History Film / IceColdInAlex

''Ice Cold in Alex'' is a 1958 British UsefulNotes/WorldWarII film [[TheFilmOfTheBook based on]] Christopher Landon's 1957 novel of the same name, directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Creator/JohnMills, Sylvia Syms, Anthony Quayle, and Harry Andrews.

* TheChick: Sister Norton, who's [[TheLoad terrified and completely out of her depth]], is described by Murdoch as a "silly little thing" and [[KillTheCutie pays for Anson's recklessness with her life]].

* SpotOfTea: How to make a decent cuppa in the desert is actually a plot point. [[spoiler:Van der Poel is rumbled partly because he doesn't know how to do it]].

* WhoWearsShortShorts: Van der Poel does. Anson and Pugh wear long shorts.

%%* FiveManBand:

* FrothyMugsOfWater: Famously averted in the beer-downing finale - it's real Carlsberg, and Mills had to down a couple of pints to get the best take. Subverted in that they filmed alternate scenes of the survivors drinking sarsaparilla, because there were still 'Dry' states in the U.S. that would have censored the film.

[[quoteright:275:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/icecoldinalex_6729.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:275:Worth waiting for]]

''Ice Cold in Alex'' is a UsefulNotes/WorldWarII film about a bunch of British soldiers trying to outrun the Afrika Korps in the North African desert in an ambulance after they're cut off from their column in the wake of Rommel's assault. The drama concentrates on the interplay among the characters in their struggle to cross the desert alive rather than on the war happening around them, but provides an important framing device for their personal struggle.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: ZigZagged; Anson is basically responsible for the death of [[spoiler:Norton, since it's revealed that had he stopped...Van Der Poel would have been able to talk his way out of being sent back. However, if she wasn't wounded, their chances of them being allowed to cross would have been lowered]].

* QuicksandSucks: This almost happens to Captain van der Pol; justified since he kept squirming in the quicksand and [[spoiler: bury the spy radio he was carrying]]. Not to mention, it's a looming threat to our heroes as they traversed the Qattara Depression.

* QuicksandSucks: This almost happens to Captain van der Pol. Not to mention a looming threat to our heroes as they traversed the Qattara Depression.

* BasedOnATrueStory
* CompanionCube: Katy.
* [[CoolCar Cool Ambulance]]: ''Katy'', the Austin K2/Y Ambulance.

* TheDeterminator: "I'm gonna get Katy to Alex, you understand? ''I'm going to''. [[ItsPersonal It's a personal thing]]."

* FiveManBand;
** TheHero: Captain Anson who successfully navigates the crew through incredibly hostile territory.
** TheLancer: Sister Murdoch; not second in command as such, but a stark contrast to Anson who helps keep him sane.
** TheSmartGuy: Tom Pugh, who stops both the ambulance and the main character from disintegrating.
** TheBigGuy: van der Poel, who does an ungodly amount of (almost literally) backbreaking work.
** TheChick: Sister Norton, who's [[TheLoad terrified and completely out of her depth]], is described by Murdoch as a "silly little thing" and [[KillTheCutie pays for Anson's recklessness with her life]].
* FrothyMugsOfWater: Famously averted in the beer-downing finale - it's real Carlsberg, and Mills had to down a couple of pints to get the best take.
** Subverted in that they filmed alternate scenes of the survivors drinking sarsaparilla, because there were still 'Dry' states in the U.S. that would have censored the film.

* INeedAFreakingDrink: Played straight with Anson at the start of the film, averted later, despite van der Poel's stockpile of gin.
-->'''van der Poel:''' "So what do I do if he ''asks'' for a drink?"
-->'''Pugh:''': "He WON'T!"

--> '''Murdoch''': I'd like to be coming with you.
--> '''Anson''': Too much of a handful.
--> '''Murdoch''': You'll be coming back to Alex?
--> '''Anson''': No. Wouldn't work out. I'd like to think it could, but... it wouldn't. I'd only make you unhappy.
--> *{{Beat}}*
--> '''Anson''': See? I've started already.

* KillTheCutie: Denise's fate.
* LandMineGoesClick: Averted. [[spoiler: It's a discarded ration tin]].
* TheMole: [[spoiler: Captain van der Poel]]

* NobodyPoops: Averted.

-->'''Pugh:''' "My toolkit!"
-->'''Anson:''' "My whisky..."

* {{Quicksand sucks}}: This almost happens to Captain van der Pol. Not to mention a looming threat to our heroes as they traversed the Qattara Depression.

* FrothyMugsOfWater: Famously averted in the beer-downing finale.

* SpotOfTea: [[spoiler:Van der Poel is rumbled partly due to not knowing how to make tea in the desert properly]]

* CrossingTheDesert: [[IncrediblyLamePun Probably the best]] TropeCodifier [[IncrediblyLamePun in the world]]. [[Note]]The beer our heroes drink in the final scene is Carlsberg, whose ads famously used the phrase "Probably the best lager in the world". Became self-referential when Carlsberg used the clip seen in the page photo in their TV ads.[[/note]]

* CrossingTheDesert: [[IncrediblyLamePun Probably the best]] TropeCodifier [[IncrediblyLamePun in the world]].

* ItHasBeenAnHonor: [[spoiler: Van Der Poel]] to the rest at the end of the film although he isn't going to die, just be taken as a POW.

''Ice Cold in Alex'' is a WorldWarII film about a bunch of British soldiers trying to outrun the Afrika Korps in the North African desert in an ambulance after they're cut off from their column in the wake of Rommel's assault. The drama concentrates on the interplay among the characters in their struggle to cross the desert alive rather than on the war happening around them, but provides an important framing device for their personal struggle.

* ItHasBeenAnHonour: [[spoiler: Van Der Poel]] to the rest at the end of the film although he isn't going to die, just be taken as a POW.