Introduction

Breakthrough (also released as Steiner – Das Eiserne Kreuz, 2 and Sergeant Steiner) is a 1979 war film set on the Western Front, specifically the Normandy coastline (World War II). The picture is a sequel to Sam Peckinpah’s 1977 film, Cross of Iron, and includes several characters from that film.

The film starred several big names including Richard Burton, Robert Mitchum and Rod Steiger. Burton (Sergeant Steiner) and Helmut Griem (Major Stransky) assume the roles played by James Coburn and Maximilian Schell respectively in the original film. The supporting cast features Michael Parks and Curd Jürgens. This also marks the film debut of Christoph Waltz, playing an uncredited role. Klaus Löwitsch is the only actor from Cross of Iron to reprise his role.

Outline

Starting in late May 1944, during the German retreat on the Eastern Front, Captain Stransky (Helmut Griem) orders Sergeant Steiner (Richard Burton) to blow up a railway tunnel to prevent Russian forces from using it. Steiner’s platoon fails in its mission after coming up against a Russian tank. He then takes a furlough to Paris just as the Allies launch their invasion of Normandy.

Steiner’s unit is transferred to France, occupying the village of St Bologne. General Hoffman (Curd Jürgens) orders Steiner to cross into nearby enemy territory and confer with American Colonel Rogers (Robert Mitchum) and General Webster (Rod Steiger), informing him that the High Command of the German Army (Wehrmacht) is plotting to assassinate Hitler and would like to surrender. The plan fails and American forces launch an attack on German forces in St Bologne where Stransky has planned an explosion to destroy both the Americans and the civilian inhabitants.

Steiner clearly sympathises more with the Americans, even to the extent of killing his fellow soldiers.

Cast

• Richard Burton as Sergeant Rolf Steiner
• Robert Mitchum as Colonel Rogers
• Rod Steiger as General Webster
• Michael Parks as Sergeant Anderson
• Curd Jürgens as General Hoffmann
• Helmut Griem as Major von Stransky
• Klaus Löwitsch as Corporal Krüger
• Christoph Waltz as Paramedic
• Günter Meisner as SS Officer

Trivia

• Robert Mitchum recalled that Richard Burton was drinking very heavily during filming and sometimes had to be carried onto the set.
• The suicide pill the SS officer offers General Hoffman is actually a Tic Tac breath mint.
• Richard Burton, Rod Steiger, Robert Mitchum and Curd Jûrgens all appeared in the 1962 film, The Longest Day.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s):
  • Andrew V. McLaglen
• Producer(s):
  • Wolf C. Hartwig … producer
  • Hubert Lukowski … producer
  • Ted Richmond … executive producer
  • Ludwig Spitaler … executive producer: Germany
• Writer(s):
  • Peter Berneis … (screenplay) and
  • Tony Williamson … (screenplay)
  • Dagobert Lindlau … (screenplay) (uncredited)
• Music:
  • Peter Thomas
• Cinematography:
  • Tony Imi
• Editing:
  • Helga Borsche … (German version)
  • Raymond Poulton
  • Herbert Taschner … (German version)
• Production:
  • Palladium Film GmbH Spielfilmproduktion 2 KG
  • Rapid Film
• Distributor(s):
  • Constantin Film (Austria, 1979)(Neue Constantin Film, theatrical)
  • Constantin Film (Germany, 1979)(Neue Constantin Film, theatrical)
  • Maverick Pictures International (United States, 1981)(‘Breakthrough’, English-track, theatrical)
• Release Date: February 1979 (Austria)
• Running time: 111 minutes.
• Rating: 15.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

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