Ice Station Zebra
US (1968): Action/Thriller
John Sturges directs this adaptation of Alistair MacLean's novel. Russian and American rescue personnel are sent to recover a spacecraft marooned on an ice flow in the frigid North Pole. Submarine Commander James Ferraday (Rock Hudson) is ordered to find the spacecraft that is sending out distress signals. On board are Russian expatriate Boris Vaslov (Ernest Borgnine), British secret agent David Jones (Patrick McGoohan), and American Marine Captain Anders (Jim Brown). The men on the nuclear submarine USS Tigerfish try and beat the Russians to the spacecraft. On board the fallen capsule contains information and film vital to the national defense of both countries, who try to gain the upper hand in the Cold War. As American Admiral Garvey (Lloyd Nolan) watches and waits, the crew tries to make their way to the spacecraft before it can fall into enemy hands. A plot twist reveals a double agent, adding to the suspense of this underwater adventure drama. A retired Navy captain was hired as expert technical advisor to the feature; in addition, the technical language of the crew aboard the sub was carefully screened for accuracy. Ice Station Zebra was the favorite movie of billionaire Howard Hughes, who would obsessively watch the feature repeatedly in his Las Vegas hotel. (MGM) (Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide)
2 nominations
· Cinematography 1968: Daniel L. Fapp
· Special Visual Effects 1968: Hal Millar, Joseph McMillan Johnson