Breakthrough (1979 film)


Breakthrough, also released as Steiner - Das Eiserne Kreuz, 2 and Sergeant Steiner is a 1980 war film set on the Western Front, specifically the Normandy coastline. The picture is an unofficial sequel to Sam Peckinpah's 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 and Helmut Griem assume the roles played by James Coburn and Maximilian Schell respectively in the original film. The supporting cast features Michael Parks and Curd Jürgens. Klaus Löwitsch is the only actor from Cross of Iron to reprise his role.

Plot

Starting in late May 1944, during the German retreat on the Eastern Front, Captain Stransky orders Sergeant Steiner to blow up a railway tunnel to prevent Russian forces from using it. Steiner's platoon fails in its mission by coming up against a Russian tank. Steiner 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 orders Steiner to cross into enemy territory and confer with American Colonel Rogers and General Webster that the High Command of the German Army 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.

Cast

The film Breakthrough which was mostly financed by West German producers when it was released in 1979, after several changes were made to the sequel for instance the action was moved from Russia to the Western Front and Richard Burton replaced Coburn as Sgt Steiner. Breakthrough was panned by critics, who criticised it for a confusing plot, poor dialogue, aged cast and undistinguished acting. Critics state that this movie is not 100% percent canon to Cross of Iron because it does not follow the correct timelines nor makes any sense since Stransky was already wounded and left for dead and Steiner goes missing in action in the previous film. Also, the film depicts the duties of officers being performed by enlisted men and the duties of enlisted men being performed by officers.