Ice Station Zebra (1968)

When a Russian satellite re-enters the atmosphere containing information vital to both the U.S. and Soviet governments, it crashes near an Arctic weather station called Ice Station Zebra. A race against time then occurs between the Russians and Americans to see who can reach the Arctic base first and retrieve the capsule. Based on the novel by Alistair MacLean (WHERE EAGLES DARE), what should have been a modest and economical submarine cold war action piece is inflated to a prestigious "Roadshow" attraction. But the film doesn't have the look or the feel of a major epic. The first half of the film before the intermission is quite good. It takes place in the submarine and the director John Sturges (THE GREAT ESCAPE) gives the film an authentic, claustrophobic tension. The second half after the intermission takes place in the Arctic but it's clearly shot on an MGM sound stage (and looks it) and the realism that we'd been fed becomes, however well done, just another phony looking movie. That being said, it's quite enjoyable. The Oscar nominated cinematography is by Daniel L. Fapp (WEST SIDE STORY) and there's a rich score by Michel Legrand. Reputedly, it was Howard Hughes' favorite movie. With Rock Hudson, Ernest Borgnine, Patrick McGoohan, Jim Brown, Lloyd Nolan, Tony Bill, Alf Kjellin, Ron Masak and Ted Hartley.