On the Beach (2000) (TV)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Russell Mulcahy

Writers (WGA):

Nevil Shute (novel)
John Paxton (1959 screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

28 May 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Well, the world has finally managed to blow itself up. Only Australia has been spared from nuclear destruction...

Plot Keywords:

Australia | Breeze | Remake | Nuclear War | Fictional War

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 7 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Armand Assante	...	Cmdr. Dwight Towers
Rachel Ward	...	Moira Davidson
Bryan Brown	...	Dr. Julian Osborne
Jacqueline McKenzie	...	Mary Davidson Holmes
Grant Bowler	...	Lt. Peter Holmes
Allison Webber	...	Jenny Holmes
Tieghan Webber	...	Jenny Holmes
Steve Bastoni	...	First Officer Neil Hirsch
David Ross Paterson	...	Chief Wawrzeniak (as David Paterson)
Kevin Copeland	...	Sonarman Bobby Swain
Todd MacDonald	...	Radioman Giles
Joe Petruzzi	...	Lt. Tony Garcia
Craig Beamer	...	Crewman Reid
Jonathan Oldham	...	Crewman Parsons
Trent Huen	...	Crewman Samuel Huynh
Donni Frizzell	...	Crewman Rossi
Jonathan Stuart	...	Crewman Burns
Sam Loy	...	Seaman Sulman
Charlie Clausen	...	Seaman Byers
Robert Rabiah	...	Cook Gratino
Marc Carra	...	Cook Walmsey
Rod Mullinar	...	Admiral Jack Cunningham
Felicity Boyd	...	Lt. Ashton
Bill Hunter	...	Prime Minister Seaton
Charles 'Bud' Tingwell	...	Professor Alan Nordstrum (as Charles Tingwell)
Mark Mitchell	...	Reg
John Higginson	...	Martin
Kate Kendall	...	Jenny Albani
Heather Mitchell	...	British Anchorwoman
Nicholas Hammond	...	U.S. President
Bruce Hughes	...	Press Secretary
David Tredinnick	...	U.S. Analyst
Antonia Murphy	...	Dinner Woman
Adam McKee	...	Dinner Man
Michael Fry	...	School Teacher
Jennifer Castles	...	Post Mistress
Peter Mendoza	...	Boat Builder
Alyce Platt	...	Sharon Towers
Madeline Cenedese	...	Angela Towers
Darren Casha	...	Cal Towers
David Argue	...	Jimmy Nofly
Tom Considine	...	Hospital Doctor
Catherine Sutherland	...	Nurse
Mark Pennell	...	Pharmacist
Warwick Begg	...	Overcliff Father
Sandra Murphy	...	Overcliff Mother
Carlie Murphy	...	Overcliff Girl
John Murphy	...	Overcliff Boy
Robert Lowe	...	Submarine Guard
Rachel Valentyne	...	Café Girl
Christian Bell	...	Café Guy #1
Martin Copping	...	Beans (as Marty Copping)
Julie Day	...	Screaming Woman
Naomi Ramos	...	Girl in Lane Way
Jorge Onasis	...	Guy in Lane Way
Nina Godinbo	...	Girl with Dog
Michael Carman	...	U.S. Anchorman
Frederique Fouche	...	French Interviewer
Robbie MacFarlane	...	Officer
Christopher Cummins	...	Interviewer (as Chris Cummins)
Trent Baker	...	Journalist #1
Stephanie Chen	...	Journalist #2
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Simon Lyssiotis	...	Homeless Youth
David Taleski
Bassem Abousaid	...	Passerby (uncredited)
Geoff Burgess	...	Passerby (uncredited)
Pascal Mercay	...	Gang Leader (uncredited)
Nicholas Simmons	...	Marine (uncredited)

Directed by
Russell Mulcahy

Writing credits (WGA)
Nevil Shute		(novel)
John Paxton		(1959 screenplay)
David Williamson		(teleplay) and
Bill Kerby		(teleplay)

Produced by
Greg Coote	....	executive producer
John Edwards	....	producer
Jeffrey M. Hayes	....	executive producer
Carol Hughes	....	line producer
Peter Strauss	....	executive producer
Errol Sullivan	....	executive producer
Errol Sullivan	....	producer

Original Music by
Christopher Gordon

Cinematography by
Martin McGrath

Film Editing by
Mark Perry

Casting by
Ann Fay
Maura Fay

Production Design by
Roger Ford

Art Direction by
Scott Bird		(supervising art director)

Set Decoration by
Kerrie Brown

Costume Design by
Anna Borghesi

Makeup Department
Nick Dorning	....	prosthetic makeup artist
Nick Dorning	....	special makeup effects artist
Liz Harper	....	hair stylist
Margaret Keggs	....	hair stylist
Margaret Keggs	....	makeup artist
Deborah Lester	....	hair stylist (as Deb Lester)
Brad Smith	....	hair styles supervisor
Brad Smith	....	makeup supervisor
Zeljka Stanin	....	hair stylist
Dallas Stephens	....	hair stylist
Dallas Stephens	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Warwick Fry	....	unit manager: second unit
Kevin McDonald	....	unit manager
Nino Negrin	....	assistant unit manager
Chris Page	....	production manager
Peter Powell	....	post-production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Brown	....	assistant director: second unit
Harriet Devlin	....	fourth assistant director
Liz Edwards	....	second assistant director
Joclyn McCabon	....	third assistant director
Joclyn McCahon	....	third assistant director
John Powditch	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Phil Chambers	....	art director: submarine
Monica Cogan	....	additional buyer
Monica Cogan	....	additional set dresser
Beth Courtney	....	design assistant
Elaine Kusmishko	....	assistant set decorator
Adam Liddell	....	props assistant
Marian Long	....	buyer
Marian Long	....	set dresser
Ralph Moser	....	design assistant: submarine
Brendan Mullen	....	stand-by carpenter
Charles O'Brien	....	art department runner
Nick Power	....	additional buyer
Nick Power	....	additional set dresser
Sally Shepherd	....	set designer: submarine
Lucy Sparke	....	buyer
Lucy Sparke	....	set dresser
Walter Sperl	....	construction manager
Samantha Ward	....	props assistant: submarine
Ruth Winick	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Brent Burge	....	supervising sound effects editor
Gerry Duffy	....	sound post-production
Dino Giacomin	....	sound effects editor
Peter Graham	....	adr recordist
James Harvey	....	dialogue editor
Ben Jacob	....	foley recordist
Gerry Long	....	foley artist
Ian MacWilliams	....	adr editor
Rory Martin	....	sound effects editor
John McKerrow	....	sound recordist
Gavin Myers	....	dialogue editor
Julie Pearce	....	adr recordist
Mark Perry	....	supervising sound effects editor
Julie Piesce	....	adr recordist
Scott Ryan	....	assistant sound engineer
Robert Sullivan	....	sound mixer
Jenny Sutcliffe	....	boom operator
Nigel Christensen	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Nick Arnold	....	special effects assistant
Gordon Barber	....	special effects assistant
Rob Collin	....	special effects assistant
Jeff Little	....	special effects coordinator
Andrew McAllister	....	special effects assistant
Tim O'Brien	....	special effects technician
Peter Stubbs	....	special effects supervisor
Kevin Turner	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Charlie Armstrong	....	compositor
Aaron Barclay	....	compositor
Marcus Bolton	....	compositor
Ian Brown	....	3D animator
Robin Cave	....	compositor
Lindsay Fleay	....	3D animator
Grant Freckelton	....	visual effects assistant designer
Maryanne Lauric	....	compositor
Kirsty Millar	....	lead compositor
Tony O'Loughlan	....	motion control assistant
Melanie Ritchie	....	visual effects producer
Alex Thomas	....	compositor
Simon Whitley	....	visual effects designer
Leoni Willis	....	compositor
Ben O'Brien	....	Flame artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Russell Allan	....	stunts
Brett Anderson	....	stunts
Lance Anderson	....	stunts
Szumai Anderson	....	stunts
John Baird	....	stunts
Teresa Blake	....	stunts
Amanda Buchanan	....	stunts
Adrian Chow	....	stunts
Zev Eleftheriou	....	stunt coordinator
Stuart Fraser	....	stunts
Tiny Good	....	stunt rigging
Graham Jahne	....	stunts
Chris Kemp	....	stunts
Anthony Mays	....	stunts
Deirdre Naughton	....	stunts
Warwick Sadler	....	stunts
Nicholas Simmons	....	stunt performer
Davin Taylor	....	stunts
Rick Tonna	....	stunts
Mark Wickham	....	stunts
Chris Wilson	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
László Baranyai	....	director of photography: second unit
Francesca Bosch	....	focus puller: second unit
Scott Copeland	....	electrician
David Cross	....	key grip
Chris Dewhurst	....	generator operator
Mark Hanneysee	....	assistant grip
Adam Howden	....	clapper loader
James Kalisch	....	video split operator
Trish Keating	....	focus puller
Jamie Leckie	....	assistant grip
Peter MacDonnell	....	grip
Ian McMillan	....	Steadicam operator
Ian McMillan	....	additional photographer
Katie Milwright	....	clapper loader: second unit
David Parkinson	....	gaffer
Oliver Petrovic	....	grip: second unit
Louis Puli	....	Steadicam operator
Greg Rawson	....	best boy
Stuart Sawyers	....	electrician
Geoff Skilbeck	....	clapper loader
Craig Smith	....	assistant grip
Holly Stein	....	still photographer
Peter Stott	....	Steadicam assistant

Casting Department
Melanie Hall	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kelly Foreman	....	stand-by costumer
Sarah Jameson	....	costume assistant
Shane Phillips	....	costume assistant
Sally Pritchard	....	stand-by costumer
Keryn Ribbands	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Dwaine Hyde	....	telecine colorist
Peter King	....	on-line editor
Phil Lament	....	on-line editor
Peter Powell	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Laura Bishop	....	music preparation
Michael Boyd	....	scoring
Nicholas Cervonaro	....	scoring
Christo Curtis	....	music recordist
Leah Curtis	....	assistant to composer
Christopher Gordon	....	conductor
Christopher Gordon	....	orchestrator
Coralie Hartl	....	orchestra contractor
Phillip Hartl	....	orchestra leader
Matthew Jones	....	assistant to composer
Simon Leadley	....	music editor
Simon Leadley	....	music mixer
Peter Mapleson	....	music preparation
Mats Nilsson	....	musical director: Sydney Philharmonica Choir
Christine Woodruff	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Andrew Campbell	....	driver
Shane Dettman	....	driver
Kerrie Kervin	....	driver
Steve Mahoney	....	vehicle assistant
Sid McDonald	....	driver
Don McLennan	....	driver
Rob McLeod	....	vehicle coordinator
Brendan O'Grady	....	driver

Other crew
Peter Anderson	....	financial controller
Trish Ashenden	....	accounting assistant
Marco Assante	....	assistant: Armand Assante
John Baird	....	wrangler
Tony Bartuccio	....	choreographer
Nancy Black	....	dialect coach
Maurice Burns	....	location manager
Barbara Datson	....	nurse
John Eacott	....	helicopter pilot
Jeanette Fisher	....	caterer
John Fox	....	armorer
Larry Garrison	....	unit publicist
Lawrence Garrison	....	publicist
Paul Kennedy	....	production runner
Phil Knowles	....	helicopter pilot
Liane Lee	....	post-production accountant
Caroline Lewis	....	production runner
Michael Madigan	....	assistant location manager
Steve Mahoney	....	boat coordinator
Brianna Mann	....	production secretary
Reg Metcalf	....	helicopter coordinator
Victoria Mielewska	....	dialect coach
John Moncrieff	....	traffic coordinator
Michael O'Sullivan	....	production runner
Howard Parker	....	production executive
Karinda Parkinson	....	continuity
Chris Peters	....	safety officer
Ralph Price	....	location scout
Jess Ractliffe	....	assistant: John Edwards
Aen Saaifield	....	helicopter coordinator
Sophie Siomos	....	production accountant
Susie Struth	....	continuity: second unit
James Talbot	....	legal consultant
Trudy Talbot	....	assistant production accountant
Michelle Venutti	....	second unit coordinator
Susie Wright	....	production coordinator

Production Companies

• Coote Hayes Productions
• Edwards/Sullivan Productions
• Showtime Networks
• Southern Star Entertainment Pty. Ltd.

Distributors

• Showtime Networks (2000) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• 7 Network (2001) (Australia) (TV)
• AXN (2007) (Japan) (TV)
• Bridge Entertainment Group (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Hallmark Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC)  funding
• Spectrum Films International  post-production facilities
• Studios 301  orchestra score recording facility
• Trackdown Digital  music editing services
• Trackdown Digital  music recording and mixing

Runtime:

195 min | 60 min (3 episodes)

Country:

Australia | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Flinders Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Company:

Coote Hayes Productions

Trivia:

The Los Angeles class submarine in this movie uses a "caterpillar" (silent) drive as was used by the Soviet submarine Red October in The Hunt for Red October (1990).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Moira is driving the Ferrari, the top is seen on and off in alternating scenes.

Quotes:

Moira Davidson: Hey, I'm not blaming you. If it was one of your politicians or your military with their bloody warrior mentality, I would be. "We're protecting your freedom!"
[sarcastically]
Moira Davidson: It really worked...

Movie Connections:

Remake of On the Beach (1959)

Soundtrack:

Mony Mony

Shocking. This movie lets you realise that the end of mankind is not unthinkable...

What would I do when I was confronted with my certain death and the end of mankind? That question was getting more and more to me when I watched On The Beach. Very confronting and on the eve of a war in Iraq, not at all unthinkable.

The plot is simple: War has broke out (in this case between the US and China, but it could be Iraq or North-Korea too...) and the US strikes with nuclear weapons. Australia gets spared initially, but its inhabitants face certain death as clouds of radio active fall-out nears. Within two months, no one human will be alive. Unless... There is a chance that some people close to the north pole survived. An American nuclear submarine that survived the war is boarded by an Aussie liaison officer and a cynical scientist, that used to date the sister-in-law of the officer, to search for possible survivors.

Not much action, but for those who like to think while watching a movie, this film will stick to you. There are story lines that resemble soap opera's. That might be true on the surface, but it is completely different when you keep in mind that they all are going to die. You feel the difficulties in the way the characters choose to die.

The movie is played well, directed well and has great photography. The director uses several filming techniques that are rarely used so that the viewer gets time to think about the situation and feel the dilemma of the character.

Unless you cannot bear to be confronted with your own mortality, this is a must-see.