Five (1951)

The world is destroyed in a nuclear holocaust. Only five Americans survive, including a pregnant woman, a neo-Nazi, a black man and a bank clerk.

Director:

Arch Oboler

Writers:

Arch Oboler, James Weldon Johnson (poem)

Stars:

William Phipps, Susan Douglas Rubes, James Anderson

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
William Phipps	...	Michael
Susan Douglas Rubes	...	Roseanne (as Susan Douglas)
James Anderson	...	Eric
Charles Lampkin	...	Charles
Earl Lee	...	Mr. Barnstaple

Storyline

Five people are miraculously spared when the fall-out from a super-atomic bomb eventually kills all of the rest of humanity on earth. They are Roseanne Rogers, a pregnant woman who was in an X-ray room; Michael, a sensitive young poet and philosopher; Charles, a black man; Mr. Barnstaple, a banker; and Eric, a cosmopolitan Alpinist who was saved from the radio-active dust because he was climbing Mt. Everest at the time of the explosion and fall-out. Eventually, they all wind up in a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house on a California mountaintop. There is a lot of symbolism, especially with the mountain climber, who represents decadent and alien fascism and the banker who brings greed and arrogance to this new Eden on Earth. Soon, only two are left.

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Plot Keywords:

mountain climber | california | bank clerk | hairy chest | bare chested male | 

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Taglines:

ONE WOMAN... FOUR MEN... and no one else on earth!

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 1951 (USA)

Also Known As:

5ive

Filming Locations:

South Broadway, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$75,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arch Oboler Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to TCM's Robert Osborne, this is the first feature film to depict the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust.

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Goofs

Before they enter the Country store Eric is holding the door open for Roseanne but at the next cut Eric walks in first instead.

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Quotes

Michael: [as they watch Eric climbing nearby heights] That crazy idiot.
Roseanne: Why does he do it?
Michael: Some people have to climb mountains to justify their existence.

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Connections

Featured in Great Balls of Fire! (1989)

User Reviews

S10 Reviews: Five (1951)

A friend sported me a copy of 'Five'. Frankly I must admit that I'd never heard of this little gem before. 'Five' tells the tale of five survivors of a nuclear holocaust trying to pick up the pieces of their lives and move forward. The film is wonderfully acted and nicely photographed in a way that reminded me of Romero's 'Night of the Living Dead'. Strict minimalism is on display as the actors convey 99% of all story and action told mostly at a cottage. 'Five' is pretty impressive stuff for it's time. The only real downside to the script is the fact that it hasn't aged well from a 'scientific' standpoint. Other than that anyone with a knack for classic SciFi would love to check out this lost gem.

Acting: * * * * (Excellent) Writing / Direction: * * * (Very Good) Technical Design * * * (Very Good) Music: * * * (Very Good) Overall: * * * (Very Good)