Ice Cold In Alex 4K Restoration is a thing of beauty

STUDIOCANAL’s new 60th Anniversary, 4K restoration edition of one of the greatest war films of all time Ice Cold In Alex (1958) has been released on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download today, 19th February 2017.

1942: The Libyan war zone, North Africa. After a German invasion a British ambulance crew are forced to evacuate their base but become separated from the rest of their unit. Somehow they must make it to Alexandria, but how?

Their only hope is a dilapidated ambulance named “Katy” and an irrational, alcoholic soldier known as Captain Anson. Facing landmines, a Nazi attack, suffocating quicksand and the relentlessly brutal and unforgiving Sahara desert, can Captain Anson face his demons and make the road to hell a journey to freedom?

The film is a classic and if you have never seen it then you are in for a treat. It is one of those war films that does not show much of the actual war or the fighting but shows the effects it has on those involved in it. It follows the characters as they combat everything the harsh desert has to throw at them. Having a new 4K restoration makes the film even better and they have done an excellent job with it. The picture is crisp and clean while the sound is just fantastic.

The acting is superb with John Mills giving an incredible performance and the various set pieces just crank up the tension.

I cannot recommend this enough. A brilliant film that should be in everyone’s collection.

Winner of the FIPRESCI Prize and nominated for the Golden Bear Award at Berlin International Film Festival, the film was also nominated for 4 BAFTAs including Best British Film, Best Screenplay and Best British Actor for Anthony Quayle on its initial release.

Directed by J. Lee Thompson (Cape Fear, The Guns of the Navarone) with one iconic set piece after the next and with career-best performances from John Mills (Goodbye Mr Chips, Great Expectations), Sylvia Syms (The Tamarind Seed, The Queen) and Anthony Quayle (Lawrence of Arabia), ICE COLD IN ALEX is a suspenseful, invigorating journey which leaves film fans gasping for breath… and a beer.

Special Features:

BRAND NEW RESTORATION of the film
NEW Steve Chibnall on J. Lee Thompson
NEW Interview with Melanie Williams – Senior Lecturer in Film Studies, University of East Anglia
Interview with Sylvia Syms
John Mills Home Video Footage
Original Trailer
Behind The Scenes Stills Gallery
Extended Clip from A Very British War Movie Documentary
Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature