I spent the 70's and 80's with eyes pinned to the box and until recently had never heard of this film despite a liking for war movies and Sam Peckinpah's Cross of Iron in particular.
This movie was never broadcast on British television as far as I know and after watching it on You Tube I can see why. It really is a very badly made movie. Burton looks miscast here, he tries to put on a faux German accent but it doesn't work, overall he looks more like a Chelsea pensioner than a hardened combat soldier. I thought Robert Mitchum did his usual thing well as did Rod Steiger even with the clichéd dialogue, but I put it all largely down to bad staging and editing. Perhaps there were budgetary issues with this film because it really shows and it only last 90 mins so what was cut out?
Helmut Greim was particularly bad as Stransky but had to follow the magnificent Maximillian Schell from the first movie. Again Greim looks miscast here, perhaps even more so than Burton.
Clearly when a film project is launched all the essential elements don't quite come together and here is a clear example. Despite all the failings it still manages to be entertaining because you find yourself enjoying these big name movie stars being so badly represented.
This movie was never broadcast on British television as far as I know and after watching it on You Tube I can see why. It really is a very badly made movie. Burton looks miscast here, he tries to put on a faux German accent but it doesn't work, overall he looks more like a Chelsea pensioner than a hardened combat soldier. I thought Robert Mitchum did his usual thing well as did Rod Steiger even with the clichéd dialogue, but I put it all largely down to bad staging and editing. Perhaps there were budgetary issues with this film because it really shows and it only last 90 mins so what was cut out?
Helmut Greim was particularly bad as Stransky but had to follow the magnificent Maximillian Schell from the first movie. Again Greim looks miscast here, perhaps even more so than Burton.
Clearly when a film project is launched all the essential elements don't quite come together and here is a clear example. Despite all the failings it still manages to be entertaining because you find yourself enjoying these big name movie stars being so badly represented.