IMDb > Ice-Cold in Alex (1958)

Ice-Cold in Alex (1958) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.9/10   1,556 votes
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Director:
Writers:
Contact:
View company contact information for Desert Attack on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
3 October 1958 (West Germany) more
Genre:
Plot:
A group of army personnel and nurses attempt a dangerous and arduous trek across the deserts of North Africa during the second world war... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for 3 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 win & 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
John Mills in Award Tribute
 (From WENN. 3 December 2002)

User Reviews:
One of strongest character driven war films ever. more (33 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

John Mills ... Captain Anson
Sylvia Syms ... Sister Diana Murdoch
Anthony Quayle ... Captain van der Poel / Hauptman Otto Lutz
Harry Andrews ... MSM Tom Pugh
Diane Clare ... Sister Denise Norton
Richard Leech ... Captain Crosbie
Liam Redmond ... Brigadier (DDMS)
Allan Cuthbertson ... Ponsonby - Brigadier's Staff Officer
David Lodge ... CMP Captain (tank trap)
Michael Nightingale ... CMP Captain (checkpoint)
Basil Hoskins ... CMP Lieutenant (Alexandria)
Walter Gotell ... 1st German Officer
Frederick Jaeger ... 2nd German Officer
Richard Marner ... German Guard
Peter Arne ... British Officer at Oasis
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Desert Attack (USA)
Ice Cold in Alex (UK) (alternative spelling)
more
Runtime:
129 min | USA:76 min (1961)
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound Recording)
Certification:
Iceland:12 | UK:A (1958) (cut) | UK:PG (1988) | USA:Approved (PCA #19618) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
When the ambulance crosses the minefield was just a few notes in the screenplay. It was improvised by director J. Lee Thompson into the tense sequence we see in the film today. more
Goofs:
Plot holes: At the checkpoint when entering Alexandria, the MP Captain hands over a shirt saying "This is for your South African friend". Later Captain Anson states that he has told security that he has a German Officer with them. Anson is trying to conceal Lutz's assumed identity and would not have told the checkpoint captain that Lutz was South African. more
Quotes:
Capt. Anson: [draining his glass of beer] Worth waiting for. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The 100 Greatest War Films (2005) (TV) more

FAQ

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9 out of 9 people found the following review useful.
One of strongest character driven war films ever., 29 August 1999
10/10
Author: Phil Tyler from Wirral, England

This is a masterly example of how to make a film. The plot is simple, how to get an ambulance from behind enemy lines to safety, but it's given such force and power by the characters thrown together to achieve this. The alcoholic burnt out Captain, the solid Sergeant Major, the plucky nurse and the mysterious stranger. The performances are somewhat mannered by todays standards however they are all excellent, especially Harry Andrews (who rarely gets a mention) but who is the solid rock that holds the other characters together. Don't miss the original UK version, the shortened US version may be safely passed over. This film shows it is possible to make an interesting war film with hardly any violence.

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Message Boards

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
yum avelana
How about a remake? wood_bee
What alerts Sister Norton? ruthduckworth
have finally realised what a good film this is thefrogwoman83
Bristol Beaufighter steve-544-31268
Was Carlsberg available in Alex in WW2? colin-barron
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