Sam Peckinpah’s Cross of Iron is not just one of the celebrated filmmaker’s best, but one of cinema’s finest portrayals of the horrors of war. Described by Orson Welles as one of the greatest anti-war films ever made and boasting an all-star cast fronted by James Coburn, this unflinching drama hits harder than ever on 4K. The new restoration is absolutely magnificent, while the Steelbook packaging retains the gorgeous and iconic original artwork.
We took a closer look…
Based on the novel by Willi Heinrich, Sam Peckinpah’s (THE WILD BUNCH) only war film is an intense and uncompromising affair that brilliantly reflects both the futility of conflict and the director’s fascination with individuals confronted by events beyond their control.
A World War II tale told from the German perspective, CROSS OF IRON follows a platoon of German soldiers in Russia when the German Wehrmacht forces had been decimated and the Germans were retreating along the Russian front. Rolf Steiner (James Coburn) is a German corporal and recipient of the Iron Cross who has grown disenchanted with Hitler’s war machine. When Captain Stransky (Maximilian Schell) assumes charge, the pair are thrown into immediate conflict, the autocratic but ultimately cowardly Stransky coveting the loyalty and honour Steiner commands.
Evocatively shot by John Coquillon (BILLY THE KID) in sombre tones, the superlative lead performances are matched by David Warner and James Mason as war-weary senior officers. Viewed as one of Peckinpah’s most powerful works, it’s an unflinching vision of the Second World War.
4K UHD Steelbook, Blu-Ray & DVD Extras
- Audio Commentary by filmmaker and film historian Mike Siegel
- NEW Promoting STEINER (Steelbook & Blu-Ray only)
- NEW STEINER on the set (Steelbook & Blu-Ray only)
- NEW Filming STEINER (Steelbook & Blu-Ray only)
- NEW Filming STEINER pt 2 (Steelbook & Blu-Ray only)
- NEW STEINER in colour (Steelbook & Blu-Ray only)
- On Location: Sam Peckinpah (Steelbook & Blu-Ray only)
- On Location: James Coburn (Steelbook & Blu-Ray only)
- On Location: Maximilian Schell (Steelbook & Blu-Ray only)
- On Location: James Mason (Steelbook & Blu-Ray only)
- On Location: David Warner (Steelbook & Blu-Ray only)
- Passion and Poetry: Sam Peckinpah’s War (Steelbook & Blu-Ray only)
- Kruger Kisses Kern (Steelbook & Blu-Ray only)
- Vadim & Sam: Father & Son (Steelbook & Blu-Ray only)
- Cutting Room Floor (Steelbook & Blu-Ray only)
- Steiner in Japan: Ads filmed in 1977 (Steelbook & Blu-Ray only)
- Mike’s Home Movies: Steiner & Kiesel Meet Again (Steelbook & Blu-Ray only)
- US/UK Trailer (Steelbook & Blu-Ray only)
- German Trailer (Steelbook & Blu-Ray only)
- US TV Spot (Steelbook & Blu-Ray only)
© 1977 Rapid Film GMBH – Terra Filmkunst Gmbh – STUDIOCANAL FILMS Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by STUDIOCANAL LIMITED