One of The Greatest War films Ever!

Rating: Null/10 (28 September 2009)

Cross Of Iron is truly one of the greatest war films ever made, possibly the greatest of all WWII films. It was completely overlooked at the time of its release because by that time Peckinpah was seen as an alcoholic, drug-addicted madman, whose best days were far behind him, and few people in the US or UK were too interested in queueing up to see WWII German soldiers in a sympathetic light. Most of the critics who bothered to review it at all dismissed it. Added to that, it was butchered in the US, (surprise, surprise!!) from 132 to 117 minutes.
Also it was probably a little TOO realistic and graphic for mainstream audiences, and didn't feature the usual phony Hollywood comic-book heroics, opting instead for a truly bleak, brutal, horrific 'War is Hell' grimness. So it passed under the radar almost unnoticed. All over Europe however, (where it was uncut) it was a HUGE success, so much so that it spawned a sequel (!?!) the only Peckinpah film ever to do so.
Over the years though, it's had a dramatic re-evaluation and is now considered one of Sam's most highly respected works, and rightly regarded as a genuine (though disturbing) masterpiece, and features very highly on most 'best war films' lists. Check out Mike Sutton's reviews at DVDTimes here http://dvdtimes.co.uk/content/id/6470/cross-of-iron.html and here http://dvdtimes.co.uk/content/id/64046/cross-of-iron.html. If the links don't work you can easily find these reviews at dvdtimes.
It is not all bleakness however, there is also much beautiful visual poetry amid the savagery.
Not an easy film to watch, but important and essential viewing nonetheless. NOT TO BE MISSED!!!