Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
      • Playlists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Radio
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Movies»Movies by Decade»Movies - 1950s
    Movies - 1950s Movies - I 4 Mins Read

    Ice Cold in Alex (1958)

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    One of the great British WWII films of the 1950s, J. Lee Thompson’s Ice Cold in Alex is a gripping thriller about Captain Anson (John Mills) – an officer commanding a British Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) motor ambulance company – and his efforts to evacuate two nurses through treacherous, enemy-occupied North Africa after the fall of Tobruk to Rommel’s Afrika Korps in May 1942, not realising there’s a German spy in his midst.

    Joining Anson – who is suffering from exhaustion, battle fatigue and alcoholism – are Sgt. Major Tom Pugh (Harry Andrews) and the two young nurses: Diana Murdoch (Sylvia Syms) and a very panicky Denise Norton (Diane Clare), who initially has to be restrained and sedated. The vehicle they drive across the desert back to British lines is a worn-out Austin K2/Y ambulance, nicknamed “Katy.”

    icecold1When the group stops at a refuelling station, they are joined by Captain van der Poel (Anthony Quayle), a tall and muscular Afrikaner South African Army officer.

    Encountering an Afrika Korps detachment, Anson tries to outrun the Germans who open fire – mortally wounding nurse Norton – and soon catch up to Katy. Van der Poel, who claims to have learned German while working in Southwest Africa, parlays with the enemy, and they are allowed to go.

    After a night’s stopover, they fashion a makeshift grave marker and bury Denise Norton in the desert before encountering a German tank loaded with infantry. The Germans disarm them, inform them that Tobruk has fallen, and let them go after their officer converses with van der Poel.

    Pugh covertly follows van der Poel when he leaves the group and heads off into the desert. He reports back to the others that he saw a radio antenna, but Anson cautions them against confronting van der Poel just yet.

    Arriving at Siwa Oasis, they meet a British Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) officer (Peter Arne) disguised as an Egyptian tribesman, who supplies them with water and petrol.

    When van der Poel falls foul of some quicksand, his radio set is discovered – but although the others now realise that he is a Nazi spy, they decide not to confront him.

    When they finally reach Alexandria (the “Alex” of the title), they repair to Anson’s favourite bar, where he orders his coveted cold beer. Before they finish their round, a Military Police lieutenant (Basil Hoskins) arrives to arrest van der Poel. Anson (which Anson had prearranged with an MP checkpoint officer (Michael Nightingale) as they entered the city.

    Since van der Poel had, in effect, saved their lives during their desert crossing, Anson shows his gratitude by offering him a deal: provide his real name, and Anson will ensure he is classified as a prisoner of war rather than a spy (thus escaping execution).

    Van der Poel admits that his name is Hauptmann Otto Lutz and reveals he is an engineering officer with the 21st Panzer Division and Pugh removes Lutz’s fake dog tags to keep him safe from the military police. Lutz finishes his beer, shakes hands with everyone, and bids his erstwhile comrades “Auf Wiedersehen” before being driven away into captivity.

    Shot in Libyan parts of the Sahara, particularly memorable moments include the group’s nail-biting traversal of a minefield, peril by quicksand, and the iconic final scene of the survivors sharing a cold beer in Alexandria – possibly the most thirst-quenching drinks in cinema history.

    Ice Cold in Alex was not released in the United States until 22 March 1961 – unfortunately, under the misleading title, Desert Attack, and in a radically truncated version (54 minutes shorter), leaving it an unwatchable travesty of the original film.

    Captain Anson
    John Mills
    Sister Diana Murdoch
    Sylvia Syms
    Captain van der Poel
    Anthony Quayle
    M.S.M. Pugh
    Harry Andrews
    Sister Denise Norton
    Diane Clare
    Captain Crosbie
    Richard Leech

    Director
    J Lee Thompson

    Video

    Related Posts

    • Desert Fox, The (1951)
      Desert Fox, The (1951)
      Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, the "Desert Fox", was the commander of the crack German Afrika Korps, whose brilliant tactics earned…
    • No Time To Die (1958)
      No Time To Die (1958)
      Taken prisoner in the Libyan desert, Sergeant David Thatcher (Victor Mature) - an American serving with the British Royal Tank…
    • Ice Station Zebra (1968)
      Ice Station Zebra (1968)
      John Sturges' masterclass in how to adapt mediocre material for the big screen takes Alistair MacLean's potboiler and produces a…
    • Battle of the River Plate, The (1956)
      Battle of the River Plate, The (1956)
      In the autumn of 1939, the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee - the pride of the German Navy -…
    • Farewell to Arms, A (1957)
      Farewell to Arms, A (1957)
      Frederick Henry (Rock Hudson), an American serving as a volunteer ambulance driver with the Italian forces in the First World…
    • Morning Departure (1950)
      Morning Departure (1950)
      Morning Departure must send a glow of pride through any British audience. Whether it will be liked by other nations…
    • Moby Dick (1956)
      Moby Dick (1956)
      In 1840, a young sailor joins the whaling ship Pequod, whose captain, Ahab, is obsessively searching for the monstrous white…
    • Thing from Another World, The (1951)
      Thing from Another World, The (1951)
      This pioneering science-fiction outing emphasises suspense and atmosphere, rather than the shock special effects of John Carpenter's 1982 remake, in…

    1958
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleYoung Lions, The (1958)
    Next Article Invisible Boy, The (1957)

    Comments are closed.

    A Labour of Love

    Nostalgia Central has been a labour of love for me since 1998.

    If you find the site informative or enjoyable, please consider a donation – no matter how small – to help me with the running costs of the site and ensure I can keep Nostalgia Central running for your entertainment and education.

    Thank you so much, and please enjoy your trip in the time machine!
    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    You May Also Like
    • Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1975)
      Ellen Burstyn won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance as […]
    • Diary of a High School Bride, The (1959)
      Shot in just seven days in April 1959, The Diary of a High […]
    • Lovejoy
      1 9 8 6 (UK) 10 x 50 minute episodes 1 9 9 1 – 1 9 9 […]
    • Naked Lady Pens
      The internet has made porn accessible to everyone these days […]
    • Red Heat (1988)
      Arnold Schwarzenegger is a big, dopey Soviet cop who treks from […]
    • Star Wars Holiday Special, The
      1 9 7 8 (USA) 1 x 120 minute episode A Thanksgiving TV special […]
    Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons

    OUR LATEST FACEBOOK POSTS

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-65006801 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Terry Hall: Coventry scooter ride-out pays tribute to singer

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Hundreds of people ride through Coventry on what would have been the singer's 64th birthday.
    5 hours ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 3
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    metro.co.uk/2023/03/13/the-whos-roger-daltrey-thinks-theres-no-point-releasing-an-album-18434779/ ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    The Who's Roger Daltrey thinks there's 'no point' releasing another album

    metro.co.uk

    Bad luck.
    10 hours ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-64963359 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Sir Michael Caine's first Rolls Royce sells at Duxford for £120K

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The Italian Job actor hired a chauffeur to drive the 1968 Silver Shadow, with its doors still intact.
    4 days ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 2
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-64900348 ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Mystic Meg: Astrologer dies aged 80

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The TV star, whose real name was Margaret Lake, was a well-known TV figure in the 1990s.
    1 week ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 1
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    Do you think she know it eas going to happen

    PlayTalk Teletext (1976) | BFI Replay

    Talk Teletext (1976) | BFI Replay ... See MoreSee Less

    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 7
    • Shares: 2
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    Gary Rossington: Lynyrd Skynyrd's last founding member dies aged 71.
    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Gary Rossington: Lynyrd Skynyrd's last founding member dies aged 71

    www.bbc.co.uk

    Guitarist Gary Rossington had survived a 1977 air crash that killed several of his bandmates.
    2 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 2
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    What a talented man. Lucky enough to see original band in concert. BRILLIANT.

    Rest in peace Dickie Davies. An absolute giant of British sports broadcasting.

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Dickie Davies, World of Sport presenter, dies at 94

    www.theguardian.com

    The broadcaster became something of a cult figure after fronting the ITV show for 20 years
    4 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 4
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    Yes, one of the great presenters. R.I.P.

    For fans of the radio series Round The Horne (1965 - 1968) - starring the inimitable Kenneth Williams - there are several full episodes on Spotify. Some of the humour is still pretty close to the edge, even by modern standards. Bona! 

https://open.spotify.com/show/7DIM1wfGKwDis0uzsjHeP7?si=pG0_U0TjRKGzVDvrePs4vA

    For fans of the radio series "Round The Horne" (1965 - 1968) - starring the inimitable Kenneth Williams - there are several full episodes on Spotify. Some of the humour is still pretty "close to the edge", even by modern standards. Bona!

    open.spotify.com/show/7DIM1wfGKwDis0uzsjHeP7?si=pG0_U0TjRKGzVDvrePs4vA
    ... See MoreSee Less

    4 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 12
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 2

    Comment on Facebook

    For those interested, the complete “Jules and Sandy” is available on Audible…

    Bona to vada your jolly old eek. Lovely riah....

    RIP the beautiful Stella Stevens, who has died at the age of 84.

    ... See MoreSee Less

    Link thumbnail

    Stella Stevens: Nutty Professor and Poseidon Adventure star dies at 84

    www.bbc.co.uk

    The co-star of Elvis Presley also worked in TV on series such as Murder She Wrote and Magnum, P.I.
    4 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 0
    • Shares: 0
    • Comments: 0

    Comment on Facebook

    A very young Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison and friends. 

If they only knew what lay ahead . . .

    A very young Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison and friends.

    If they only knew what lay ahead . . .
    ... See MoreSee Less

    4 weeks ago
    View on Facebook
    · Share
    Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
    View Comments
    • Likes: 18
    • Shares: 1
    • Comments: 1

    Comment on Facebook

    I always hated the Beatles, and as it happens I still do.

    Load more
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Tag Cloud
    1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games British Invasion Britpop Bubblegum music Canada Civil rights Cold War Computer games Crime Disc Jockeys Disco Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Folk rock Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen James Bond JFK Kraütrock Labels Madchester Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave New Zealand Nixon Northern Soul NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Politics Power Pop Prog rock Pub rock Punk Radio Reggae Rolling Stones Scotland Ska Ska revival Skiffle Soul music Space Race Sport Surf music Video games Vietnam war
    Copyright © 1998, 2023 Nostalgia Central. Run by volunteers. Funded by donations.
    • About Nostalgia Central
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.