Post by Mrs Vindecco on Jan 13, 2013 2:22:33 GMT
OK, so I know it's not cool to enjoy British war films from the 1950's. especially as they are sometimes viewed as cliched, stereotyped and quite pompous. In a recent documentary, 50's critic Lindsay Anderson (who went on to direct the 60's cult classic If...) dismissed this genre, dismissing these films because they"were profitable, endorsed the class system, enabled the nation to wallow in the past escaping the complex uncertainties of the present and the challenge of the future."
I have to say I am not a huge fan of the great, pomp and circumstance, the stiff upper lip, the "Keep Calm and Carry On" mentality that are very much evident in some British war films. During the war, there was obviously a very specific reason as to why many films were produced in this manner. However as I have grown older, I have increasingly admired the later films, made in the years after the war that tell a human story and are not just purely about try to defeat the foe.
My favourite of these is 1958's Ice Cold in Alex, starring John Mills, Anthony Quayle, Sylvia Sims and Harry Andrews.
Outside the UK, I'm not sure how well this movie was received as it was cut by fifty minutes and renamed "Desert Attack", which implies it is some sort of Action, war film... which it is not.
Original UK trailer:
The story focuses on the cynical, battle fatigued drunk , Captain Anson (John Mills), who must coordinate a dangerous trek in a clapped out old Ambulance over the desert after he and his group are separated from their unit. To motivate himself, Anson vows he will not touch a drop of alcohol before they reach their destination, however the journey is full of danger and tension, especially when the group come across a lone South African officer, who they quickly suspect is a spy.
The four central actors all give excellent performances and there is plenty of suspense and quite humorous moments. However I like it because I think it is quite unique. It's not stuffy, it's human and probably quite brave in it's representation of an enemy agent.
I would recommend this film if anyone get a chance to see it.
Probably the most well known scene and an advert Carlsberg, a few years back.
I have to say I am not a huge fan of the great, pomp and circumstance, the stiff upper lip, the "Keep Calm and Carry On" mentality that are very much evident in some British war films. During the war, there was obviously a very specific reason as to why many films were produced in this manner. However as I have grown older, I have increasingly admired the later films, made in the years after the war that tell a human story and are not just purely about try to defeat the foe.
My favourite of these is 1958's Ice Cold in Alex, starring John Mills, Anthony Quayle, Sylvia Sims and Harry Andrews.
Outside the UK, I'm not sure how well this movie was received as it was cut by fifty minutes and renamed "Desert Attack", which implies it is some sort of Action, war film... which it is not.
Original UK trailer:
The story focuses on the cynical, battle fatigued drunk , Captain Anson (John Mills), who must coordinate a dangerous trek in a clapped out old Ambulance over the desert after he and his group are separated from their unit. To motivate himself, Anson vows he will not touch a drop of alcohol before they reach their destination, however the journey is full of danger and tension, especially when the group come across a lone South African officer, who they quickly suspect is a spy.
The four central actors all give excellent performances and there is plenty of suspense and quite humorous moments. However I like it because I think it is quite unique. It's not stuffy, it's human and probably quite brave in it's representation of an enemy agent.
I would recommend this film if anyone get a chance to see it.
Probably the most well known scene and an advert Carlsberg, a few years back.