The legendary filmmaker Sam Peckinpah made his only contribution to the war genre with his classic Cross of Iron that featured James Mason, James Coburn, and David Warner. After more than three decades, the film is finally getting a stunning brand new 4K restoration which will be coming to UHD Steelbook, DVD, and Blu-ray this July courtesy of Studiocanal’s Vintage Classics.
Based on the novel by Willi Heinrich, Cross of Iron 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 command 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.
Described by Orson Welles as one of the greatest anti-war films ever made, Peckinpah’s film has influenced much popular culture to this day.
Fully loaded with a host of new special features, Cross of Iron will be released on UHD Steelbook, Blu-ray, and DVD from July 31st. Pre-order your copy today.
