this film definitely influenced "Saving Private Ryan"

Rating: Null/10 (5 June 2000)

I remember seeing this on video in the mid 80's and i could not believe that it was made in 1977 - definitely a film ahead of it's time. Jame's Coburn gives an absolutely superb performance. And despite all the blood and guts and realism of the film, there are some poignant moments - such as when the German platoon capture a young Russian child soldier and make him their mascot - a frankly bizzare situation, considering that the kid was trying to kill them in the battlefield!
But the major acheivement of the film was the visualisation of the Russian's from the German's perspective - the Russians are shadowy figures, who are always attacking "your" i.e. the germans, defences - this is a trick that Pekenpah plays with the audience, making them feel "part" of the platoon and thus more involved in the film.
You can see echoes of this technique in Saving Private Ryan, where the German's are also shadowy figures, who can be gunned down at a moments notice.
Overall , a powerful anti-war film - it doesnt glorify anything - it just's shows war for what it is - a hideous,and aweful waste of human life....