This gritty war film set during the German army's disastrous Russian campaign in 1943 is more thoughtful than director Sam Peckinpah's usual fare, although it's still up to his usual bloody and violent standard. It not only deals with the German/Russian battle, but with the conflict between an arrogant Prussian officer (Maximilian Schell) and a more pragmatic and battle-weary sergeant (James Coburn). As a story of men suffering the pressures of war, the film has a worthy air and it is always engrossing. Schell fills the role of the upper class officer well, and Coburn is great as the intelligent, philosophical but tough sergeant.

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