One of the Best Movies of War of the 70's

Rating: 8/10 (19 November 2007)

In 1943, in the Russian front, the decorated leader Rolf Steiner (James Coburn) is promoted to Sergeant after another successful mission. Meanwhile the upper-class and arrogant Prussian Captain Hauptmann Stransky (Maximilian Schell) is assigned as the new commander of his squad. After a bloody battle of Steiner's squad against the Russian troops led by the brave Lieutenant Meyer (Igor Galo) that dies in the combat, the coward Stransky claims that he led his squad against the Russian and requests to be awarded with the Iron of Cross to satisfy his personal ambition together with his aristocratic family. Stransky gives the names of Steiner and of the homosexual Lieutenant Triebig (Roger Fritz) as witnesses of his accomplishment, but Steiner, who has problems with the chain of command in the army and with the arrogance of Stransky, refuses to participate in the fraud. When Colonel Brandt (James Mason) gives the order to leave the position in the front, Stransky does not retransmit the order to Steiner's squad, and they are left alone surrounded by the enemy and having to fight to survive.
The impact of "Iron Cross" in the 70's was amazing and even thirty years later and having watched this movie for the third time, it is still one of the best war movies of the 70's. The story disclosed from the German side, showing German soldiers as human beings was quite unusual in that decade. James Coburn has one of the best performances in his filmography, in the role of an experienced rebel soldier from the lower classes, hardened by the war, but committed with his subordinates and exerting a perfect leadership. On the other side, Maximilian Schell is also perfect in the role of an arrogant aristocrat aiming only be awarded with a medal and capable to step on his men. The scenarios and the action scenes are awesome, and the battles have an amazing choreography, with Sam Peckinpah still in good shape. Senta Berger has a minor participation, but her beauty was impressive, and I believe this was the last time that I saw a movie with this actress. My vote is eight.
Title (Brazil): "A Cruz de Ferro" ("The Iron Cross")