Ice Cold in Alex

1958

Adventure / Drama / War

5
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 94% · 3 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 94% · 5K ratings
IMDb Rating 7.7/10 10 7343 7.3K

ambulance spy world war ii beer black and white desert

Plot summary

A group of army personnel and nurses attempt a dangerous and arduous trek across the deserts of North Africa during the second world war. The leader of the team dreams of his ice cold beer when he reaches Alexandria.

Director

J. Lee Thompson Photo
J. Lee Thompson

Top cast

Sylvia Syms Photo
Sylvia Syms as Sister Diana Murdoch
Walter Gotell Photo
Walter Gotell as 1st German Officer
David Lodge Photo
David Lodge as C.M.P. Captain
Richard Marner Photo
Richard Marner as German Guard
720p.BluRay
1.17 GB
1184*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
24 fps
2 hr 10 min
Seeds 12

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by henry-girling 8 / 10

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.
Reviewed by artrex01 9 / 10

Further proof that characterisation and story is the equal of multi-million dollar budgets

I must have watched this film more than 10 times, and have enjoyed it. I especially enjoy the story of triumph over adversity; both in terms of the adversity of nature itself, as well as human nature.The subplot of the commonality of humanity, together with the final denouement adds to my enjoyment. As an Englishman living in Australia, I appreciate, especially the final scene in the club. I never fail to relish a glass of beer, or to finger-wipe the condensation on the glass.(PS I would have made it 10 out of 10 if Miss Syms could have unhooked two more buttons on her shirt)
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