VINTAGE FILM Cross of Iron

In 1977, could an English-language film about German soldiers fighting the Soviets in the middle of World War II draw much of an audience? No, it couldn’t. But 40 years later, many people still lay down their dollars and euros to watch the critically-acclaimed Cross of Iron – Sam Peckinpah’s only war film, which is more about the conflict between an enlisted man seeking honour (Coburn) versus an officer seeking glory (Schell) – and give it high marks.