Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Cross of Iron Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov May 26, 2011

Sam Peckinpah's "Cross of Iron" (1977) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Optimum Home Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include theatrical trailers; cast and crew interviews; Mike Siegel's documentary "Passion & Poetry: Sam Peckinpah's War"; and more. In English, with optional English and German subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

Corporal Steiner

Cross of Iron is Sam Peckinpah's only war film. Set during the final days of WW2, it follows a platoon of demoralized and exhausted soldiers, led by Corporal Steiner (James Coburn, The Magnificent Seven Collection, Charade), as the German army is forced to retreat from the Russian front.

After a dangerous mission, Steiner meets his newly appointed commanding officer Captain Hauptmann Stransky (Maximilian Schell, Topkapi, A Bridge Too Far), an arrogant Prussian aristocrat, who dreams of winning the prestigious Cross of Iron. Convinced that the Third Reich is invincible, Stransky immediately questions Steiner’s recent decision to relocate his men to safer ground. Shortly after, the Russians launch a surprise attack. Stransky acts like a coward, while Steiner is seriously wounded and many of his men killed.

Steiner wakes up in an unnamed hospital where he befriends a beautiful nurse, Eva (Senta Berger, The Terror of Doctor Mabuse, When Women Lost Their Tails). A few days later, with some of his wounds still bleeding, he heads back to the front. After he is greeted by his men, Steiner is shocked to discover that Stransky has fabricated a report indicating that he led a counterattack against the Russians, hoping that his 'act of bravery' would win him the Iron Cross. Outraged and disgusted, he decides to testify against Stransky.

Peckinpah's Cross of Iron is an unusual film. There are massive, frequently breathtaking battle scenes in it, but the focus of attention is on the ordinary man who must fight an enemy he does not know or understand but feels it is his duty to confront. It is raw and intense, quite moody at times, but also incredibly poetic.

The conflict between Steiner and Stransky occupies a major part of the story and represents a fascinating clash of ideas. Steiner is an honest and brave soldier who has come to realize what men like him sooner or later do, which is that in war there are no winners. The realization has made him a cynic, so now he simply fights to live, not because he believes in the Nazi cause. Stransky is a coward who wants to return home as a hero. Ironically, like Steiner, he does not believe in the Nazi cause, even though he is convinced that the Third Reich is invincible.

The men around Steiner are not believers either. They fight because they are proud patriots -- or at least they were before the war started. However, while being exterminated by their enemy, like Steiner, most have traded their patriotism for cynicism.

This rather unusual distinction Peckinpah makes in Cross of Iron -- that not all Germans who fought the war were Nazis -- is rarely witnessed in similar period films. Naturally, as the story progresses it becomes increasingly clear that the Germans and the Russians are fighting the same enemy.

Shot on location in Yugoslavia -- with a legendary budget that nearly bankrupted producer Wolf C. Hartwig, who previously had funded mostly exploitation and pornographic films -- Cross of Iron dazzles with its massive, notably realistic battle scenes. The editing, however, is occasionally problematic.

The haunting soundtrack was created by Oscar-winning composer Ernest Gold (Exodus, It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World).

*In 1977, Cross of Iron was awarded a Golden Screen Award.

Cross of Iron Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.84:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Sam Peckinpah's Cross of Iron arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Optimum Home Entertainment.

A wonderful high-definition transfer! It is not flawless, but it has a terrific organic look that does the film justice. I've gone through a couple of DVD releases of Cross of Iron during the years and this is clearly the very best the film has ever looked. (Unfortunately, the press materials I received do not specify when and where the film was restored).

First of all, there are no traces of problematic digital corrections. As a result, the overwhelming majority of the natural film grain has been retained. Some light noise occasionally pops up, but fine object detail is excellent, even during the massive fight inside the factory. Second, contrast levels remain stable throughout the entire film. Color reproduction is also excellent -- the greens, browns, reds, blues, grays, and blacks look fresh and healthy (on the old R2 UK DVD release, which uses a dated StudioCanal transfer, the film's delicate color scheme is very problematic). This said, there are a couple of scenes where some extremely light sharpening is noticeable -- a good example is the scene where Steiner's men meet the Russian women -- but it is never overly distracting. Finally, there are no distracting age-related imperfections. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content. Also, please note that the disc's main menu can be set in English or German).

Cross of Iron Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one audio track on this Blu-ray disc: English LPCM 2.0 (with portions of Russian). For the record, Optimum Home Entertainment have provided optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. (Optional German subtitles are also available if one sets the disc's main menu in German).

The English LPCM 2.0 track enhances the many battle scenes in the film very well. Obviously, the dynamic intensity is not as impressive as that of recent war films that have appeared on Blu-ray, but the sound has very pleasing depth and vibrancy; there are no balance issues either. The dialog is crisp, clean, stable, and easy to follow. For the record, there are no problematic pops, cracks, hissings, or audio dropouts.

Cross of Iron Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Passion & Poetry: Sam Peckinpah's War - in this documentary film directed by Mike Siegel, actors James Coburn, Senta Berger, David Warner, Vadim Glowna, Roger Fritz, and Katy Haber recall their work on Iron Cross. Director Sam Peckinpah is also seen and heard discussing the film. (Please note that fragments from the film are also used in the On location interviews below). In English and German, with imposed English subtitles where necessary. (47 min, PAL).

• On location - five featurettes containing raw footage from the shooting of Iron Cross, with 1976 on set audio interviews. In English, not subtitled.
  
  1. Sam Peckinpah (6 min, PAL).
  2. James Coburn (6 min, PAL).
  3. James Mason (7 min, PAL).
  4. Maximilian Schell (5 min, PAL).
  5. David Warner (4 min, PAL).

• Kruger Kisses Kern - actor/director/producer Vadim Glowna recalls how he had to write a massive letter to director Sam Peckinpah to get the role of Gefreiter Kern, and how the famous kissing scene came to exist. In German, with imposed English subtitles. (9 min, PAL).

• Vadim & Sam: Father and Son - Vadim Glowna recalls a trip to London during the cutting and synchronization of Cross of Iron. In German, with imposed English subtitles. (6 min, PAL).

• Cutting Room Floor - actor/director/photographer Roger Fritz, and actors David Warner and Senta Berger address various scenes that did not make it in the final version of Cross of Iron. In German and English, with imposed English subtitles where necessary. (5 min, PAL).

• Steiner in Japan - stills and archival footage featuring James Coburn. Courtesy of El Dorado Productions. In Japanese, not subtitled. (3 min, PAL).

• Mike's Home Movies: Steiner & Kiesel Meet Again - a short introduction to the film by David Warner and James Coburn before a screening in Italy. In English, not subtitled. (8 min, PAL).

• TV spot USA - in English, not subtitled. (1 min, PAL).

• Trailer USA/UK - in English, not subtitled. (4 min, PAL).

Cross of Iron Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Optimum Home Entertainment have put together a fantastic package for Sam Peckinpah's legendary Cross of Iron. The film has been beautifully restored, and I have every reason to believe that this will be its definitive release for years to come. The supplemental features on the disc are also impressive. Mike Siegel's outstanding documentary Passion & Poetry: Sam Peckinpah's War, for instance is included, as well as other informative interviews and featurettes. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

*If interested in director Sam Peckinpah's legacy, I strongly recommend Mike Siegel's superb Passion & Poetry - The Ballad Of Sam Peckinpah (Special Edition 2DVD set), which is available in Germany through El Dorado Productions.

**The newly restored version of Cross of Iron will be showing at the Odeon Panton St. (in London) from June 17th. So if you are visiting London, this would a terrific opportunity to see the film theatrically.