If you haven't seen it:
Ice Cold in Alex (or Desert Attack, as it was released in the USA, as a heavily edited and far inferior version) is exciting and inspirational. It tells the story of the crew of a military ambulance desperately trying to make it to the safety of Alexandria. There are scenes of drama, comedy, and unbearable tension, all set against the authentic backdrop of the North African desert during world war two.
Sylvia cranks up the sex appeal
It stars the great English actor John Mills, and the lovely Sylvia Syms.
One piece of advice for you, when you watch Ice Cold in Alex, make sure you have a cold beer handy - at the end of the film you will need it.
If you have seen it:
Scroll down past the adverts and the trailer for more.
Click below to watch the trailer for Ice Cold in Alex: (If you cannot see the trailer below, your browser may need adjusting)
SPOILER ALERT: The plot summary and comments below contain details that might spoil your enjoyment of Ice Cold in Alex if you have not already seen it.
Plot:
"If you two don’t stop asking 'Are we there yet?', I’ll turn this ambulance around"
In the opening scenes, the North African town of Tobruk is evacuated because of news the Germans are advancing. Captain Anson, a burnt out alcoholic, drives an army ambulance. Anson, along with Sergeant Pugh, and two nurses, joins the convoy to Alexandria, but they separated from them following an enemy attack. The ambulance crew must make their own way to safety, negotiating minefields, quicksand, mechanical failures, German soldiers, and the relentless heat.
On their journey, they pick up a South African soldier, Captain van der Poel. He pays for his passage by offering to share his gin with Anson. At first, Anson is happy to accept the offer, but when one of the nurses is killed by German fire, he realizes everyone is depending on him. He vows that the next drink he will have will be an ice cold beer in Alexandria.
He had a dilemma - should he tell them that he had had the hand-brake on for the past twenty minutes, or gently take it off and say nothing?
Van der Poel meanwhile, has been acting suspiciously. He has something in his backpack that he does not want anyone to see, but he convinces German soldiers to let them pass by showing it to them. Eventually, Sergeant Pugh discovers that it is a radio transmitter, and tells the others that van der Poel is a German spy. They do not confront him yet though, realizing that they might still need his help in crossing the desert - they even save his life when he falls into quicksand. This proves to be the right thing to do, as van der Poel's strength is crucial when they face their final challenge - rolling the ambulance up huge sand-dune using the starter handle (twice!).
Probably the best beer ad in the world
The crew make it to Alexandria, where they do indeed have the beer they have been dreaming of for so long. Then, they turn the spy over to the military police. However, because of the bond between them, and respect they feel for him, they do not reveal him as a spy, but say that he surrendered to them - that way he would be held as a prisoner of war rather than executed.
Steve Sunday says:
What a great film! The courage and resiliance these characters show make me feel rather ashamed of the way I panic a little whenever I find myself in sunny weather without a hat. Ice Cold in Alex shows us how we can accomplish anything if we are determined enough, and it shows us the importance of putting the handbrake on when we park on a hill.
Surely that is not safe when stood so close to someone as hot as Sylvia?"
Did you notice how everyone gets dirty, sweaty, and smelly, except the lovely Sylvia Syms? While the men are wallowing about in quicksand and washing themselves in petrol, Sylvia considers her appearance, and stays well out of the way. Sensible girl. Have I mentioned how lovely she is?
Trivia Trish says:
The movie is based on a novel, not a "true story". A few changes were made from the original story - in the book, the nurse falls for the sergeant, not the captain. Also, the beer at the end was named as Rhinegold, but the film-makers decided this sounded too German.
In the 1980s Carlsberg used the beer-drinking scene in a commercial
It really was beer they were drinking in that scene, and after quite a few takes, John Mills was rather worse for wear.
The love scene between Diana and Anson had to be re-shot after the British censor decided that Sylvia Syms had too many buttons undone on her blouse
Main cast & crew of Ice Cold in Alex: John Mills ... Captain Anson Sylvia Syms ... Sister Diana Murdoch Anthony Quayle ... Captain van der Poel Harry Andrews ... MSM Tom Pugh
