gave quite a few good ones over the years).
As luck would have it, Sorcerer: ruclips.net/video/qh9qi8Ru8-4/видео.html
@@tonybush555 Yeah, I watched that a few months ago. First time seeing it and I was blown away by it.
Great film good review mate
Thanks Wayne. Appreciate your comment. T.
Reviews by experts are useful as they can reveal qualities in the production that aren't apparent when casually watching a movie. I never particularly liked this film upon first viewing because I was young, and just saw James Coburn with his American accent; looking a bit old to be realistic. Although I imagine men would have grown old quickly in appearance when suffering brutal warfare and the associated daily privations. It raises the eternal question, when is film violence stylised for entertainment's sake, and when is it underlining the extreme brutality of warfare as a warning. Anyway good to re examine this relatively old movie by modern standards. It always amazes me how many eighties-born people I've worked with, who have haven't seen so many classic movies made during this cinematic era.
I think the older combat veteran aspect in WW2 reflects the fact that many men fought in both wars. Coburn's Steiner is something of a counterpart to Marvin's Sergeant in Fuller's The Big Red One. They spanned both conflicts. It may sound sad and old, but I'm finding more worth and validity in these films than I perhaps did at the time. There was a balance between messaging and entertainment, an understanding that the two were co-dependent. Maybe we tend not to appreciate the craftsmanship so much at the time. I'm certainly guilty of that to some extent. I would like to thank you for commenting. Appreciated. T.
6:36 Thank you so much!
You're more than welcome. Thank you for commenting. T
Just seen this video mate, I saw it at the pictures when it went only general release, have to agree the greatest anti war,war movie ever made. Brilliant actors and acting, great characters too. Just pipping Das Boot but doing so all the same.
Thank you very much for commenting, Peter. Appreciated. T.
Great analysis I've just discovered your channel !I love this movie too
Oh, thank you very much, Yann. Hope you'll stick around and take in the sights and sounds. And choose to comment in future. Much appreciated. T.
@@tonybush555 you're welcome I'm fond of classic movies.I will do so
@@yanncarduner4516 Glad to hear it. T.
Great review for one of my favorite movies of all time. Never saw Stransky as a coward though, just way out of his depth and his self percieved "superiority" couldnt hide his lack of front line experience....a slap in the face to those who think birth and money makes them superior to everyone else. Thats my thought anyway....
Stransky - the Prussian Prince Harry of his day. Thanks for your comment, Grant. Appreciated. T.
Boss film, have it on V.H.S and D.V.D. Great review of a classic war film 👍
Thanks for commenting, Matt. Appreciated. T.
I still have all of Sven Hassels books👍
War novel pulp classics. And potent historical artifacts. T.
Great video on a way under appreciated movie.
Thank you, Ordnance Lab. Appreciated.
Wow I had Sven Hassell books as a kid aged 10 I had the one about the Penal Battalion ( kind of a Dirlewanger unit ), I always had mature taste. I remember reading Piece of Cake about Hurricane squadron in Ww2 around the same age which was great ..These books are nasty but great reads. I’m going to start collecting the Hassell books again. Interesting that irl the SS officer FELIX Steiner is the one Hitler had the rage about in Downfall. Oh - I remember an incident just like the one that happened to Zöll when he’s assaulting the woman and what she does to him in a Sven Hassell book can’t remember which one.
This is my favorite movie
Excellent choice.
Outstanding Film, end off!!
Fair comment, Peter. Thanks. T.
This movie reminds me of the Blue Max. Similar plot. I grew up in the 60's and most WW2 movies gave the impression that the USA won the war with some help from Britain and a little assist from Russia. Of course England was fighting Germany and Japan several yrs before we got directly involved and 70% or more of the Nazi war machine was crushed by Russia at the cost of 30 Million Russian people, soldiers and civilians.
Thanks for your input, Earl. But don't underestimate the role of the USA in accelerating the end of the Second World War and contributing massively to the destruction of the Third Reich. Without their intervention things would have dragged on far longer. They may have been late to arrive, but they did their bit. I'm glad of your comments. Appreciated. T.
@@tonybush555 Much of what my country did for the war effort involved supplies, Ships,Tanks, Planes and Guns. The Arsenal of Democracy, I believe Roosevelt called it. And yes we did sacrifice many dead and wounded soldiers in the savage conflict. 16 Million american's joined the military to fight Nazi and Japan. I respect the brave men and women that served in the war, I also respect and honor those of other countries that served in the conflict.
@@earlleeruhf3130 Well said. T.
England wasn't fighting Germany and Japan. Britain was. Why do Americans ALWAYS refer to England when you mean the United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The UK is NOT just England. And please don't say it doesn't matter. It does. By simply referring to England fighting, you dishonour those Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish vets who also fought and died in WW2. (By the way, the late Queen was not, as many Americans persist in believing, "the Queen of England". She was, as King Charles is, monarch of the United Kingdom.)
@@earlleeruhf3130Millions of Brits and Commonwealth soldiers also fought. And don't take the wrong way, it is simply a statement of fact. But in terms of the number of deaths, the US and the British lost around the same numbers - around 400,000 each. The Soviets lost 27 million, soldiers and civilians.
Great movie, could rewatch it any day!!
Completely agree, Philip. Thanks for commenting. T.
It is very easy to see why some critics would dismiss this film as merely an excuse to have as many explosions going off as possible, the combat scenes are extremely badly edited. This isn't a ding on the overall quality of the film, however. I'll give two examples : in the final scene where Steiner drags Stransky out to fight you see Soviet machine gunners firing, then this cuts to a clip of two Soviet soldiers being gunned down. With the traditional use of film language this would mean that the Soviets are just gunning down their own men for no reason, but this is likely not what is really supposed to be happening. In another scene during Steiner's attempt to escape after being left behind, you get a cut of German infantry that switches to an interior shot of a Soviet tank crewman loading a gun, then back to a shot of German infantry (the same ones? who knows). There is no exterior shot of the tank in any of these three clips, with an edit that flows better the shot of the gun being loaded would come before or after a shot of the tank near some German infantry, and likely show it firing, so we have some cause & effect going. The battle scenes are largely shots that feel put together randomly so you can't build any sense of the ebb and flow of battle or have any sense of who is doing what to whom. I can see how this might be a deliberate choice to try and convey some of the frenetic chaos of battle to the audience, but your mileage will vary on how successful this is.
The sequel sounds a bit of an odd duck- currently you can watch it free on RUclips while the original disappears as fast as is gets posted, so you can see how much the rights holders care about that film. Steiner is still serving under Stransky, but now in France, so the first film might as well as not have happened. This might even spoil your enjoyment of the first film a little bit- while a possibility exists that Stransky survives that film the odds are incredibly low, but canonically he definitively survives, so no comeuppance here.
I have a tendency to be very forgiving of Peckinpah, for me his films are often far more than the sum of their parts. The ending was originally planned as a cataclysmic battle, but when the time came to shoot it the various production companies ran out of money and wanted to close the film down. Coburn reportedly had executives removed from the set and the concluding scenes, with Steiner and Stransky, were improvised and shot in something of a rush so that the film had an ending of sorts. I don't think Peckinpah's issues with alcohol and other substance misuse helped during the making of the film, but he did pull himself together to some extent and spent five solid weeks editing it into something that could be released. Despite its' flaws (and I certainly won't deny them) I still class it as a great movie. Yes, there are elements that could have been tighter and better executed, but I like it the way it is. I fully understand, though, that not everybody will feel the same, but when certain critics accuse it of glorifying war it does cause me to wonder if they watched the same film because I don't see it like that at all.
The, errm, "sequel" bears little resemblance to Cross Of Iron. It's detached to such an extent that I'm sorry I ever watched it because it was such a depressing experience. It's best forgotten about and I wouldn't recommend it. Unless you're hyper-curious because it's certainly a curio - only not in a good way.
Thanks once again for a thoughtful and interesting comment, Chris. Enjoyed and appreciated.
Loved this movie since it came out, in 1977! Was in 10th grade, when I first seen it! Have the DVD in my collection, as well! Great video, brother! Thank you for telling it like it is, about a great movie!
On the contrary, thank you, Mark, for taking the time to comment. Much appreciated. T.
Saw it in 1977 it is one of the greatest war movies of all time
You're on my wavelength, David. Thanks for commenting. T.
It's really an anti-war film. Orson Wells described it as the greatest anti-war film ever made.
I saw the film at our base theatre in 1981. I didn't think of it as great or even very good honestly but it made an impression with its graphic war scenes and view from the German side.
My favourite war film of all time.
Damn fine choice, Laurence. Thank you for commenting. T.
@@tonybush555 exceptional review of the film by the way.👍. I also read that Peckinpah was promised a load of planes and tanks but was only given 3 of each, but through brilliant editing made it seem as if there was a whole tank division. And after running out of money improvised the final train yard shoot out scene in one afternoon completely unrehearsed
@@laurencelevene4333 Peckinpah was something else, that's for sure. We'll never see his like again...unfortunately. Thanks, Laurence. T.
@@tonybush555 you're absolutely right Tony. He's probably my favourite film director along with Sergio Leone and Stanley Kubrick
Brilliant film. I know some people would say Bring Me The Head of Alfredo Garicia is Peckinpah last masterpiece. I always felt this is Peckinpah's masterpiece from the violence to the performances with cast James Coburn to the kids music which is harrowing. Highly recommended.
I certainly think it's the last great thing he did, John. Cheers. T.
The editing feels like it was done to be watched on 1/2 speed. Makes sense when you find out he was face down in white powder
I saw Breakthrough without knowing anything about The Cross of Iron. It was a struggle to sit through. But, shut your mouth about Convoy 😘.
I just watched The Cross of Iron for the first time. Although somewhat ham fisted in places, the characters and performances were spot on. They captured all the little details that make characters real. I came straight to youtube to see what others thought of it. I enjoyed your analysis.
......but
I've never understood the concept of the anti-war movie. While there are plenty of movies that glorify war, what does anti-war even mean. If I made a Peckinpah version of the Gillingham bus disaster, would that be anti-public transportation? Obviously, war is bad. People die and are maimed. Following fanatical leaders isn't a good idea. The majority of people have no desire to kill anyone.
But, only the best Christians and the French allow someone to attack them and do nothing about it. If war comes to one, the options are submit or fight, there is no anti-war choice.
Hello, we're here to war you.
Oh, no thank you. We don't believe in war. Good day.
Whilst I get your point Chris, the term “anti-war” film for me refers more to the type of movie and the way its content is framed and mounted. It’s not entirely about stating the obvious as such - war is not nice, etc - but using a more critical tone and style to depict the whys and wherefores of war philosophically and existentially in a more humanistic and questioning sense. So, it’s a different kettle of nitro to something like, say, Where Eagles Dare (one of my all-time favourite films ever) where the emphasis is on action-centric entertainment and slam-bang thrills and spills. So called “anti-war” films may be more realistic or more abstract in their approach to the subject. As a term it’s not ideal, suggesting that if there are “anti-war” films then conversely there must be “pro-war” films - and I can’t immediately think of many if any that push the message that war is a good thing and we should embrace it as such. However, that’s just the way I understand it in terms of cinema. Many thanks for taking the time to watch and comment. Appreciated. T.
Critics can have very strange reactions at times. I myself wouldn't take a job that compelled me to watch every single movie released and in addition not at a time of my own choosing. Maybe there's bleed-over from one set of films they see to another set. Maybe they react to something in one director's earlier film and are still in that mind-set when watching the next. Maybe if they saw the movie a day later, or at another time of day, then they might have responded differently. Maybe some of them are jerks, or see the critic as the essential part of the film business. Who knows. It's not a job that anyone is properly qualified to do on a constant basis.
Just one more thing. Samuel Fuller's 'The Big Red One' came out around this time. Were these two films the end of the 'grown-up' war movie, before the film industry shifted out of the downbeat 1970's?
@@CaminoAir Very possibly. I very much rate The Big Red One. The home video version was banned in the UK during the Video Nasty hysteria because some censorship mad pillock only looked at the title and thought it was a porno flick. Now that certainly is a case of passing judgement on a film without actually having watched it. Something a lady called Mary Whitehouse was very big on once upon a time. She didn't need to watch something to know it was harmful and amoral. Just being aware of its existence is apparently enough. Interesting mindset. Thanks again, Numinous20111.
Best and deepest quote from the film was when steiner was releasingthe rusian boy. Still pertinent today : "It's all an accident... an accident of hands mine, others... all without mind... one extreme to another... and neither works... nor will ever! and we stand in the middle... in no mans land you and I... go home." Never really understood it when I was younger. As I got older, well hell, it's all there.
Another example of why this is not just a standard war film. Thanks, Jack. T.
After watching this review. I thought "now he's a chap that knows his ass from a hole in the ground, when It comes to movies...I immediately became a subscriber. keep up the lord's work
Thanks for the encouraging words, Robert. Appreciate your comment and subscription. Regards. T.
America is honored by this American-made
ANTI-war movie
that proves to be the greatest war
movie since "Bridge on the River Kwai"
Starring James Coburn, James Mason, Maximillian Schell, Senta Berger. Directed by Sam Peckinpah. Best war and anti- war film ever made. EDIT: and a truly epic supporting cast whose members never missed a beat.
"Demarcation, demarcation." fuc#ng marvellous film.
You're really working your way through these, andy. I admire that. Thanks. T.
Great Movie, Rolf Steiner is the anti-hero. Hollywood can make a remake.
Indeed, Rolf. Hollywood "can" make a remake but whether they "should" is another matter. Many thanks. T.
No good actor's in Hollywood anymore.
Very good film tony one of the best
Indeed, Gerald. Thanks for commenting. Appreciated.
F'n great film.
F'n right. T.
3:00 That’s not Maximillion Schell 😂😂
Is it not? I would have sworn it's "Maximilian Schell" at 03:00. If it isn't, who is it? Answers on a postcard.
Best war film ever.
Thanks for commenting, Infantry Captain 92. Appreciated.
Not only that but the Best 'Germans at war in WW2' film! Over the years, I've found most German WW2 fiction (novels, fictional movies) to be 'unbearably' politically sensitive. The soldiers, invariably are mopey, morose and demoralized, even at a time when the armed forces of Germany are virtually at their peak of power and success. OF COURSE, I have been told (and I understand completely) that the 'political realities' prevent the 'Landser' from being shown as 'patriotic' or virtuous because it would be social/political suicide for a German Author/Filmmaker. That being said, Peckinpah had a few milksop quotes from Brecht at the start and end of the film, but Steiner's platoon were tough, brave, loyal to each other and 'their' officer and NCO and, when they had to, they could kick some serious ass.
I guess you needed an alcoholic American to direct the perfect German War Movie.
SUBBED! I love Cross of Iron!
You have rare taste, Romeo Alpha. And thanks for subscribing. Appreciated.