Studiocanal have announced the return of 1970s war-action classic Cross of Iron by The Wild Bunch, Pat Garrett and Biilly the Kid and Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia director Sam Peckinpah in a stunning new 4K restoration coming to UHD Steelbook, Blu-Ray & DVD and with new bonus material, on 31st July as part of Studiocanal's Vintage Classics brand.

Boasting a first-rate cast including acting stalwarts James Coburn (The Magnificent Seven), James Mason (Lolita, A Star is Born) and David Warner (Morgan, a Suitable Case for Treatment, The Omen), alongside international stars Maximilian Schell (A Bridge Too Far) as the standout Battalion Commander and Senta Berger (The Glory Guys), this important anti-war film, based on the 1956 novel of the same name by Willi Heinrich, is a visually captivating and authentic portrayal of the horrors of war, exploring class conflict on the Eastern Front during one of the bloodiest conflicts in the history of mankind.

Based on the novel The Willing Flesh by Willi Heinrich, Sam Peckinpah’s only war film is an intense and uncompromising affair that brilliantly reflects both the futility of conflict and the director’s fascination with individuals confronted by events beyond their control. A World War II tale told from the German perspective, Cross of Iron follows a platoon of German soldiers in Russia when the German Wehrmacht forces had been decimated and the Germans were retreating along the Russian front. Rolf Steiner (James Coburn) is a German corporal and recipient of the Iron Cross who has grown disenchanted with Hitler’s war machine. When Captain Stransky (Maximilian Schell) assumes charge, the pair are thrown into immediate conflict, the autocratic but ultimately cowardly Stransky coveting the loyalty and honour Steiner commands.

Described by Orson Welles as one of the greatest anti-war films ever made, Cross of Iron has influenced much popular culture to this day. Evocatively shot by John Coquillon (Billy the Kid) in sombre tones, the superlative lead performances are matched by David Warner and James Mason as war-weary senior officers. Viewed as one of Peckinpah’s most powerful works, it’s an unflinching vision of the Second World War.

Before we get onto the contents of the discs, a note of caution. As huge fans of the film, the news that this is a new 4K restoration has us excited, but it's an excitement tempered by one aspect of this Blu-ray and DVD's predecessor. Released back in 2011 by Studiocanal's earlier UK incarnation, Optimum Home Entertainment, the image quality on that Blu-ray was certainly impressive, but the restoration prepared for that release was then ralmost uined by the grading, which drained the colour and added a sepia tint to the picture that simply was not there on the version that screened in cinemas, or indeed that was previously released on DVD. You can read Slarek's review of that Blu-ray here. We're thus hoping that the offers the opportunity to to right that criminal wrong, and will this hold back judgement until we see the transfer, but the one revuiew of it I've already seen does not bode well...

Cross of Iron will be released in the UK on 4K UHD Steelbook, Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital platforms on 31 July 2023. Retail prices were not listed in the press release, but Zavvi has them at £29.99 for the UHD Steelbook, and £22.99 (currently discounted to £14.99) for the Blu-ray. They don't have the DVD listed, but Amazon has that for £10.

4K UHD, BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Audio Commentary by filmmaker and film historian Mike Siegel
• NEW Promoting STEINER
• NEW STEINER on the set
• NEW Filming STEINER
• NEW Filming STEINER pt 2
• NEW STEINER in colour
• On Location: Sam Peckinpah
• On Location: James Coburn
• On Location: Maximilian Schell
• On Location: James Mason
• On Location: David Warner
• Passion and Poetry: Sam Peckinpah's War
• Kruger Kisses Kern
• Vadim & Sam: Father & Son
• Cutting Room Floor
• Steiner in Japan: Ads filmed in 1977
• Mike's Home Movies: Steiner & Kiesel Meet Again
• US/UK Trailer
• German Trailer
• US TV Spot

DVD special features:

• Audio Commentary by filmmaker and film historian Mike Siegel