Lloyd Bridges is appropriately grim as an obsessed Canadian commando leader on a suicidal mission against the Third Reich in the United Artists' release "Attack on the Iron Cross." Andrew Keir, Maurice Denham, and Walter Gotell share the screen with the "Sea Hunt" star in this atmospheric, 90-minute epic plagued by second-rate model work and anemic characterization. This low-budget World War II thriller marked the first collaboration between "The Burglar" director Paul Wendkos and scenarist Herman Hoffman; a year later Hoffman reunited with the director on "Guns of the Magnificent Seven." Clearly, "Attack on the Iron Coast" doesn't show Wendkos in the best light. The combat sequences are adequate but immaculate. Soldiers spin, fall, and tumble but they don;t bleed. Not only does this United Artists release imitate the narrative of "633 Squadron," but also the producers have recycled composer Rod Goodwin's "633" compositions. Oddly enough, one seems to underline the other. Compare the use of certain musical cues with those in "633 Squadron" and you can tell what is happening.
An aura of foreboding hangs like The Sword of Damocles over a top-secret raid in this wartime actioneer. Our heroes plunge into combat on the French coast at the port of Le Claire. Le Claire ranks as the German fleet's most vital and important installation on the French coast. Actually, the raid resembles the historic St. Nazaire raid in 1942. The commandos follow headstrong commander Major Wilson (Lloyd Bridges) into enemy country. Over an hour elapses before we are treated to gunfire galore on enemy soil. Wendkos and Hoffman focus largely on the Allies and the agonies of Major Wilson who defends the mission despite the wrath of his worst critics. One of those critics is Captain Franklin (Andrew Keir) who lost his son during a previous attempt to sabotage those German coastal facilities. The closest "Iron Coast" comes to conflict is the drama between Wilson and Franklin. We get only the merest glimpse of the Germans before our heroes apply burnt cork to their faces. Altogether, this exercise in stiff upper lip heroics is lackluster until the commandos launch their raid. "Attack on the Iron Coast" is far from memorable but eminently tolerable. Wendkos deploys his trademark Dutch tilt camera set-ups brilliantly at the outset and during the combat mission.
Competently made but lackluster, "Attack on the Iron Coast" is only for World War II fanatics who haven't seen it or insomniacs.
An aura of foreboding hangs like The Sword of Damocles over a top-secret raid in this wartime actioneer. Our heroes plunge into combat on the French coast at the port of Le Claire. Le Claire ranks as the German fleet's most vital and important installation on the French coast. Actually, the raid resembles the historic St. Nazaire raid in 1942. The commandos follow headstrong commander Major Wilson (Lloyd Bridges) into enemy country. Over an hour elapses before we are treated to gunfire galore on enemy soil. Wendkos and Hoffman focus largely on the Allies and the agonies of Major Wilson who defends the mission despite the wrath of his worst critics. One of those critics is Captain Franklin (Andrew Keir) who lost his son during a previous attempt to sabotage those German coastal facilities. The closest "Iron Coast" comes to conflict is the drama between Wilson and Franklin. We get only the merest glimpse of the Germans before our heroes apply burnt cork to their faces. Altogether, this exercise in stiff upper lip heroics is lackluster until the commandos launch their raid. "Attack on the Iron Coast" is far from memorable but eminently tolerable. Wendkos deploys his trademark Dutch tilt camera set-ups brilliantly at the outset and during the combat mission.
Competently made but lackluster, "Attack on the Iron Coast" is only for World War II fanatics who haven't seen it or insomniacs.