Ice-Cold in Alex (1958)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

J. Lee Thompson

Writers:

Christopher Landon (novel)
Christopher Landon (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

3 October 1958 (West Germany)

Genre:

Adventure | War | Drama

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...

Plot Keywords:

Beer | Ambulance | Desert | WWII | Quicksand

Awards:

Nominated for 3 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

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	...	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
Paul Stassino	...	Barman

Directed by
J. Lee Thompson

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Christopher Landon		novel
Christopher Landon		screenplay
T.J. Morrison		writer

Produced by
W.A. Whittaker	....	producer

Original Music by
Leighton Lucas

Cinematography by
Gilbert Taylor

Film Editing by
Richard Best

Casting by
Robert Lennard

Art Direction by
Robert Jones

Makeup Department
Eric Aylott	....	makeup artist
A.G. Scott	....	hair stylist (as A. Scott)

Production Management
Barry Delmaine	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gus Agosti	....	assistant director

Art Department
Bill Beavis	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Charles Crafford	....	dubbing editor
Leslie Hammond	....	sound recordist
A.W. Lumkin	....	recording director
Len Shilton	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
George Blackwell	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Val Stewart	....	camera operator
Norman Warwick	....	photography: second unit
Steve Birtles	....	electrician (uncredited)
Kelvin Pike	....	focus puller (uncredited)

Music Department
Leighton Lucas	....	conductor

Transportation Department
Eddie Frewin	....	unit driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Joan Kirk	....	continuity
Walter C. Mycroft	....	script supervisor (as Walter Mycroft)

Production Companies

• Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC)

Distributors

• Associated British-Pathé (1958) (UK) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1961) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1988) (UK) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (UK) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Desert Attack (USA)
Ice Cold in Alex (UK) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

129 min | USA:76 min (1961)

Country:

UK

Language:

English | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

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

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC)

Trivia:

The ambulance used is an Austin K2, which saw widespread service with the British during WWII.

Goofs:

Continuity: The head on the beers at the end changes from a lot to very little and back again in nearly every shot.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Featured in War Stories (2006) (TV)

All against the desert

Army ambulance Captain Anson is ordered out of Tobruk just before it is besieged in 1942. He is fatigued by battle, dependent on drink, and despised by his friend and fellow officer who wrongly suspects him of asking to be released from the siege.

With Sergeant Pugh, the squadron's senior mechanic he prepares to leave, but enemy action separates them from the rest of the column and presents two nurses as unwelcome passengers. They later encounter Van der Pol, an ebullient South African Officer who offers to share his large rucksack of gin if the ambulance crew will give him a lift. The five then set off eastwards, trying to reach Alexandria, and safety.

But nothing about the journey is straightforward and Anson must deal with the desert, enemy forces, his own alcoholism, and the growing realisation that one of their number is an enemy agent. An incident in which one of the nurses is killed forces Anson to face up to his drunkenness and he promises his next drink won't be until they reach 'Alex' and it will be a cold beer, giving the film its title.

As the journey progresses the identity of the agent becomes obvious, but in parallel the others find themselves becoming drawn to him because of his bravery and integrity. The setbacks and hazards in the desert asks tough questions of them all, but none more difficult than how to remain loyal both to their country and to an enemy soldier to whom they each owe their lives.

John Mills as Anson, and Anthony Quayle as Van der Pol head an excellent and well-directed cast. Sylvia Simms and Harry Andrews support, without taking the limelight and although the script occasionally dips below standard, nothing can really detract from one of the finest wartime stories ever told.