Attack on the Iron Coast
Attack on the Iron Coast is a 1967 British-American Oakmont Productions international co-production war film directed by Paul Wendkos in the first of his five picture contract with Mirisch Productions, and starring Lloyd Bridges, Andrew Keir, Sue Lloyd, Mark Eden and Maurice Denham. The film depicts an account of Allied Combined Operations Headquarters commandos executing a daring raid on the German-occupied French coast during the Second World War. The film is based on the commando raid on the French port of St. Nazaire and is reminiscent of the film The Gift Horse. In the United States it was released as a double feature with Danger Route.
-
- Cast：
- Lloyd Bridges , Andrew Keir , Sue Lloyd , Mark Eden , Glyn Owen , Walter Gotell
Similar titles
Reviews
Sadly Over-hyped
Pretty Good
In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.
Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.
Strangely inconsistent movie that was clearly done on a minuscule budget where accuracy and continuity mean little. Lloyd Bridges is not exactly renowned for his acting style - he's in it to help sell the movie in the US. The rest of the cast are all British stalwarts.Much of the fight scenes appear to have been filmed on derelict St Katherine's Dock of the late 60s before it was revamped to be one of the most desirable areas of London. Tower Bridge can be observed in the background in some shots. It also looks like the fight scenes were filmed in the same location or possibly around Pinewood Studios. The idea that the small St Katherine's dry dock could actually double up as dry dock for giant German battleships is quite ludicrous.I noticed also the cast making dialogue mistakes. British naval officers would always say "Left-tenant", even it's written as "Lieutenant".They also say they are leaving Portsmouth to carry out the raid but they pass through Tower Bridge and supporting shots look like the defunct docks where London City Airport is now.On the other hand some accuracy which could have been down to luck - one officer checks his watch and it's an Omega brand which is a Swiss manufacturer commonly supplying the UK military for many years.Overall the movie is one for collectors of the genre.
The film is about a bizarre plan to take a nearly obsolete old naval ship filled with explosives and crash it into a Nazi port--thus crippling the German's ability to use it for their ships. It all sounds very straight forward--and that's EXACTLY what it is. It's a very, very simple plot that is stretched and stretched (often by adding macho theatrics) to the point of boredom. In the end, there are no big surprises. However, I was glad to see the major characters all die in the finale--that way I know they never went on to make a sequel!! The 1960s had a bunch of fine war films--"The Guns of Navarone", "Where Eagles Dare", "The Dirty Dozen", "The Longest Day"--the list could go on and on...but it NEVER will include the likes of "Attack on the Iron Coast"! Despite the presence of Lloyd Bridges, this is a very cheap film--with lots of recycled film footage and a plot that just limps along to the conclusion. I only recommend it for die-hard war film fans--REAL die-hard fans, indeed! Things to look for: Lloyd Bridges playing a Canadian--yet, inexplicably, his wife and son have British accents! Also, if you want, spot the footage from previous films.
I'm putting this movie up as one of my favourites. It wasn't glitzy war movie like others common in that time period /ie, Kelly's Heroes/Bridge at Remagen, Dirty Dozen.... It does a great job covering tragedies of war in a wide range of areas - loved ones/ young soldiers/training casualties. Also a great insight from dilemmas faced by operation planners -with limited resources available- right down to fears of rank and file. I always had a keen interest on the Raid of St.Nazaire and Brit commmandos so I was quite pleasantly surprised to stumble upon this movie to see it based on that. Sgt.Slaughter made an error in his review headline- it wasn't Canadian commandos portrayed in the movie -they were British led by a Canadian major -Bridges. The movie's raid action was great. The uniforms / weaponry had a very authentic look too. WW2 Buffs will love this movie -one overlooked unfortunately perhaps due to its lack-lustre box cover design.
You could probably have more fun, and learn more, from just 'imagining' what an attack on the coast of occupied France would have been like, rather than putting yourself through this perfunctory movie. And call me pessimistic, but Lloyd Bridges, with his slick enthusiasm and even slicker hair, did not make for a believable wartime Major. That said, the reasons why the operation was approved, and also the revelation that at least six of his men were killed in his stringent training program was thought-provoking.
