Blu-ray Release: Cross of Iron

Blu-ray Release Date: Oct. 23, 2018
Price: Blu-ray $20.59
Studio: Hen’s Tooth

Sam Peckinpah’s only war film—1976’s Cross of Iron—is a violent tale of men on the front lines of battle.

It’s set in 1943 and centers on Corporal Steiner (James Coburn, The Great Escape), an accomplished but war-weary combat veteran leading a group of German soldiers on the Russian front. Steiner’s authority comes under attack when Captain Stransky (Maximilian Schell, Judgment at Nuremberg) takes over command of his troops. Stransky has only one goal in mind: to win the coveted Iron Cross, Germany’s highest medal, at any cost.

Not very well-received upon its release,the film has since gone on to receive some serious respect for in its depiction of the intensity and unending madness of war.

Co-starring James Mason (Bigger Than Life), David Warner (Time Bandits) and Senta Berger (If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium), Hen’s Tooth new Blu-ray edition of the movie (a DVD edition was issued back in 2006) features a healthy set of bonus materials, including the following:

-Audio commentary by film scholar Stephen Prince, author of Savage Cinema
-Passion & Poetry—Sam Peckinpah’s War (42 min)
-On Location Interviews with Sam Peckinpah; James Coburn; Maximilian Schell; James Mason and David Warner
-German Trailer
-US TV Spot
-US Trailer

Featurettes:
-Kruger Kisses Kern
-Letters From Vadim & Sam
-Vadim & Sam—Father & Son
-Cutting Room Floor
-Mike’s Home Movies
-Steiner in Japan
-Steiner & Kiesel Meet Again
-German Trailer
-US TV Spot
-US Trailer