Peckinpah at the height of his powers

Rating: 10/10 (30 January 2004)

One of the very best anti war films you're ever likely to see. Peckinpah at the height of his powers. Class acting from Coburn et al and superbly depicted action from the Russian Front. Peckinpah shows the true horror of war, the blood the agony and the ultimate futility of it all. This being illustrated by using images of atrocities and quoting Bertolt Brecht as the film begins and ends. Make certain you see the "uncut" version. There are several versions around that have had very relevant scenes cut, as a result the narrative is ruined, and some very potent scenes are lost. Filmed in Czecho', with their army providing extras and the T34 tanks the locations are just right. The beauty of the countryside contrasting the ugliness of combat. Peckinpah shows war realistically. There's no glorification, rather it exposes the results of totalitarian States of whatever persuasion. A must see film. One of Peckinpah's very best.