On A List of Movie Reviews

(For optimum viewing, adjust the zoom level of your browser to 125%.)

---

Attack on the Iron Coast (1968)

Rate: 3
Viewed: 2/25

2/25: If you're hoping to discover Where Eagles Dare in Attack on the Iron Coast, forget it.

Being a lot closer to Submarine X-1 in terms of structure, the movie is too boring. At first, I had it rated '5.' For a while, I kept waiting for anything to happen before downgrading my rating to '4.' And then...more waiting, forcing me to settle for '3.' By the time there's action, it's so banal that I was left with "that's it?" Obviously, the wires running from the clock to the bombs should have been insulated by a steel pipe to prevent any problems.

The failure of the film isn't Lloyd Bridges' fault, but he's never been the leading man type. I kept thinking of Hot Shots! whenever he showed his face. Most of the trouble lies with director Paul Wendkos for not coming up with anything exciting to get the momentum going. In the meantime, Andrew Keir is the only plus of the show by giving a strong performance.

Operation Mad Dog did happen in real life on March 28, 1942, only that it was called St. Nazaire Raid. The goal was to take out the dry docks in St. Nazaire in German-occupied France since it was the only one on the Atlantic side capable of handling the German battleship Tirpitz. The dry docks didn't return to service until 1948, and the Tirpitz was forced to retreat to Norway, having been sunk on November 12, 1944. A mix of approximately 600 men of the Royal Navy and British commandos fought against 5,000 Germans. Only 37% returned to England immediately afterwards. Instead of five junk ships, three destroyers and sixteen small boats were used with the support of five RAF squadrons.

All in all, although based on a true story, Attack on the Iron Coast provides very little entertainment value.

---