MovieChat Forums > Cross of Iron (1977) Discussion > Why is it so awesome?

Why is it so awesome?

posted 15 years ago by memphisblues1
16 replies | jump to latest

I love this film, and am a proper film lover, although i'm 23 I don't carry a torch for massive blockbusters and anything with Megan Fox in, reasons why I think its awesome -

1.) The dialogue - 'what do we do when the war is over' 'prepare for the next one'
2.) The scene where the german general meets the saluting disabled wheel chair guy in the hospital - utter genius, Orson Welles said it was the greatest anti-war film ever made
3.) Russian lady bites the German guys wilkins off (LOL!)
4.) Peckinpah - the slow mo in this film creates an other worldliness, none of us know what battle is like especially from that time and creates a foreign feel, handheld cameras (20 years before 'Private Ryan') creates a documentary feel that jars with this creating a sense of anarchy.
5.) I like the subtlty of the gay characters, its not all in your face and stereotypical which is amazing for a 60's/70's movie.

[–] nickm2 15 years ago

There was a gay character in CoI? OTHER than that little weasel, Treibig?

NM

[–] memphisblues1 15 years ago

...there was that Treibig was showing some affection towards which Maximilian Schnell notices early on

[–] gmansi 14 years ago

Another soliders kissed I cant remember, when one of the get almost crazy

[–] Ehrgeiz 10 years ago

It was Triebigs ordnance. Its hinted that they already may have been a couple when they were stationed in France.

[–] gmansi 14 years ago

"1.) The dialogue - 'what do we do when the war is over' 'prepare for the next one' "

I think is was "What do we do when we lost the war"

"2.) The scene where the german general meets the saluting disabled wheel chair guy in the hospital - utter genius, Orson Welles said it was the greatest anti-war film ever made "

Really great!! What a moment!

"3.) Russian lady bites the German guys wilkins off (LOL!) " The best blowjob he will remember!!

What do you think of the end of the movie?

For me is really bad..

[–] nathan-brookes 13 years ago

Peckinpah ran out of funds, hence the abrupt ending.

[–] gmansi 13 years ago

"Peckinpah ran out of funds, hence the abrupt ending."

Thanks for the info

[–] vesa_karppinen-1 13 years ago

It is awesome because it's both realistic and impartial. It's a general truth that "losers" (the film was based on a German novel) portray the war most honestly - the best American war films usually are about the Vietnam War, if big international WW2-themed co-productions like this and dramadocumentaries like The Longest Day are not taken into account.

In Finland we have this thing called "reilu meininki"

[–] I_hatenazis 13 years ago

I would take it a step further and say that most of the war movies made in the U.S. during the 60's / 70's were pure junk. Those movies were more like live action cartoons on film, the dirty dozen, where eagles dare, etc. The German soldiers in those movies were so over the top stupid, lethargically running straight into machine gun fire like ants (but with no peripheral vision).

In contrast, Cross of Iron had an unmistakably realistic gritty feel to it. Also, the fact that they used authentic weaponry made it even better. In the other U.S. war films of that period, they would frequently take stock U.S. equipment and paint it. Half of the time the Germans were carrying Thommy guns instead of MP-40's.

[–] vesa_karppinen-1 13 years ago

I do like both Where Eagles Dare and Dirty Dozen a lot, but they are nothing but popcorn entertainment, boys films so to speak. Films like Cross of Iron, Das Boot etc. are much more profound in their portrayal of war.

In Finland we have this thing called "reilu meininki"

[–] Ehrgeiz 12 years ago

I think, these are both great movies, but head to a different direction. They were kind of action movies for the 60ies, like we had later action movies with Arnold Schwartzenegger or Sylvester Stallone fighting Vietkong, Terrorists and so on.

[–] nickm2 13 years ago

"...In contrast, Cross of Iron had an unmistakably realistic gritty feel to it. Also, the fact that they used authentic weaponry made it even better..."

Eh, one of the advantages of making films in Yugoslavia; they always had all sorts of authentic "kit" & the countryside could pass for 'somewhere in Europe'--you could make the place look like Southern France, Italy 'somewhere around the Gothic Line', The Huertgen Forest, or the Kuban Bridgehead...

[–] I_hatenazis 12 years ago

It is awesome. This is one of the great under-appreciated classic war movies of all time.
I have commented many times on this message board why this movie is so fantastic. Compared to the cartoon movies produced in the 1970's, this is 'All Quiet on the Western Front' on steroids.

[–] frankzappayay 11 years ago

I agree with all of those! Really outstanding film. And considering the date it was made... wow.

[–] cableaddict 10 years ago

Plus, it's such a unique war movie, in that the main drama has nothing to do with actual battle, yet it's still completely riveting. A similar, also incredible movie is "Paths Of Glory."

[–] Ehrgeiz 10 years ago

I always liked the following points:

- it features not a decisive battle (of WW2) and unlike most war movies, its not about a goal that the squad plans to achieve and make in the end with heroic losses.
- its not about special forces, submariners, Airborne troops, tankers but regular infantry soldiers who still were the bulk of all armies in WW 2.
- The squad loses right from the start to the end. Its more about the men and their ambitions.
- Great actors (also all the side roles), and maybe the best performance of James Coburn. Despite especially his age makes him somehow unfitting for the role, he makes Steiner believable.
- Two great mass battle scenes, perfectly done by Peckinpah. Many war movies narrow the view when it comes to the battles, not here. I love those fly-over shots over the frontline.