Cross of Iron (1976)

80% of critics liked it
(15 reviews)
84% of users liked it
(7,090 ratings)

A quote from Bertolt Brecht ends this bitter and angry war film by Sam Peckinpah: "Do not rejoice in his defeat, you men. For though the world has stood up and stopped the bastard, the bitch that bore him is in heat again." Peckinpah's intense and belligerently non-commercial work, (based on the… More A quote from Bertolt Brecht ends this bitter and angry war film by Sam Peckinpah: "Do not rejoice in his defeat, you men. For though the world has stood up and stopped the bastard, the bitch that bore him is in heat again." Peckinpah's intense and belligerently non-commercial work, (based on the book by Willi Heinrich), is a World War II tale told from the German perspective, following a platoon of German soldiers in the Russia of 1943, when the German Wehrmacht forces had been decimated and the Germans were retreating along the Russian front. James Coburn is Steiner, a German corporal and recipient of the Iron Cross who feels that he owes his loyalty to his family and fellow soldiers and not to Hitler and the German war machine. But when a new commander, Captain Stransky (Maximillian Schell), takes over the platoon, Steiner and Stransky come into immediate conflict. Stransky is a career soldier, the complete opposite of Steiner, and a man who pledges himself heart and soul to Hitler and the war. But he envies Steiner for having been awarded an Iron Cross and deeply desires one himself. The problem is Stransky is a complete coward and recognizes that the only way he can be awarded an Iron Cross would be to get the bitter Steiner on his side. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 10 min.
Directed By: Sam Peckinpah
Written By: Julius J. Epstein

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1977 Wide
On DVD: Feb 1, 2000
Studio: AVCO Embassy Pictures

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby, New York Times
Mr. Peckinpah's least interesting, least personal film in years, a hysterically elaborate, made-in-Yugoslavia war spectacle, the work of international financiers and a multinational cast.
Philip French, Observer [UK]
This was Peckinpah's last important work and his only war movie.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Goes to extremes to paint a picture of war as insane.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
War is hell, but for Peckinpah it's also the sadist's Olympian joke
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Its complex and vivid portrayal of the absurdity of war, however, prompted none other than Orson Welles to write Peckinpah and proclaim it the finest antiwar film he had ever seen.
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
I don't know whether Peckinpah is saying that war is hell or that war is gay. Either way, it's all about the boys.
Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
Cross of Iron would almost seem a proper mea culpa by Peckinpah for his controversial career.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Not Peckinpah's best, but still powerful.
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle
This war film is also Peckinpah's last great movie.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Peckinpah indulges in endless combat scenes (this was his only war movie), which try the patience of viewers who came for the real story.

Read all 10 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Chris W

With this film, the legendary master of violent action Sam Peckinpah made his only (strict) war film. The story takes place along the Eastern Front of World War II in 1943, and follows a hardened, weary corporal (later sargeant) named Steiner who, besides battling Russian forces, gets… More
With this film, the legendary master of violent action Sam Peckinpah made his only (strict) war film. The story takes place along the Eastern Front of World War II in 1943, and follows a hardened, weary corporal (later sargeant) named Steiner who, besides battling Russian forces, gets into a battle of wills with Capt. Stransky- a member of the Prussian aristocracy who vows to win the coveted Iron Cross (the highest medal one in the Germany army can win)at all costs. So yeah, besides being a big war film, this deals with class conflict, cultural issues, and has typical Peckinpah themes such as masculinity, honor, and the corrupting influence of violence. It's some good stuff. The film had a pretty low budget, and the shoot was troubled, but all in all, this is a pretty decent and satisfying film. It is pretty obvious that the film's creating was plagued by torubles and limitations, especially in the end where it just seems really rushed, sloppy, and tacked on. I do dig the ending, but I can't help but imagine what the real end result could have been like had the film had a bigger budget. The casting is quite nice, with James Coburn (doing his best Lee Marvin) in the lead as Steiner, and Maximilian Schnell as the well to do Stransky. James Mason and David Warner also show up and do some stuff, although their story doesn't really go anywhere. Still though, everyone does a pretty decent job. The real highlight are the fantastic battle sequences. This should be a given since Peckinpah helmed it, but, even though he's topped what's in here by a great amount in his otehr works, the action is gritty, raw, and has everything you'd expect fromhim. I especially loved the neat silent scenes that show up once in a while . All in all, this is a pretty fine war film. It's somewhat messy and maybe slightly draggy, but it's entertaining, and gives you exactly the sort of gritty, bitter, and angry depiction of vioence and combat that Peckinpah is famous for.
Randy T

Have you ever noticed how often war films (including anti-war films) center around incompetent officers? Paths of Glory, 'Breaker' Morant, Gallipoli, etc., etc., etc... Even films that don't revolve around… More
Have you ever noticed how often war films (including anti-war films) center around incompetent officers? Paths of Glory, 'Breaker' Morant, Gallipoli, etc., etc., etc... Even films that don't revolve around impotent leadership generally feature it in one or more supporting characters. After viewing at least 200 genre pictures and serving eight years in the military myself I have subscribed to the hypothesis that most commissioned officers, and some enlisted men, are continuously promoted until they reach the point where the responsibilities exceed their capabilities. Cross of Iron is Peckinpah's interesting version of said circumstance, enhanced by James Coburn's inspired performance. Four stars.
Tim S

Peckinpah is a nut. The thing about him is that he can orchestrate one hell of an action sequence. The war sequences in this film are fantastic and some of the most realistic I have seen in recent memory. The brutality of war and what it does not only to the body, but also to the mind… More
Peckinpah is a nut. The thing about him is that he can orchestrate one hell of an action sequence. The war sequences in this film are fantastic and some of the most realistic I have seen in recent memory. The brutality of war and what it does not only to the body, but also to the mind are explored really well here. James Coburn gives a great performance, but there are moments that are a little over the top even for a war movie. I understand the controversy of it considering it is told from the point of view of the Nazi's and I am surprised this film hasn't been locked in a vault somewhere in this day and age, but it's a pretty straight forward war movie all the same. There are some strange moments that took me out of the film and I really didn't understand them (the ending is just plain weird). At the end of the day, the cast and the war scenes really save this movie because otherwise it's all over the place. Another Sam Peckinpah trademark.
Ken S

One bad ass war movie. Far more complex that I had expected.
xGary X

Sam Peckinpah's war story from the perspectives of professional german soldiers knowingly fighting a lost cause at the whim of selfish, arrogant commanding officers is an interesting if flawed (mainly because of studio butchery) film. Rather depressing and lacking in the usual… More
Sam Peckinpah's war story from the perspectives of professional german soldiers knowingly fighting a lost cause at the whim of selfish, arrogant commanding officers is an interesting if flawed (mainly because of studio butchery) film. Rather depressing and lacking in the usual spectacular violence associated with his work it's more a curiosity than entertainment, but worth a look.
Patrick D

You won't see another war film like this one. And I don't even like war films for the most part (though there are exceptions). But this one really is something else. I would say to just watch it and see that something for yourself. Definitely expect Peckinpah direction as it… More
You won't see another war film like this one. And I don't even like war films for the most part (though there are exceptions). But this one really is something else. I would say to just watch it and see that something for yourself. Definitely expect Peckinpah direction as it is full of his amazing and awful violent, but it's not simple that. The film along isn't, however, gonna tell you how great it is, it's not one of those, if that makes any sense. But if you have sense you'll sense it. Just to confuse you a bit there.
Barry L

Dark, intuative and deep. Fantastic acting and a great performance throughout.