williwaw I like this movie due to the fact it celebrates the statehood of Alaska and it features Richard Burton pre Cleopatra when he was a solid journeyman Actor before all the hype of the Taylor/Burton affair. Vincent Sherman who made many fine films at Warner Bros. directs this film and it is a very easy going picture with great photography. Sherman did fine work at WB (and is noted for his relationships -at different times with feuding divas Joan Crawford and the Queen of the Lot Bette Davis)Am also a fan of the Warner Bros stock company of the 1960's and several players of that group are cast here including the fine actor Ray Danton, and the lovely Diane McBain. Both Danton and McBain were groomed for stardom and Warners kept both busy in both movies and TV. Luscious Diane McBain was so beautiful but got lost at WB standing behind glamour girls Natalie Wood, and Connie Stevens. Warners would shunt their stock players between various TV shows and movies filming on the lot. There is a great picture which I wish someone would find that showed J L Warner with the dozens of players under contract at the time shot on the back lot: Troy Donahue, Connie Stevens, Edd Byrnes, Roger Smith, Peter Brown, Chad Everett, Dorothy Provine, Tony Eisley, Gary Vinson, Diane McBain, Ty Hardin et al, names that conjure up wonderful memories of a bygone era)Is "Ice Palace" a great movie? no! Is it enjoyable to watch? Yes!

jpdoherty ICE PALACE was a failed 1960 Warner Bros. minor blockbuster! Rather poorly adapted for the screen by Harry Kleiner from the best selling novel by Edna Ferber it was stodgily directed by Vincent Sherman on one of his off days! This would-be sprawling saga about Alaska statehood and the feud between two men in the fisheries industry did however have rich colour Cinematography by Joseph Biroc and a magnificent score by the studio's legendary Max Steiner!The picture, set in Alaska just after WW1, turned out to be a wearisome 143 minute soap opera! Like most Ferber stories, which tend to be overlong and tediously generational, ICE PALACE as a film suffers from an unremarkable screenplay, flabby direction and most importantly an unimpressive cast. Firstly, Richard Burton as the main protagonist is wholly wrong for the part! His "just mustered out regular U.S. soldier" character is simply at odds with Burton's own personality! His stern Englishness (does he ever smile) renders his playing totally unconvincing! You keep waiting for the actor to break into a reading from "Richard The 3rd" or use something from "Romeo & Juliet" in the love scenes! Secondly, Robert Ryan, in one of his rare sympathetic roles and sporting the colourful name of Thor Storm, isn't much better! He just doesn't suit the part of a bible quoting goody-two-shoes moralist! And the female lead has to be the casting director's idea of being humorous! Carolyn Jones - a second rate actress of little account - is amazingly cast here as the object of desire for both Burton and Ryan! Miss Jones - trying to look and act like Bette Davis - never struck me as the ideal woman that could set a fire alight in a man - let alone two! But I guess that's life.... in the movies anyhow! C'est La Vie!!The best thing about this near Turkey is Max Steiner's wonderful music! This was the composer's fourth score for a Ferber story following "Cimarron" (1931), "Saratoga Trunk" (1946) and "So Big" (1953). The composer's magnificent Anthem-like main theme for ICE PALACE - first heard over the titles - was purposely based on "Maryland My Maryland" and was once considered by Alaska for its state song. After the main title it segues into the music for the Prologue which can be heard under the splendid on-screen poem "Alaska" by Robert W. Service.............Wild And Wide Are My BordersStern As Death Is my Sway,And I Wait For The Men Who Will Win meAnd I Will Not Be Won In A Day,And I Will Not Be Won By WeaklingsSubtle, Soft And Mild,But By Men With The Hearts Of VikingsAnd The Simple Faith Of A Child. The score also boasts two beautiful love themes and a haunting Eskimo cue where the intuitive composer conveys a compelling ethnic impression. Also heard are exciting variations on the main theme for a montage of some fishing sequences and a terrific frenetic cue for a dog-sled as it races across a snow covered landscape.ICE PALACE never made the grade as even a competent movie! It could have been and should have been a whole lot better. If it is worth anything it is for Steiner's music! The esteemed composer once said that great music could never save a movie. In the case of ICE PALACE he was right on the button!

lairdjs This is one of the great movies ever made. I really would love to own it on DVD. I have it on VHS, but the color is fading. Do you know when it will come out on DVD. I recommend this movie to all ages.Anyone who is interested in the history and stories of Alaska will enjoy the story. The actors are Robert Ryan, who is great, Richard Burton, who is always very good, and Carolyn Jones and Marther Hyer who portray their parts perfectly. You are in for a real treat, so grab your popcorn, something to drink, set back and enjoy a great movie, full of entertainment and good acting. To bad that Hollywood does not put out this kind of movies anymore. An era has pasted and that is too bad.

enlewellyn The growing tension between Richard Burton and Robert Ryan is amazing. Both actors were as serious, driven, righteous (in their own minds), and caring as the other. All performances were believable and interesting. The change from generations to generation was seamless. And character change melded nicely with Ryan and Burton. Carolyn Jones however did not impress me as much as she did in the beginning. She somehow lost her luster as the film seemed to continue without her. Strangely this also was her role through the duration of the film. And I felt she seemed to be going through the motions towards the end. Just my opinion. I also found the characters of Christopher and Grace charming at first and utterly brainless towards the end. You have to see it and the circumstances to believe it. The innocent bliss that leads them throughout the film culminates. To mention Jim Buckus, his performance was quite an agitation to most every event in the film due to his characters business interests. Believable even if you still see him as Mr Howell! LOL! Four years later, character development, who can say, Recommended if you looking for a (mini) epic that might just keep your interest.I'm keeping my copy!Otherwise outstanding performances