On the Beach (1959)

After a global nuclear war, the residents of Australia must come to terms with the fact that all life will be destroyed in a matter of months.

Director:

Stanley Kramer

Writers:

John Paxton (screenplay), Nevil Shute (novel)

Stars:

Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gregory Peck	...	Cmdr. Dwight Lionel Towers
Ava Gardner	...	Moira Davidson
Fred Astaire	...	Julian Osborn
Anthony Perkins	...	Lt. Peter Holmes
Donna Anderson	...	Mary Holmes
John Tate	...	Adm. Bridie
Harp McGuire	...	Lt. Sunderstrom
Lola Brooks	...	Lt. Hosgood
Ken Wayne	...	Lt. Benson
Guy Doleman	...	Lt. Cmdr. Farrel
Richard Meikle	...	Davis
John Meillon	...	Ralph Swain
Joe McCormick	...	Ackerman
Lou Vernon	...	Bill Davidson
Kevin Brennan	...	Dr. King

Storyline

In 1964, atomic war wipes out humanity in the northern hemisphere; one American submarine finds temporary safe haven in Australia, where life-as-usual covers growing despair. In denial about the loss of his wife and children in the holocaust, American Captain Towers meets careworn but gorgeous Moira Davidson, who begins to fall for him. The sub returns after reconnaissance a month (or less) before the end; will Towers and Moira find comfort with each other?

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Plot Keywords:

mass killing | global catastrophe | doomsday | australia | submarine | 

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Taglines:

IF YOU Never See Another Motion Picture In Your Life You Must See ON THE BEACH

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The tune played repeatedly throughout the film is the iconic Australian folk song "Waltzing Matilda". It tells the story of a swagman (Australian for hobo) who steals a sheep and commits suicide rather than accept capture and imprisonment.

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Goofs

The 'Australian Grand Prix' race is supposedly held on Phillip Island in Westernport Bay, Victoria. Being a small island, the beach is visible from many parts of the track, but is not in the film. Also, the surrounding area of Westernport Bay is not mountainous as depicted, only slightly hilly. The real track was probably located in the US, for filming convenience. The race footage was from Riverside, the now closed track east of Los Angeles. The site is now a housing development and shopping center.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Dwight Towers: Prepare to surface.

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Crazy Credits

and Introducing Donna Anderson

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Connections

Referenced in Parts Per Billion (2014)

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Soundtracks

Waltzing Matilda
Original music by Christina McPherson, revised music by Marie Cowan and lyrics by A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson (as A.B. Paterson)

User Reviews

I played a bit part in Melbourne. Great fun.

I was/am not an actor, but I was a Fulbright at the University of Melbourne 1958-1960. When the U.S. Navy and Stanley Kramer fell out, he needed bit players with an American accent. As a result, I was recruited to play the (nameless) part of the planesman ("Depth 45 feet, Sir" and other immortal lines).

It was great fun. I worked 12 hours a day, 7 days a week (really -- though most of the time was spent playing poker -- made more money playing poker than I did for acting) for two weeks at the Melbourne Fair Grounds. Met and chatted with all the participants other than Ava Gardner, who had no truck with anyone other than her Spanish cameraman.

I was very impressed by Kramer and his writer. As to the others, it was clear that good brains do not make good actors (though all were nice people, particularly Fred Astaire who could have made millions as a salesman if he had not made them as a dancer/actor).

I have seen lots of times and think the best movie ever made (even better than "No Time for Sergeants", which I have seen even more times).

Would like to hear from Jack Boyer (the submarine medical corpsman) if he happens to read this.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 December 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

On the Beach

Filming Locations:

Footscray Town Hall, Footscray, Victoria, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$2,900,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Stanley Kramer Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1