Mum's Monday: Ice Cold in Alex

The title of this war film, which is mostly based on a true experience of J. Lee Thompson, doesn’t automatically make you think "This is a war film", and once you know it is, it could lead you to believe that the battle in Alex was fought in the winter time. The title however, turns out to be a clever one, as it signifies the aim of the mission in this film, which is to cross the desert in an ambulance with the intention of having an "Ice cold Beer" in Alex; an obscure riddle of a title that works.

The mission doesn’t look like it is going to be an easy one, with two nurses now to escort, Sister Diana Murdoch (Sylvia Syms) and Sister Denise Norton (Diane Clare), one being under sedation. It is good to see that "Panic" or maybe Shell Shock (Shell shock is not actually used in the film but this is OK) are high-lighted and acknowledging people suffered from it, a blown bridge and a mine field. Now they have another passenger Captain van ver poel (Anthony Quayle) and I agree, alcohol is not a good idea before entering a mine field.

There are a few tense moments, they come thick and fast and now they have a bigger problem on board the ambulance, which turns out to be beneficial. The script seems a bit harsh "Dead within the hour". This sadly, shows the cold-heartedness of war.

With an ambulance and the desert being a rough terrain a break down would seem inevitable. Van der poel is the hero of the hour, but he is being very secretive, which seems strange to others, but he has a war time ‘radio’ reason, but what do they do? He has helped them; the dilemma makes you think.

With all the ups and downs of crossing the desert, they now have a "Quick sand" problem. The techniques of getting van der poel out is a bit unrealistic to start with.

Despite the war, it is nice to see romance is not dead. It is unnecessary in this film but it is included. There is now a steep sandy slope in their way. This is an intense part of the film. The script is well done, but annoyingly two attempts are needed, however, the script is lovely someone should have been on the brake. This is the most memorable part for me. There is a time and a place for a "Love life", and this isn’t necessarily it. Also you find yourself routing them on the succeed to the top.

After six hundred miles, a feat of endurance, four ice colds in Alex and "Here’s to Otto".