SPOILERS!
I never quite understood the ending. Did that last shell shot blow Steiner up? I also saw it as there was no way in hell they were going to make it out alive as they were outnumbered and being shelled, but I guess it leaves it open to our imaginations. Still, I could never quite tell if that last shot was supposed to imply that Steiner was shelled.
In the novel, it is very strongly implied (although never stated concretely) that Steiner dies from a wound caused by an exploding artillery shell.
The movie leaves his fate entirely up to the viewer.
(NOTE: In the book, the odious Capt. Stranksy is not with Steiner at the end.)
Luxuriate in the eclectic...
http://www.eccentric-cinema.com
Did we watch the same movie? In the movie I saw both Steiner and Stransky were in a courtyard fighting the Russians with small arms fire. Stransky fumbles his gun and says something about needing to reload and then Steiner laughs hysterically. So no, the movie did not depict Steiner's death.
I do recall two instances where Steiner moves out of the way just before an artillery shell explodes,
1. After the Russian boy is killed at the start of the first attack.
2. The 'Demarcation scene' when he is moving across no man's land but he clearly survived that.
Maybe I am reading too much into Peckinpah's interpretation but I always thought this symbolized that Steiner had that sixth sense and was almost indestructable but he would also have to witness the destruction of his squad (the only thing he really cares about).
Slightly off topic but I thought it was very powerful when Steiner survives the massacre and is pointing his gun a Treibig. James Coburn portrays a very even keeled somewhat easy going soldier but when Steiner is aiming his sub-machine gun, staring at Treibig and breathing heavy all I could think of is, man, he is really pissed off. Coburn gets the point across without overdoing it.
Answer: At least two other members of his suad survive they don't show any others.
I think at that point, while yes, it is implied that he dies...it was more about him laughing at the hypocrite "brave horses ass" that didn't even know how to reload his gun!!
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