Cross of iron
(DVD)

Based on the book by Willi Heinrich.

Originally produced as an Anglo-German motion picture in 1977.

Special features: Original theatrical trailer (4 min.); Stephen Prince commentary [audio feature]; Lobby card gallery.

Director of photography, John Coquillon ; edited by Tony Lawson and Michael Ellis ; production designers, Ted Haworth, Brian Ackland Snow ; music composed and conducted by Ernest Gold ; special effects, Richard Richtsfeld, Helmut Klee ; military consultants, A.D. Schrodek, Claus Von Trotha.

James Coburn, Maximilian Schell, James Mason, David Warner, Klaus Löwitsch, Vadim Glowna, Roger Fritz, Dieter Schidor, Burkhard Driest, Fred Stillkraut, Michael Nowka, Veronique Vendell, Arthur Brauss, Senta Berger.

"Cross of Iron" follows a platoon of retreating German soldiers on the post-Stalingrad Eastern Front in 1943, as they are overrun in a Soviet armored assault and trapped behind enemy lines. Sgt. Steiner is a bitter but resourceful vet whose only concern is for his men. Captain Stransky is a smug wealthy Prussian aristocrat who yearns to win the Iron Cross and will stop at nothing--short of actually exposing himself to combat--to get it. During an attack on their compound Stransky cowers in the bunker, but reports that he led the counterattack. Steiner refuses to confirm that to the colonel, so Stransky schemes to eliminate the platoon by leaving them stranded on the field. For Steiner and his men, there are no illusions--just the dim hope of helping each other to somehow survive the carnage.

MPAA Rating: Rated R.

DVD; Region 1; Dolby digital sound; anamorphic widescreen presentation, aspect ratio 1.78:1.

In English or dubbed French.