My luck was in this afternoon as one of my favourite films was giving a showing on TCM, “Ice Cold in Alex”. This is a masterly example of how to make a film. The plot is simple, how to get an ambulance from behind enemy lines to safety, but it's given such force and power by the characters thrown together.
Army ambulance Captain Anson is ordered out of Tobruk just before it is besieged in 1942 with Sergeant Pugh, the squadron's senior mechanic. Anson is fatigued by battle, recently escaped from the Germans and spent two days walking across the desert and now dependent on drink, and charged with getting two nurses out of Tobruk before the siege they are unwelcome passengers putting more pressure on him.
When the final bridge goes up in smoke they are trapped but Anson, plans to drop the nurses back in Tobruk and have a bash at crossing the minefield and across the desert to get back to British lines. The senior nurse chooses they should tag along with Anson as the other nurse was to mentally fragile for a siege. Later at a fuel dump, they encounter Van der Pol, an ebullient Afrikaner South African Officer who wants out of Tobruk and asks to accompany them. Anson tells him no until he flashes a rucksack of gin and he is quickly welcomed to the journey.
Having crossed the mined field, they run into a German patrol and in the process of trying to get away, one of the nurse is shot and later dies. Captured their new South African friend manages to talk them into letting them go. Once maybe ok but twice there must be something fishy going on. Anson and the others were now beginning to realise there was something not right with their South African friend.
There’s nothing about the journey that is straightforward and Anson must deal with the desert, enemy forces, his own alcoholism, and after the death of the nurse Anson is forced to confront his drink problem. He vows 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.
A number of quality scenes stand out in the picture, be it involving quicksand or trying to get "Katy" the ambulance over a hill, the tension mounts and the film never wants for effective drama. While the finale crowns the picture in a wave of humanistic collectedness as all five have their ‘cold drink in a bar in Alex before handing over there German spy claiming he was a captured soldier saving him a death penalty as a spy.
John Mills as Anson and Anthony Quayle as Van der Pol head an excellent and well-directed cast. Sylvia Simms a Sunday Crush that I fell in love with in this film and Harry Andrews in support were also excellent, 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.
My Rating
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