Ice Cold in Alex (1958)

During World War II in North Africa, a medical field unit must cross the desert in their ambulance in order to reach the British lines in Alexandria.

Director:

J. Lee Thompson

Writers:

Christopher Landon (novel), T.J. Morrison (screenplay)

Stars:

John Mills, Anthony Quayle, Sylvia Syms

Nominated for 4 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Mills	...	Captain Anson
Sylvia Syms	...	Sister Diana Murdoch
Anthony Quayle	...	Captain van der Poel
Harry Andrews	...	M.S.M. Pugh
Diane Clare	...	Sister Denise Norton
Richard Leech	...	Captain Crosbie
Liam Redmond	...	Brigadier (D.D.M.S.)
Allan Cuthbertson	...	Brigadier's Staff Officer
David Lodge	...	C.M.P. Captain (Tank Trap)
Michael Nightingale	...	C.M.P. Captain (Check Point)
Basil Hoskins	...	C.M.P. Lieutenant (Alexandria)
Walter Gotell	...	1st German Officer
Frederick Jaeger	...	2nd German Officer
Richard Marner	...	German Guard
Peter Arne	...	British Officer at Oasis

Storyline

A group of Army personnel and nurses attempt a dangerous and arduous trek across the desert of North Africa during World War II. The leader of the team dreams of his ice cold beer when he reaches Alexandria, but the problems just won't go away.

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Plot Keywords:

desert | alexandria egypt | afrika corps | british eighth army | north africa campaign | 

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Taglines:

3 Guys...And a Couple of Gals...And the Mission That Led Them Through 600 Miles of Burning Hell!

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the bar scene in Alexandria, Sir John Mills was drinking real beer because ginger ale and other substitutes didn't look real enough on film. In the final cut (the fourteenth take) he actually was quite drunk.

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Goofs

In the closing scene, as Otto is driven away, there is a Land Rover in the background. Land Rovers were not made until after WWII.

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Quotes

Capt. Anson: [to van der Poel] Don't just stand there like a Hype Park floozy wondering how she's going to get through the winter! Get back there and push!
[to Diana]
Capt. Anson: And you, stop dreaming about your love life and come and help!

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: TOBRUK - 1942

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Alternate Versions

When originally released theatrically in the UK, the BBFC made cuts to secure a 'A' rating. All cuts were waived in 1988 when the film was granted a 'PG' certificate for home video.

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Connections

Spoofed in Strange Report: Report 2493: Kidnap - Whose Pretty Girl Are You? (1969)

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Soundtracks

My Old Man (Said Follow the Van)
[uncredited]
Written (1919) by Fred W. Leigh and Charles Collins
Sung by John Mills, Sylvia Syms and Harry Andrews

User Reviews

Fitzcarraldo had his ship, Captain Anson had his ambulance first.

Ice-Cold in Alex is directed by J. Lee Thompson and is based on the novel of the same name written by Christopher Landon. The latter of which co-writes the screenplay with T.J. Morrison. It stars John Mills, Sylvia Syms, Anthony Quayle and Harry Andrews. Leighton Lucas provides the music and Gilbert Taylor photographs in black and white.

World War II and the British base at Tobruk, Libya, is attacked by the German Afrika Korps. During the evacuation 4 personnel are tasked with the mission to drive an ambulance across the desert back to British lines in Alexandria in Egypt. Captain Anson (Mills), MSM Tom Pugh (Andrews), Nurse Diana Murdoch (Syms) and Nurse Denise Norton (Diane Clare) are the four people in question, soon to be joined by a South African officer, Captain van der Poel (Quayle). Poel seems shifty, but his physicality and supply of Gin will no doubt be handy on this arduous trip. And arduous it will prove, as the elements, Germans and inner conflict will all test the group to the limit.

It falls under the war movie banner, but the truth is that Ice-Cold in Alex is a different sort of animal. The core of Landon's story is to observe how a different group of characters cope in the face of mental and physical hardships. The war and the desert landscapes form the backdrop, but this is in essence a character study where the characters are defined by their actions. Thankfully the group of actors on show are able to turn in great shows to not let the slow structure of the film be a hindrance. Mills and Quayle especially bring a dynamic to their characters, drawing the viewer into the desert with them in the process. A number of quality scenes stand out in the picture, be it involving quicksand or trying to get "Katy" the ambulance over a hill, the tension mounts and the film never wants for effective drama. While the finale crowns the picture in a wave of humanistic collectedness. 8/10

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English German

Release Date:

27 June 1958 (UK)

Also Known As:

Ice Cold in Alex

Filming Locations:

Associated British Elstree Studios, Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min 76 min (1961) 138 min (1958) (pre-censored)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1