SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

Lack of good storyline.

It is a performances centric movie

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Directed by John Sturges and based on a novel by Alistair MacLean, "Ice Station Zebra" should have been a fast-paced Cold War thriller. However, roadshow presentations of prestige films with reserved seats at premium prices were in vogue in the 1960's, and, intended for Cinerama ultra wide-screen theaters, the film was saddled with an overture, intermission, entr'acte, and exit music. These unnecessary interruptions impact the pacing, especially during the first half, and a leisurely movie slowed to lethargy. Judicious editing could have salvaged the film; beyond trimming the roadshow frills, lengthy shots of ice floes, jets soaring over the Arctic, and a submarine cutting through waves serve no essential purpose; although Daniel L. Fapp's Oscar nominated cinematography is visual candy for the Cinerama screen and Michel Legrand's score is easy on the ears, both attributes were overused to convince audiences that the premium prices paid for their seats were warranted; during that period, a movie had to run at least two and a half hours to merit a roadshow engagement.Largely set aboard a submerged nuclear submarine and at an Arctic base, "Ice Station Zebra" follows a submarine crew ostensibly sent on a rescue mission. However, a squad of armed marines, a mysterious Russian, and an equally mysterious Brit hint at a darker, more vital mission. Rock Hudson heads an all-male cast as the unflappable submarine commander. Hudson is solid and convincing in the role, although Patrick McGoohan as the British agent and Jim Brown as the marine leader make more of an impression; Ernest Borgnine wrestles with a Russian accent and is memorable for the wrong reasons. Later in the film, Alf Kjellin appears with a more authentic sounding Russian pronunciation.Despite a decent budget for the time, the scenes at the ice-bound Arctic station appear fake and tacky; special effects are generally unconvincing, even taking into account the period. Fortunately, the film's pace picks up immeasurably after the intermission, and viewers who are still awake will be caught up in some unexpected twists and turns. There is an entertaining, competently acted film within "Ice Station Zebra;" however, viewers will either have to patiently endure about twenty minutes of filler or fast forward to the action.,

Wish I could tell you why I am hooked - but I am. Possibly you have to be of a certain age to hold it in such affection. However, regardless of reviews, it was a blockbuster when it originally arrived at cinemas. It is expansive, but also feels a bit like a theatre play. Some of the scenery certainly screams "Set." But it is just... right. The colouration of the film is quite beautiful - shades of 'Northwest Passage'. The actors are reassuring - Patrick McGoohan really should have been Bond - did we really get enough of him on screen? Borgnine always plays the crazy-eyed guy who must spit when he speaks - and it is great herein. Great to see Jim Brown as the stuffed-shirt Marines officer during times that were racially-charged. Rock Hudson - phlegmatic submarine captain to a tee.This is a cozy sweater move - you will pop it on as a reassurance and comforter. LOVE IT!

Based on Alistair MacLean's novel, and starring Rock Hudson as a submarine commander assigned to a top secret mission to the North Pole, where he carries passengers; a mysterious British civilian(played by Patrick McGoohan, on a break from filming his classic series "The Prisoner") a Russian(played by Ernest Borgnine) and also stars Jim Brown as a platoon leader. All of them converge on Ice Station Zebra, a weather tracking station that finds itself at the heart of an international incident.Mediocre adventure yarn is too long, and unconvincingly tries to pass off the frozen Antarctic outdoors on an indoor set! Good cast and score, but that's all in disappointing film.

Most submarine movies are pretty heavy on jargon, and "Ice Station Zebra" is especially so. The first half hour is almost excruciatingly slow-paced and technical, but there are two good reasons for that decision. One reason is narrative: when the action finally begins it comes as a jolt, and the suddenness of the transition creates the atmosphere of tension and unpredictability that is required for the second act. The other reason has to do with the film's production. The studio borrowed a real submarine from the Navy, allowing director John Sturges to stage difficult underwater scenes without relying on unrealistic miniatures or grainy stock footage. Shots of the submarine gliding beneath vast icebergs are eerily beautiful, and they justify the amount of time the script spends getting the characters from point A to point B. The espionage plot may be nothing special, but it is at least evocative of the late 1960s. Ernest Borgnine, Jim Brown, and Patrick McGoohan deliver in strongly- characterized roles.