MovieChat Forums > Cross of Iron (1977) Discussion > A movie with a kind of similar theme

A movie with a kind of similar theme


"The Misfit Brigade (1987)" is a US B-movie about a German penal unit that's sent on a suicide mission behind the enemy lines of the Eastern Front to blow up a Soviet fuel train. The theme of carnage is not as present, but the theme of hatred between the top brass and the expendable ground units is.

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It's based on Sven Hassel's "Wheels of Terror", one of his many pulp war novels. It isn't that good.

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What's wrong with Sven Hassel? He made great 'STORIES' If you believed them?!? Then..that IS your problem.

(and YUP! He made it up - as in: Gaining stories from others)

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Also, I've read numerous memoirs and biographies by German veterans as well as those of other nationalities serving in the Wehrmacht/Waffen-SS, and very rarely does one encounter any comments on any hatred towards higher-ranking officers. Some are viewed with disdain, and some aren't liked, but it seems like most of the hatred expressed in novels and movies is a narrative tool.

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I would say "The eagle has landed". Its more on of that classic military movies about an elite covert operations commando, but their mission is flawed and it is more about losing than winning. Thats were I see the similarities. Not as well done as "Cross of Iron" (there is one very weak plot point of it), but with one of Michael Caines best performances as an anti hero who is also named Steiner and good other performances by Robert Duvall, Donald Sutherland and Donald Pleasance. Pleasance, by the way, plays Heinrich Himmler and looks very similar to the real person.

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