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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(aka "Steiner - Das Eiserne Kreuz" )
directed
by Sam Peckinpah
UK / West Germany / Yugoslavia 1977
A very strong anti-war message film, set during World War II and told entirely from the German perspective. A German Army Sergeant doggedly struggles to keep his platoon intact while surviving the horrors of the Russian front in 1943. *** Cross of Iron is an anti-war film in that it focuses on the average foot soldier, the harshness of his daily existence, and the horrors inflicted on him by war. These men dream about survival, peace, sex and home. Yet Steiner, like many of Peckinpah's male protagonists, is unwilling or incapable of being open to other ways of existing. He no longer knows where home is or where his children are; he hates the war but is fearful of what he will be without it. Dead to a world of other possibilities, what he chooses is to feel alive in the ecstatic moment of freedom achieved through the confrontation with violence and death. Excerpt from Gabrielle Murray's comments at Senses of Cinema located HERE |
Posters
Theatrical Release: January 28, 1977
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
HensTooth Video (Widescreen Special Edition) - Region 1- NTSC vs. Henstooth Video - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Warner Home Video (UK) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Lee's Vision (Korea) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Optimum/Kinowelt - Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Big thanks to Gregory Meshman and Pavel Borodin for the Warner and Lee's Vision Screen Caps!
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HensTooth Video (Widescreen Special Edition) - Region 1- NTSC LEFT vs. Henstooth Video - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)DVD Box Covers |
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Distribution |
HensTooth Video Region 1 - NTSC |
HensTooth Video Region 0 - NTSC |
(Warner Home Video (UK) - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs. Lee's Vision (Korea) - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Optimum/Kinowelt - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - RIGHT)
Box Covers |
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Released on Blu-ray by StudioCanal in July 2023: |
Distribution |
Warner Home Video (UK) Region 2 - PAL |
Lee's
Vision (Korea) Region 0 - NTSC |
Optimum (UK) / Kinowelt (Germany) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Distributor |
HensTooth Video Special Edition |
HensTooth Video Region 0 |
Warner Home Video (UK) | Lee's Vision (Korea) | Optimum (UK) / Kinowelt (Germany) |
Runtime | 2:12:16 | 2:06:48 | 2:06:52 (4% PAL speedup) | 2:12:28 | 2:12:41.083 |
Video |
1.80:1 Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
1.33:1
Aspect Ratio
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1.80:1 Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
1.59:1 Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 44,024,495,137 bytesFeature: 38,033,541,120 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 31.99 Mbps |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate: Henstooth Widescreen Special Edition |
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Bitrate: Henstooth - Region 0 |
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Bitrate:
Warner Home Video (UK)
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Bitrate:
Lee's Vision (Korea)
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Bitrate:
Blu-ray
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Audio | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 mono), DUB French (Dolby Digital 2.0 mono) | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 mono) | English, DUBS: French, Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 mono) |
English (Dolby Digital 2.0 mono) |
LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz /
2304 kbps / 24-bit DTS-HD Master Audio German 1910 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1910 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) |
Subtitles | None | None | French, none | English, Korean, none | English, German, none |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: HensTooth Video Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Keep case Chapters 12 |
Release Information: Studio: HensTooth Video Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Keep case Chapters 12
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Release Information: Studio: Warner Home Video (UK) Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
Chapters 12 |
Release Information: Studio: Lee's Vision (Korea) Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
DVD
Release Date: Chapters 24 |
Release Information: Studio: Studio Canal
1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 44,024,495,137 bytesFeature: 38,033,541,120 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 31.99 Mbps
Edition Details: • Letters From Vadim + Son (3:58 in 576i)• Vadim + Sam: Father and Son (5:58 in 576i) • Cutting Room Floor (4:23 in 576i) • Steiner in Japan (2:03 in 576i) • Mike's Homemovies: Steiner & • Kiesel Meet Again (7:27 in 576i)
• German
Trailer (5:22 in 576i) Chapters 12 |
Comments |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION: Optimum/Kinowelt - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - June 11': I don't think I can add more than the matched screen captures below. The Optimum/Kinowelt 1080P transfer produces an image that is significantly superior to even the best SD image. It has up to 5 X the bitrate of the DVDs. It shows far more detail in most scenes and is significantly crisper with vastly better contrast. There is still some green in the image which we believe to be intentional and overall the Blu-ray visuals are a breath of fresh air from what we have seen previously via digital. Marvelous. There are both English and German lossless tracks in stereo. They are both robust supporting some solid bass produced by the film's more aggressive sequences. After you pop the disc in - you immediately get the option of German or English menus - both discs support optional subtitles and the Blu-ray is region 'B'-locked. The package is stacked with extras. There are a lots of short pieces (all in PAL) focusing on production, plus some star interviews (audio only) but the main supplements is a 45-minute documentary by Mike Siegel entitled Passion & Poetry: Sam Peckinpah's War. Mike has a done a few 'Passion & Poetry' docs including the 2-hour "Passion & Poetry: The Ballad of Sam Peckinpah" (Reviewed by DVDBeaver HERE). Sam Peckinpah's War has many (Coburn, Mason etc.) discussing the film and director plus Peckinpah himself at times. It is in German and English with forced English subs when necessary. This is another excellent piece by Siegel but hardcore fans may wish to pick-up the HensTooth SE DVD for the Stephen Prince commentary.This is a wonderful Blu-ray package and makes for an easy recommendation of a memorable film. Fans should be elated. ***
NOTE (From SeelandRecords
of DVDBeaver ListServ): I must take exception
to the comparison up for CROSS OF IRON. Firstly, the claim that the
Korean edition is "closer to the intended 1.66 ratio" is not true. The
sides are clearly cropped in comparison to the other two anamorphic
transfers, as well as the top being opened up a bit. Furthermore, the
most likely ratio for this film would ideally be 1.75/UK/European
widescreen commonly aimed for in the 1970s (but was also surely framed
with the intention of being screened 1.85 in the USA). The idea that it
was intended to be shown with that much dead space at 1.66 in 1977 is
highly unlikely. But more to the point, the sides are lopped off in the
Korean disc, which is obviously a goof. ADDITION(s): HensTooth - NTSC (both SE and original): Well, although the new HensTooth Widescreen SE is a humungous improvement over the Full-Frame (Open Matte?) PAL-sourced original, which was horrendous, it is still far from perfect. HensTooth have enhanced the transfer (16X9) closer to its original ratio of 1.66 (but still not completely accurate at around 1.80). The frame has a black border around it limiting the horizontal resolution and it exhibits 'combing' indicating it is not from an HD source (see last capture). Looking at the bitrate it definitely looks like it is from an analog source. Watching through a tube TV it will probably be far less noticeable. It doesn't appear as sharp as the Warner UK DVD. The Lee's Vision is about 1.59 (closer to the original aspect ratio) and has the sharpest video quality. Skin tones on the Korean release seem decidedly red so I'll wager the colors have been manipulated to a certain degree. HensTooth have added a good commentary and some lobby card extras. This is a shame as this film is a real gem, but what we would most desire is a widescreen transfer in its correct ratio (that elusive 1.66), tight to the frame and keep the commentary on the new HensTooth. Till then we have dual recommendations - the new Hen'sTooth for extras, and the Lee's Vision for image. Whatever you do don't buy the original HensTooth - it's one of the worst transfers ever. -Gary W. Tooze |
Menus
(HensTooth Video (Widescreen Special Edition) - Region 1- NTSC LEFT vs. Henstooth Video - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)
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(Warner Home Video (UK) - Region 2 - PAL -
LEFT vs. Lee's Vision (Korea) - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)
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Optimum/Kinowelt - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Subtitle Sample Studio Canal Blu-ray
Screen Captures
1) HensTooth Video (Widescreen Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) HensTooth Video - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND3) Warner Home Video (UK) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD 4) Lee's Vision (Korea) - Region 0 - NTSC - FOURTH 5) Optimum/Kinowelt - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) HensTooth Video (Widescreen Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) HensTooth Video - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND3) Warner Home Video (UK) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD 4) Lee's Vision (Korea) - Region 0 - NTSC - FOURTH 5) Optimum/Kinowelt - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) HensTooth Video (Widescreen Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) HensTooth Video - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND3) Warner Home Video (UK) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD 4) Lee's Vision (Korea) - Region 0 - NTSC - FOURTH 5) Optimum/Kinowelt - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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1) HensTooth Video (Widescreen Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) HensTooth Video - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND3) Warner Home Video (UK) - Region 2 - PAL - THIRD 4) Lee's Vision (Korea) - Region 0 - NTSC - FOURTH 5) Optimum/Kinowelt - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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Report Card:
Image: |
Blu-ray |
Sound: |
Blu-ray |
Extras: |
HensTooth SE |
DVD Box Covers |
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Distribution |
HensTooth Video Region 1 - NTSC |
HensTooth Video Region 0 - NTSC |
Box Covers |
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Released on Blu-ray by StudioCanal in July 2023: |
Distribution |
Warner Home Video (UK) Region 2 - PAL |
Lee's
Vision (Korea) Region 0 - NTSC |
Optimum (UK) / Kinowelt (Germany) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
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Gary Tooze |
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Many Thanks...