Ice Station Zebra (1968)
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36% of critics liked it
(14 reviews) -
51% of users liked it
(4,679 ratings)
A top-secret Soviet spy satellite -- using stolen Western technology -- malfunctions and then goes into a descent that lands it near an isolated Arctic research encampment called Ice Station Zebra, belonging to the British, which starts sending out distress signals before falling silent. The atomic… More A top-secret Soviet spy satellite -- using stolen Western technology -- malfunctions and then goes into a descent that lands it near an isolated Arctic research encampment called Ice Station Zebra, belonging to the British, which starts sending out distress signals before falling silent. The atomic submarine Tigerfish, commanded by Cmdr. James Ferraday (Rock Hudson), is dispatched with orders to get to Ice Station Zebra carrying three passengers, a Englishman going by the name of David Jones (Patrick McGoohan), a Soviet turncoat named Boris Vaslov (Ernest Borgnine), and an American Marine officer, Captain Anders (Jim Brown), who is supposed to command the Marine unit assigned to the mission. Jones is problem enough, as he is in command of the mission and he prefers to withhold as much information as it's possible to do from Ferraday, even at the risk of the Tigerfish's safety. Add to that the fact that Anders is suspicious of Vaslov, and Vaslov seems much too inquisitive and is telling even less of what he knows about the mission, and Ferraday has his hands full trying to get these men to the polar ice -- 600 miles of dangerous travel -- in just two days. When an attempt to break through the ice -- coupled with some timely sabotage -- kills one man and nearly destroys the boat, the men surrounding these contending parties start to understand just how high the stakes are for everyone. It turns out that the Soviets want what was aboard that satellite as much as the West does; indeed, both sides are frantic to get it, and, just as much, to keep the other side from getting it -- and they're prepared to take it by brute force. Once Ferraday and his men arrive at Zebra, they find a disaster and still more mystery, with most of the men dead and the object that Mr. Jones is supposed to secure nowhere in evidence, and he and his two fellow men of mystery suddenly showing their killing instincts quite freely. And with the storm clearing from the Soviet side first, their planes and their paratroops are closing in on Ferraday, and his relative handful of men. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi
- Directed By
- John Sturges
- Written By
- Douglas Heyes
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Classics
G,
- In Theaters
- Oct 23, 1968 Wide
- Studio
- MGM Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
An uncharacteristically weak thriller-actioner from the talented director John Sturges.
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Michael E. Grost, Classic Film and Television
Hokey but lavishly filmed submarine spy drama.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A conventional Cold War thriller whose flatness keeps it from being as suspenseful as it should be.
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Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Exciting murder-mystery directed by Sturges; Hudson and cast are great.
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Matt Bailey, Not Coming to a Theater Near You
Sadly, with the exception of 1972's Joe Kidd, Ice Station Zebra marked the end of John Sturges' career as an interesting, innovative director.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Rock Hudson
as Cmdr. James Ferraday
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Ernest Borgnine
as Boris Vaslov
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Patrick McGoohan
as David Jones
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Jim Brown
as Capt. Leslie Anders
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Tony Bill
as Lt. Russell Walker
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Lloyd Nolan
as Admiral Garvey
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Alf Kjellin
as Col. Ostrovsky
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Gerald S. O'Loughlin
as Lt. Cdr. Bob Raeburn
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Ted Hartley
as Lt. Jonathan Hansen
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Murray Rose
as Lt. George Mills
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Ron Masak
as Paul Zabrinczski
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Sherwood Price
as Lt. Edgar Hackett
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Lee Stanley
as Lt. Mitgang
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Joseph E. Bernard
as Dr. Jack Benning
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John Orchard
as Survivor
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Michael T. Mikler
as Lt. Courtney Cartwright
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Jonathan Lippe
as Russian Aide
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Ted Kristian
as Wassmeyer
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Boyd Berlind
as Bruce Kentner
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David Wendel
as Cedric Patterson
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Ronnie Rondell Jr.
as Lyle Nichols
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Craig Shreeve
as Gafferty
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Michael Grossman
as Kohler
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Wade Graham
as Parker
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Michael Rougas
as Fannovich
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Jed Allan
as Peter Costigan
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Buddy Garion
as Edward Rawlins
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T.J. Escott
as Lt. Carl Mingus
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Buddy Hart
as Hill
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Gary Downey
as Lorrison
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Robert Carlson
as Kelvaney
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Don Newsome
as Timothy Hirsch
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Bill Hillman
as Philip Munsey
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Dennis Alpert
as Gambetta
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Jimmy Goodwin
as Survivor
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Lloyd Haynes
as Webson
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James Dixon
as Earl McAuliffe
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L. William O'Connell
as Survivor
- Patrick Mc Goohan
