Cross of Iron (1977)
On the Eastern front in 1943, the German soldiers no longer had any ideals. They were not fighting for the Party—but for their lives!
It is 1943, and the German army—ravaged and demoralised—is hastily retreating from the Russian front. In the midst of the madness, conflict brews between the aristocratic yet ultimately pusillanimous Captain Stransky and the courageous Corporal Steiner. Stransky is the only man who believes that the Third Reich is still vastly superior to the Russian army. However, within his pompous persona lies a quivering coward who longs for the Iron Cross so that he can return to Berlin a hero. Steiner, on the other hand is cynical, defiantly non-conformist and more concerned with the safety of his own men rather than the horde of military decorations offered to him by his superiors.
Cast
- James Coburn - Unteroffizier / Feldwebel Rolf Steiner
- Maximilian Schell - Hauptmann Stransky
- James Mason - Oberst Brandt
- David Warner - Hauptmann Kiesel
- Klaus Löwitsch - Unteroffizier Krüger
- Vadim Glowna - Gefreiter Kern
- Roger Fritz - Leutnant Treibig
- Dieter Schidor - Anselm
- Burkhard Driest - Schütze Maag
- Fred Stillkrauth - Unteroffizier Schnurrbart
Screenplay
- Willi Heinrich (Novel)
- Julius J. Epstein (Screenplay)
- James Hamilton (Screenplay)
- Walter Kelley (Screenplay)
Themes
The Horror of War and Humanity, World War II: Global Conflict
Keywords
hostility, world war ii, battle for power, troops, commander, lieutenant, sergeant, thoughtful, empathetic
Trailer
Cross of Iron TrailerSimilar Movies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Cross of Iron about?
- It is 1943, and the German army—ravaged and demoralised—is hastily retreating from the Russian front. In the midst of the madness, conflict brews between the aristocratic yet ultimately pusillanimous Captain Stransky and the courageous Corporal Steiner. Stransky is the only man who believes that the Third Reich is still vastly superior to the Russian army. However, within his pompous persona lies a quivering coward who longs for the Iron Cross so that he can return to Berlin a hero. Steiner, on the other hand is cynical, defiantly non-conformist and more concerned with the safety of his own men rather than the horde of military decorations offered to him by his superiors.
- Who directed Cross of Iron?
- Cross of Iron was directed by Sam Peckinpah.
- Who stars in Cross of Iron?
- Cross of Iron stars James Coburn, Maximilian Schell, James Mason, David Warner, Klaus Löwitsch, Vadim Glowna.
- How long is Cross of Iron?
- Cross of Iron has a runtime of 2h 13m (133 minutes).
- What genre is Cross of Iron?
- Cross of Iron is a Drama, Action, History, War film.
- What is the budget of Cross of Iron?
- Cross of Iron had a budget of $6M.
- How much did Cross of Iron gross?
- Cross of Iron grossed $2M worldwide.
- Where was Cross of Iron produced?
- Cross of Iron was produced in Germany, United Kingdom.
- What are the themes of Cross of Iron?
- The themes of Cross of Iron include: The Horror of War and Humanity, World War II: Global Conflict.