| 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 | |
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John Tate | ... | Adm. Bridie |
| Harp McGuire | ... | Lt. Sunderstrom | |
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Lola Brooks | ... | Lt. Hosgood |
| Ken Wayne | ... | Lt. Benson | |
| Guy Doleman | ... | Lt. Cmdr. Farrel | |
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Richard Meikle | ... | Davis |
| John Meillon | ... | Ralph Swain | |
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Joe McCormick | ... | Ackerman |
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Lou Vernon | ... | Bill Davidson |
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Kevin Brennan | ... | Dr. King |
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? Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu>
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.