Considering it's length, it's shocking how little action there is in this supposed adventure yarn. Rock Hudson, looking bored, is a submarine captain leading a secret mission to the North Pole to help British spy Patrick McGoohan uncover some stolen film. Nearly devoid of any real suspense or excitement, this is a major misstep for the great director John Sturges. The effects are not very special and the miniatures (of which there are many) are extremely obvious. In addition to Hudson and McGoohan, the large cast includes Ernest Borgnine as a Russian double agent, Jim Brown as a hot-headed soldier and Tony Bill, in a nearly silent role as one of Brown's subordinates. Borgnine is hammy while McGoohan keeps his cool and is saddled with a really dumb scene in which he explains the plot to Hudson (and the audience). Presumably the Alistair MacLean novel on which this is based is more thrilling. Adapter Douglas Hayes, whose dubious credits include KITTEN WITH A WHIP as well as the William Castle film DRUMS OF TAHITI, infuses his script with absolutely nothing of interest. The rousing music score is by Michel Legrand and is wasted on this inert movie.
Review of Ice Station Zebra
