Attack on the Iron Coast

Well yes this is a bad movie, there is nothing I can do or say that can change that. Its story is unbelievable and impractical, why would a group of soliders go all the way over to france with no possible way back!!! almost facing death ( pre June 44` that is ). Bridges gives a strange performance as the troubled leader of this rough bunch of men, ready to do all for England. He constantly seems troubled in what he is actually doing. Iron Coast follows a whole host of war movies that tries to follow that boys adventure story routine. It also tries to relate also to the Nazi situation by familiarising you with its officers. Some cast performances are worth memorising however, particularly private Pringle ( Dick Haydon ) but he is my uncle so I am a little predudice. Overall this movie is a flop, shame but the truth.

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.

The scenes where Lloyd Bridges is putting some commandos through their paces reminded of ffolkes. Roger Moore had his commandos running an obstacle course and clambering over large scaffolding as well. Perhaps one of the ffolks film makers was inspired by this? The trivia about Ron Goodwin's score being reused might explain the occasional times where the music seems to be out of sync with the action or overly dramatic for a particular scene. All in all a mildly entertaining 1960's WWII movie.

I just wanted to point out, that this movie is indeed based on an actual event, the raid on St. Nazaire. The former flush decked WWI Destroyer "Campbeltown" was converted to look like a german "E-Boat" and was loaded with explosives, and rammed into the "Normandie" dry dock. The operation was code named "Operation Chariot", and commenced on March 28th, 1942.

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.

The minute I started watching this I knew I had seen it before. The Trevor Howard film The Gift Horse had been made about the same incident at the French port of St.Nazaire. The occupying Germans are using St.Nazaire as a dry dock facility for their fleet and the British Admiralty would like it destroyed. A commando raid might do the trick, but the British are stretched thin and little or no support can be given. When it does get approved there is friction between Canadian commando commander Lloyd Bridges and Andrew Keir captain of the minesweeper taking the commandos in. If you've seen The Gift Horse than you know what happens. The Gift Horse is factually more true, but Attack On The Iron Coast has its merits. This is a good action WW2 film.