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On the Beach (1959)
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Overview
User Rating:
Your Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
17 December 1959 (USA)
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Plot:
The residents of Australia after a global nuclear war must come to terms with the fact that all life will be destroyed in a matter of months. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars.
Another 4 wins
&
6 nominations
See more »
NewsDesk:
(98 articles)
The Walking Dead: Updated List of Cast Convention Appearances
(From DailyDead. 29 May 2012, 3:11 PM, PDT)
"Game of Thrones" Recap: "That's Your Gate He's Ramming!"
(From AfterElton.com. 28 May 2012, 6:09 AM, PDT)
Cannes 2012: Why have no female film directors been nominated for the Palme d'Or at Cannes?
(From The Guardian - Film News. 19 May 2012, 4:17 PM, PDT)
(From DailyDead. 29 May 2012, 3:11 PM, PDT)
"Game of Thrones" Recap: "That's Your Gate He's Ramming!"
(From AfterElton.com. 28 May 2012, 6:09 AM, PDT)
Cannes 2012: Why have no female film directors been nominated for the Palme d'Or at Cannes?
(From The Guardian - Film News. 19 May 2012, 4:17 PM, PDT)
User Reviews:
A Great Movie
See more (140 total) »
Cast
(in credits order) (verified as complete) | Gregory Peck | ... | Cmdr. Dwight Lionel Towers, USS Sawfish |
 | Ava Gardner | ... | Moira Davidson |
 | Fred Astaire | ... | Julian Osborne |
 | Anthony Perkins | ... | Lt. Peter Holmes - Royal Australian Navy |
 | Donna Anderson | ... | Mary Holmes |
| John Tate | ... | Adm. Bridie |
| Harp McGuire | ... | Lt. Sunderstrom (ashore in San Diego) |
| Lola Brooks | ... | Lt. Hosgood (Bridie's secretary) |
| Ken Wayne | ... | Lt. Benson |
| Guy Doleman | ... | Lt. Cmdr. Farrel |
| Richard Meikle | ... | Davis |
 | John Meillon | ... | Ralph Swain (ashore in San Francisco) |
| Joe McCormick | ... | Ackerman (radiation sickness) |
| Lou Vernon | ... | Bill Davidson (Moira's father) |
| Kevin Brennan | ... | Dr. King (radiation diagnosis) |
| Basil Buller-Murphy | ... | Sir Douglas Froude (club) |
| John Casson | ... | Salvation Army captain |
| Paddy Moran | ... | Stevens (club wine steward) |
| Grant Taylor | ... | Morgan (Holmes party) |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Harvey Adams | ... | Sykes (State Fisheries & Game Dept.) (uncredited) |
| Peter Ashton | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) |
| Jim Barrett | ... | Chrysler - Moira's Outfit (uncredited) |
| Ken Baumgartner | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) |
 | Jack Boyer | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) |
| C. Harding Brown | ... | Dykers - Billiards at Club (uncredited) |
| Norman Cook | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) |
| Colin Crane | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) |
| Gerry Duggan | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) |
| Keith Eden | ... | Dr. Fletcher (uncredited) |
| Lucian Endicott | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) |
| Stuart Finch | ... | Jones - Radio Operator (uncredited) |
| Paddy Fitzallen | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) |
| Ronald Fortt | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) |
| Cyril Gardner | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) |
| Frank Gatliff | ... | Radio Officer (uncredited) |
| Katherine Hill | ... | Jennifer Holmes (uncredited) |
| Collins Hilton | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) |
| Brian James | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) |
| Joseph Jenkins | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) |
| Graham Kennedy | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) |
| Audine Leith | ... | Betty (uncredited) |
| Paul Maloney | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) |
| Ray Marshall | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) |
| John Morgan | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) |
| Peter O'Shaughnessy | ... | Jorgensen Associate (uncredited) |
| Rita Pauncefort | ... | Elderly Woman at Holmes Party (uncredited) |
| Carey Paul Peck | ... | Boy (uncredited) |
| Elwyn Peers | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) |
| John Royle | ... | Senior Officer (uncredited) |
| Jerry Ian Seals | ... | Fogarty - Sonar Operator (uncredited) |
| Al Thomas | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) |
| Mario Vecchi | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) |
| Peter Williams | ... | Prof. Jorgensen (uncredited) |
| Hugh Wills | ... | Bit Part (uncredited) |
Directed by | |||
| Stanley Kramer | |||
Writing credits | ||
| John Paxton | (screenplay) | |
| Nevil Shute | (novel) | |
Produced by | |||
| Stanley Kramer | .... | producer | |
Original Music by | |||
| Ernest Gold | |||
Cinematography by | |||
| Giuseppe Rotunno | |||
Film Editing by | |||
| Frederic Knudtson | |||
Production Design by | |||
| Rudolph Sternad | |||
Art Direction by | |||
| Fernando Carrere | |||
Makeup Department | |||
| John O'Gorman | .... | makeup artist | |
| Franz Prehoda | .... | makeup artist (as Frank Prehoda) | |
| Jane Shugrue | .... | hair stylist | |
Production Management | |||
| Clem Beauchamp | .... | production manager | |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director | |||
| Ivan Volkman | .... | assistant director | |
Art Department | |||
| Art Cole | .... | property master | |
Sound Department | |||
| Walter Elliott | .... | sound effects | |
| Hans Wetzel | .... | sound engineer | |
Special Effects by | |||
| Lee Zavitz | .... | special effects | |
Stunts | |||
| Carey Loftin | .... | stunts (uncredited) | |
| Harvey Parry | .... | stunts (uncredited) | |
| Dale Van Sickel | .... | stunts (uncredited) | |
Camera and Electrical Department | |||
| Daniel L. Fapp | .... | photographer: auto race (as Daniel Fapp) | |
| Allen Grice | .... | chief gaffer | |
| Martin Kashuk | .... | assistant company grip | |
| Morris Rosen | .... | company grip | |
| Ross Wood | .... | camera operator | |
| Robert Wright | .... | camera operator (uncredited) | |
Costume and Wardrobe Department | |||
| Joe King | .... | wardrobe | |
| Eva Friend | .... | wardrobe assistant (uncredited) | |
| Joan Joseff | .... | costume jeweller (uncredited) | |
Other crew | |||
| Sam Freedle | .... | script supervisor | |
| Charles A. Lockwood | .... | technical advisor (as Vice-Admiral Charles A. Lockwood U.S.N. [RET.]) | |
| A.A. Norris-Smith | .... | liaison: Royal Australian Navy (as Lt. Commander A.A. Norris-Smith) | |
| Bill Hunter | .... | swimming double (uncredited) | |
Production Companies
- Stanley Kramer Productions (presents) (as Stanley Kramer)
- United Artists (1959) (USA) (theatrical)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1963) (USA) (TV)
- CBS/Fox Home Video (1984) (USA) (VHS) (For MGM/UA Home Entertainment)
- Image Entertainment (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Atelier Fontana Miss Gardner's wardrobe by (as Fontana Sisters-Rome)
- Royal Australian Navy acknowledgement
- Officers and Men of H.M.A.S. Melbourne, The acknowledgement
- Officers and Men of H.M.S. Andrew, The acknowledgement
Additional Details
Also Known As:
See more »
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
134 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Germany:16 | UK:PG | USA:Approved (PCA #19372) | Canada:PG (video rating) | Norway:16 | Australia:PG
Filming Locations:
Company:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
Gregory Peck was a lifelong opponent of nuclear weapons, and made On the Beach (1959) for this reason.See more »
Goofs:
Factual errors: The 1964 Australian Grand Prix was held at Sandown International Raceway on 9 February 1964 and not in August as suggested in the film. The circuit is on relatively flat ground and is located in Melbourne's outer south eastern suburbs, surrounding a horse racing course.See more »
Quotes:
Movie Connections:
Featured in "The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Watchmen/Shuttle/12 (#1.2)" (2009)See more »
Soundtrack:
Onward, Christian SoldiersSee more »
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.See more (140 total) »
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On The Beach was made in 1959 and it's still a fantastic movie some 46 years later. As great as all the performances are, the photography and the script are as out-standing.
The only drawback to this black & white classic is the hauntingly depressing nature of the film. Death is never easy to explore and it's done here tastefully, gritty, and realistically. Gregory Peck shines in this controversial role. Ava Gardner gives her finest performance. Fred Astaire is incredible in this serious role. However, the film was stolen by the pre-Psycho Anthoney Perkins and newcomer Donna Anderson as a doomed young couple with a new baby. The ending of On The Beach is one of the most depressing in screen history, still this is a must see for any fan of any of the actors or the legendary Stanly Kramer.