MEN ON THE FRONT LINES OF HELL.
In 1943, German Captain Stransky (Maximilian Schell) arrives at the Russian front, hoping to pick up an Iron Cross; he faces Sergeant Rolf Steiner (James Coburn) who is there for anything but glory. Sam Peckinpah’s only war movie is grim, bloody – and somewhat unfocused. The study of two very different men (and Germans for once, not Americans or British) benefits from good performances by Coburn and Schell, but is not explored in a thorough way and gives way to a number of Peckinpah-esque battle scenes in slow motion. Still, very interesting and gives an idea of frontline misery.
1977-Britain-West Germany. 132 min. Color. Directed by Sam Peckinpah. Novel: Willi Heinrich (“The Willing Flesh”). Cast: James Coburn (Rolf Steiner), Maximilian Schell (Stransky), James Mason (Brandt), David Warner, Senta Berger, Klaus Löwitsch.
Trivia: Also available in a 119 min. version. Followed by Breakthrough (1978).
