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Cross of Iron: Imprint Collection #250
[Blu-ray 4K]
Blu-ray ALL - Australia - Via Vision Review written by and copyright: Noor Razzak (21st November 2023). |
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The Film
 "Cross of Iron," directed by Sam Peckinpah is a gritty and unflinching war film that diverges from the conventional tropes of the genre. Set on the Eastern Front during World War II, the film provides a stark portrayal of the brutalities of war and the toll it takes on the human psyche. While it has gained a cult following over the years, the film is not without its flaws. One of the notable strengths of "Cross of Iron" lies in its commitment to realism. Peckinpah does not shy away from depicting the visceral and gruesome nature of warfare. The battle scenes are intense and chaotic, capturing the desperation and horror faced by soldiers on the front lines. The film's cinematography, led by John Coquillon, effectively conveys the harsh conditions of the Eastern Front, immersing the audience in the mud, blood, and chaos of the battlefield. The character development in "Cross of Iron" is another commendable aspect. The film focuses on a German platoon, led by the battle-hardened Sergeant Steiner (James Coburn), Coburn's commitment to authenticity through extensive research is evident in his nuanced handling of the character's physicality, accent, and emotional depth. His strong on-screen presence and chemistry with co-stars contribute to the film's success, along with the effective collaboration with director Peckinpah, with whom Coburn had previously worked on "The Wild Bunch" (1969) Coburn brings complexity to Steiner, exploring the character's internal conflicts, moral ambiguities, and the toll of war, making his performance a standout in the war film genre. The characters are not portrayed as one-dimensional heroes; instead, they are flawed, morally ambiguous individuals, providing a more nuanced perspective on the effects of war on the human psyche. The internal conflicts within the platoon add depth to the narrative and elevate the film beyond a typical war movie. However, the film is not without its shortcomings. The pacing can be uneven at times, with moments of intense action juxtaposed against slower, more contemplative scenes. While this contrast can enhance the overall impact of the film, it may also be jarring. Additionally, the narrative structure, which relies on a series of vignettes, contributes to a lack of a cohesive storyline, making it challenging to fully engage with the characters and their arcs. The film's portrayal of the Soviet enemy has been a point of criticism. While Peckinpah attempts to humanize the Soviet soldiers by depicting their struggles and motivations, some argue that the film still perpetuates certain stereotypes. The dichotomy between the German and Soviet characters could be seen as oversimplified, hindering a more nuanced exploration of the ideological and personal conflicts inherent in war. "Cross of Iron" is a raw and visceral war film that stands out for its commitment to realism and nuanced character portrayals. Despite its flaws in pacing and narrative structure, the film offers a unique perspective on the Eastern Front and the toll of war on individuals. It remains a compelling watch for those interested in war cinema, especially for its unflinching depiction of the human cost of conflict. This release features two versions of the film, the original "Theatrical" cut (133:02) and a "Grindhouse Version" which is a vintage German 35mm theatrical print of the film (132:50) presented in an open-matte 1.57:1 ratio with English LPCM 2.0 Mono audio and no optional subtitles.
Video
Presented in 4K UHD for the first time, the widescreen 1.85:1 image is 2160p 24/fps and was restored by StudioCanal with HDR10 and Dolby Vision enhancement. It was a process that took 240 hours of restoration work and the results are beautiful. Imprint has licensed this new transfer and included it here. In fact they just bundled StudioCanal's disc complete with European ratings logos on the disc itself! Extensive work was done to restore this film and it looks like a mint new 35mm presentation from day one of theatrical exhibition. The film's detail is exceptional, skin tones and textures are spot on, it marks a huge step up from previous releases. Black levels also look great, they are deep, bold, and contrast is well balanced for a pleasing viewing experience. Overall this is a top notch restoration that presents the film in the best possible way. Additionally this release includes a "Grindhouse" version which is a German release that offers an alternate version of the film, this is on a Blu-ray and comes from a 2K mastering and has a ratio of 1.57:1 1080p 24/fps. This appears like an open-matte and looks more gritty. It's an interesting curiosity worth exploring but the original version holds up much better than this version.
Audio
Three audio tracks are included in English LPCM 2.0 Mono, French LPCM 2.0 Mono, and German LPCM 2.0 Mono. For the purposes of this review I chose to view the film with its English audio. This appears to be the original audio track but obviously cleaned up so the imperfection due to age are eliminated such as hiss, pops, crackle, etc, none of these are present here. Dialogue is crystal clear, while I would have like a new surround track to bring the battle scenes to life, this mono track does a fairly decent job for a film that is 46 years-old. Optional subtitles are included in English for the hearing impaired, French, and German.
Extras
This is where the fun begins, Imprint's release features an incredible array of supplements that really make the purchase price worth every cent, not only are all the previous extras seen on the StudioCanal release included but we have a few exclusives that take this release to the next level. Below is a closer look. DISC ONE: 4K UHD This disc feature the film in 4K (2160p) and features a new feature-length audio commentary with film historian/filmmaker Mike Siegel, if you're familiar with Siegel you'll know he's quite the Peckinpah expert and he provides a wonderful track filled with trivia and behind-the-scenes knowledge of the making of this film. "Promoting Steiner" slideshow (10:22) features a massive collection of promotional material made for the film. "Steiner on the Set" slideshow (9:42) provides behind-the-scenes photos taken during the filming. "Filming Steiner - Part One" slideshow (9:17) is yet more rare stills. "Filming Steiner - Part Two" slideshow (9:07) and more stills to check out. "Steiner in Color" slideshow (9:07) finally more rare stills this time in color. DISC TWO: Blu-ray This disc features a standard HD (1080p) version of the film with the same audio commentary by film historian/filmmaker Mike Siegel as on the previous disc. There's also a second audio commentary by film historian and author Stephen Prince. This older track was recorded around 2006, takes another look at the film, the differences between the book and the film among other things. "Blood Cuts" documentary (39:22) features in-depth interviews with the film's editors Tony Lawson and Michael Ellis. The two comment on how they met Peckinpah and on starting to work with him, on his unconventional style, and developing a shorthand on editing as well as the process of working on "Cross of Iron" among other things. "More Blood" documentary (41:55) features an in-depth interview with make-up supervisor Colin Arthur, he supervisor talks about his relationship with Peckinpah and the use of blood and gore, which at the time was quite controversial but is tame when compared to modern war films. The "Promoting Steiner" (10:22), "Steiner on the Set" (9:42), "Filming Steiner - Part One" (9:17), "Filming Steiner - Part Two" (9:07), and "Steiner in Color" (9:07) slideshows from the previous disc are also included here. A US TV spot (0:34) is included as well as the US theatrical trailer (3:54) DISC THREE: Blu-ray This disc features the "Grindhouse Version" German 35mm version of the film (132:50) along with the more supplements. "Passion & Poetry: Sam Peckinpah’s War" is a 2011 documentary (46:07), this feature takes a deep dive into the behind-the-scene of the production and features some excellent footage culled together for this feature. "On Location" are a series of 1977 audio interviews as they comment on their roles in the film, they are typical EPK style clips in audio form, they are with: – Sam Peckinpah (5:15) – James Coburn (5:39) – James Mason (6:14) – Maximilian Schell (4:44) – David Warner (3:24) "Kruger Kisses Kern" 2011 featurette (8:37) is an interview featuring actor/producer/director Vadim Glowna as he talks about his involvement in the film. "Vadim + Sam: Father and Son" 2011 featurette (5:58) is an interview featuring actor/producer/director Vadim Glowna as he comments on his relationship with Peckinpah. "Cutting Room Floor" 2011 featurette (4:23) this features interviews with the cast and crew as they talk about the scenes cut from the final version of the film. "Steiner in Japan" 2011 featurette (2:02) this clip presents a couple of Japanese commercials Peckinpah directed that feature Coburn. Cool little curiosity. "Mike's Homemovies: Steiner & Kiesel Meet Again" 2011 featurette (7:26) is a clip that features actors David Warner and James Coburn at a special screening of the film in Padua, Italy in 2000. A reel of deleted scenes (12:54) is included with title cards about the cut scenes. Finally the film's German theatrical trailer (3:21) rounds out the extras on this disc.
Packaging
Packaged in two keep cases housed in a top loading hard box, Limited Edition of 1500 copies.
Overall
Imprint's version can be considered the definitive version to get, not only does it feature a beautiful new 4K master, you also get the alternate "Grindhouse" version of the film, and the best and most complete set of extras than any other release. It's a no brainer, this is the one to get so buy it before all 1500 copies sell out!
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