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:

From Tobruk to Alexandria... they had to make it... even if one of 'em was a traitor!

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

The bar scene was used around forty years later in a Carlsberg commercial. Indeed "worth waiting for".

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Goofs

During the sequence when they are trying to get the ambulance up the hill by winding the starting handle, one shot shows the ambulance apparently on a hillside, but the clouds are also sloping, parallel to the hill, showing that the camera had been titled to simulate the slope.

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Quotes

Capt. Anson: [draining his glass of beer] Worth waiting for.

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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

Referenced in Empire of the Censors (1995)

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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

Red hot in Alex

'Ice Cold in Alex' is an absorbing story of a British ambulance trying to get to safety in the North African desert. There is the heat, minefields, enemy troops, more heat, shifting sands and human weaknesses to contend with and at the end of the film (over two hours)one feels exhausted. The main characters are an army captain on the verge of a breakdown, a determined nurse, a solid sergeant major and a South African soldier whom they pick up on the way. With simple heroism they try making their way to their goal, which in this case is a glass of ice cold beer in Alexandria on the coast.

The interplay between the characters and the growing bond they have in adversity is well played by the actors. John Mills' deeply troubled captain is particularly well acted. Harry Andrews, Anthony Quayle and Sylvia Syms are fine too. The other main character is the ambulance itself, gradually coming to pieces on the way, steaming and bumping along.

J. Lee Thompson was a very able director and there are some excellent scenes here. The minefield scene near the beginning and the hill scene near the end are great, tense and emotional. The beer scene is moving and uplifting. The best British films about the Second World War are generally about a small group of ordinary people who faced with crisis and peril just get on with it.

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