DAS BOOT meets THE THING is how I would describe this Alistair MacLean thriller in retrospect. It's one of the tentpole movies of the 1960s, a larger-than-life thriller that makes full use of Cold War tensions in its tale of a desperate race to the North Pole to grab a MacGuffin that the other side can't be allowed to get its hands upon.
ICE STATION ZEBRA is an unashamedly old-fashioned film, brought to life by the sterling direction of surehand John Sturges (who'd previously completed, so memorably, THE GREAT ESCAPE and THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN). The running time is lengthy and there's barely any action, but there is plenty of suspense and a handful of exciting set-pieces that don't disappointment. I'd previously watched the hammier MacLean adaptation BEAR ISLAND previously, but it wasn't anywhere near as assured - or, indeed, well made - as this film.
The late, much missed Rock Hudson grabs the main role of the submarine commander and proves to be a likable and realistic hero. Ernest Borgnine is a delight, as always, and Patrick McGoohan is excellent as well. It was a pleasure to see Jim Brown in an early role in his career, but the real star of the thing is the submarine, which is brought to expert life. The only thing you can really criticise about ICE STATION ZEBRA is that some of the miniature effects are a bit shonky - the model planes flying in front of the back screen projection are appalling - but poor effects have never tempered my enjoyment of a movie. This one's a delight.
ICE STATION ZEBRA is an unashamedly old-fashioned film, brought to life by the sterling direction of surehand John Sturges (who'd previously completed, so memorably, THE GREAT ESCAPE and THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN). The running time is lengthy and there's barely any action, but there is plenty of suspense and a handful of exciting set-pieces that don't disappointment. I'd previously watched the hammier MacLean adaptation BEAR ISLAND previously, but it wasn't anywhere near as assured - or, indeed, well made - as this film.
The late, much missed Rock Hudson grabs the main role of the submarine commander and proves to be a likable and realistic hero. Ernest Borgnine is a delight, as always, and Patrick McGoohan is excellent as well. It was a pleasure to see Jim Brown in an early role in his career, but the real star of the thing is the submarine, which is brought to expert life. The only thing you can really criticise about ICE STATION ZEBRA is that some of the miniature effects are a bit shonky - the model planes flying in front of the back screen projection are appalling - but poor effects have never tempered my enjoyment of a movie. This one's a delight.