Ice station zebra (1 Viewer)

[blaster]

Saw this oldie. It’s not memorable.

 

[Horus]

Saw this oldie. It’s not memorable.

Wow Victor, we have different opinions. To me it's a very memorable film and I must of watched it half a dozen times over the years.
Patrick McGoohan was certainly typecast, following on from his iconic TV rolls in Dangerman (Secret Agent) and The Prisoner, pretty much rehashing his rolls, though I'm sure others will disagree.

 

[jomartvr]

I remember seeing that movie as a kid, really enjoyed it, especially the paratrooper scene.

 

[blaster]

Hello Steve and jomatyr

I did try to like it. Esp it being one of those classic oldies. I practically grew up in a movie theatre house. My auntie was part owner mgr of it and I watched thousands of oldies for free. I remember watching ISZ but couldn’t remember the plot except for a sub, arctic snow and rock Hudson. Hahaha

So let me share with y my 2nd viewing of it.
This is Cold War stuff so I was expecting US vs USSR skullduggery.
Rock Hudson is the sub Capt tasked with ferrying spyPatrick McGoohan to ISZ. But it’s all hush hush. Along the way they helicopter in a bunch of marines led by Jim Brown and Ernest Borgnine ex Russian spy. Along the way someone tries to sabotage the sub. But who dun it? Patrick McG master spy says it is Jim Brown as he will vouch for Ernest Borg anytime.
ISZ turns out to be completely gutted and sabotaged by some convoluted spy vs spy kill off typical of Mad magazine.
Ernest Borg turns out to be really a non reformed Russian spy and poor Jim Brown is mistakenly killed off by P McG. Later P McG kills Ernest Borg.
Then the Russian paratroopers drop in. Both sides shoot off a load of automated smgs at each other and there are NO casualties!!! One young marine then tries to do a heroic act of assaulting the Russian cdr and is wounded. All this while, Rock Hudson stands tall to one side and has a few lines.

Whatever nostalgia I may have had for this movie is gone forever.

Rgds Vic.

 

[Horus]

Nice summary Victor and sounds like you had a fun time at the cinema in your youth.
Perhaps the magic of the old films at least for ISZ, is lost to you, though I'm sure others will still retain their charm for you.
Many of us have attachments to particular old films, often because of the remembrance of the person we saw it with, who may no longer be with us.

 

[panda1gen]

Nice summary Victor and sounds like you had a fun time at the cinema in your youth.
Perhaps the magic of the old films at least for ISZ, is lost to you, though I'm sure others will still retain their charm for you.
Many of us have attachments to particular old films, often because of the remembrance of the person we saw it with, who may no longer be with us.

I thought this film was ok on its own, but having read most of Alistair Maclean's books, I was very disappointed in the 'movie spin off plot' compared to the quality of his plots.

 

[blaster]

Nice summary Victor and sounds like you had a fun time at the cinema in your youth.
Perhaps the magic of the old films at least for ISZ, is lost to you, though I'm sure others will still retain their charm for you.
Many of us have attachments to particular old films, often because of the remembrance of the person we saw it with, who may no longer be with us.

Hi Steve,

I understand that you have associative memories with this movie. Rgds victor