Ice Cold in Alex

1958
Approved
2h 10m

IMDb RATING

7.7/10

6.8K

YOUR RATING

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.

Play trailer3:14

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55 Photos

Desert Adventure Adventure Drama War

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.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.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.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.7/10

6.8K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 4 BAFTA Awards
- 1 win & 5 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 3:14

Trailer

Photos55

+ 48

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Storyline

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Trivia
Filmed in Libya, as Egypt was ruled out due to the recent Suez Crisis. Filming began 10 September 1957.

Goofs
When a group of German Stukas bomb the minefield, one of the camera shots is of a plane's bomb doors opening. Stukas didn't have bomb doors as their bombs were mounted externally.

Quotes
Capt. Anson: I'll tell you this, the next drink I have's gonna be a lager. Ice cold. There's a little bar in Alex with a marble top counter and high stools. They serve the best beer in all the middle east. When we get through with this lot I'm gonna buy you one. I'll buy you all one.

Crazy credits
Opening credits prologue: TOBRUK - 1942

Alternate versions
Original British version, "Ice Cold in Alex," runs 130 minutes. U.S. distributor shortened the film in 1961 to 76 minutes and released it as "Desert Attack."

Connections
Featured in Hollywood U.K. British Cinema in the Sixties: A Very British Picture (1993)

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 reviews73

Review

Featured review

8/10

An excellent movie about how people really can work together

This film really brings out how people can overcome their differences, no matter how large or seemingly-impossible, and work together for their own survival.

Anthony Quayle acted his part with perfection, staying both loyal to his own cause, AND to the common cause of survival.

He did not turn anybody over to the German army despite the many opportunities, but turned each incident into an advantage that helped all concerned.

Also the matter of alcoholic addiction was portrayed excellently by John Mills, and the self-realisation which led to his overcoming of the problem was quite poignant.

Overall I would recommend this film as one of the classics amongst war-theme movies. It gets behind the scenes and down to the really important matter of real people and THEIR perspective of things.