Breakthrough (1979): Cast & Plot
Breakthrough is a 1979 historical drama directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, starring Richard Burton as Sergeant Steiner, Helmut Griem and Curd Jürgens. It runs 1 hour 33 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 33m (93 min)
- Director
- Andrew V. McLaglen
- Original language
-
German - Studio
- Rapid Film
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Breakthrough About?
The premise of Breakthrough without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Set in late May 1944 as the German retreat on the Eastern Front, Captain Stransky (Helmut Griem) orders Sergeant Steiner (Richard Burton) to blow up a railway tunnel to stop the Soviet advance. Steiner’s platoon is halted by a Russian tank and the mission fails. He then takes leave to Paris as the Allied invasion of Normandy begins, confronting shifting loyalties and harsh war realities.
Breakthrough Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- 20th century
- 1940s
- year 1944
- british actor playing foreigner
- soldier
- military
- german soldier
- enemy
- u.s. soldier
- general
- explosion
- weapon
+38 more Show fewer
- wounded soldier
- dead soldier
- soldier killed
- occupied france
- death
- reference to adolf hitler
- opening action scene
- american
- surrender
- sergeant
- conspiracy
- on leave
- german general
- plot
- normandy france
- france
- french village
- human shield
- suicide
- suicide pill
- retreat
- western front
- d day
- normandy landing
- rear nudity
- female nudity
- paris france
- furlough
- eastern front
- wehrmacht
- pacifist
- battle
- white flag
- gestapo
- camouflage
- anti tank gun
- tank
- u.s. army
Breakthrough Cast & Characters
Richard Burton leads the cast as Sergeant Steiner, with Helmut Griem as Major Stransky and Curd Jürgens as General Hofmann. Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen; 17 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Andrew V. McLaglen
-
Richard Burton as Sergeant Steiner - Helmut Griem as Major Stransky
- Curd Jürgens as General Hofmann
-
Robert Mitchum as Colonel Rogers
Also Starring in Breakthrough
· 13 more- Rod Steiger General Webster
- Michael Parks Sergeant Anderson
- Christoph Waltz Paramedic
- Sieghardt Rupp Corporal Rothe
- Horst Janson Captain Berger
- Günter Meisner SS Officer
- Werner Pochath Keppel
- Klaus Löwitsch Krüger
- Joachim Hansen Captain Kistner
- Véronique Vendell Yvette
- Dieter Schidor Paul Anselm
- Hans-Jürgen Schatz Schulze
- Bruno Dietrich Nissen
More from Andrew V. McLaglen
More films directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, best-rated first: ffolkes, McLintock!, Cahill U.S. Marshal and The Last Hard Men.
Breakthrough Plot Summary
What happens in Breakthrough from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
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 runs into trouble when a Russian tank halts their mission, and after this setback he takes a furlough to Paris just as the Allies launch their invasion of Normandy.
Full summary
The whole story of Breakthrough, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Breakthrough?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrays Sergeant Steiner in the film?
Cars in Breakthrough
11 cars on screen, including the Horch 1a and the Chrysler M47 'Patton'.
-
Horch 1a Important role -
Chrysler M47 'Patton' Minor role -
KhPZ T-34/76 Minor role -
Mercedes-Benz Unknown Minor role
Breakthrough Also Known As
16 alternative titles, including “Steiner – Das Eiserne Kreuz 2” and “Steiner - Das Eiserne Kreuz - Teil II”.
- Also known as
-
- Steiner – Das Eiserne Kreuz 2
- Steiner - Das Eiserne Kreuz - Teil II
- Missão: Assassinar Hitler
- Steiner - Das Eiserne Kreuz
- 2. Teil
- Breakthrough - Specchio per le allodole
- Cerco roto
- Specchio per le allodole
- La Percée d'Avranches
- Vaskereszt 2
- Железный крест 2: Штайнер
- 铁十字勋章续集
+4 more Show fewer
- Steiner - Żelazny krzyż 2
- Ruptura das Linhas Inimigas
- Sergent Steiner - en mand af stål
- 鐵十字勳章續集
Seen Breakthrough?
Movies Like Breakthrough
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Breakthrough, Breakthrough and Operation Dunkirk.
Breakthrough FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of Breakthrough, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Breakthrough?
Breakthrough runs 1 hour 33 minutes (93 minutes).
When was Breakthrough released?
Breakthrough was released on March 1, 1979.
Who directed Breakthrough?
Breakthrough was directed by Andrew V. McLaglen.
More films by Andrew V. McLaglen Who is in the cast of Breakthrough?
Breakthrough stars Richard Burton as Sergeant Steiner, Helmut Griem as Major Stransky and Curd Jürgens as General Hofmann, among 17 credited actors.
Does Breakthrough have a post-credit scene?
No. Breakthrough has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Breakthrough in?
The original language of Breakthrough is German.
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