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?

---

Plot Keywords:

australia | submarine | nuclear fallout | radiation | nuclear war | 

---

Taglines:

The Biggest Story Of our Time!

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance | Sci-Fi

---

Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Included among the American Film Institute's 1998 list of the 400 movies nominated for the Top 100 Greatest American Movies.

---

Goofs

(1:15:00) The submarine shown cruising under the Golden Gate Bridge is not the same vessel used in the rest of the film; the sail is different and hull shorter.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Dwight Towers: Prepare to surface.

---

Crazy Credits

The following acknowledgment appears in the opening credits: "We acknowledge with appreciation the assistance given by the Royal Australian Navy and, in particular, by the officers and men of H.M.A.S. Melbourne and H.M.S. Andrew."

---

Connections

Featured in Ava Gardner, la gitane d'Hollywood: les années espagnoles de la Comtesse aux Pieds Nus (2018)

---

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

A great Tour de Force by a fine cast, interpreting a great story

I watched this movie in a USAF chow hall on the island of Makung in the China Strait with about 20 other airman. The year was 1960. We were stationed there on a missile site. Our targets were 7 Chinese missile sites. Their target was us.

I was 22 years old and immortal.

Until I watched this movie.

When the movie ended, I will never forget the fact that no one moved for perhaps 10 minutes. There was just the bright, blank screen and the sound of the end of the film going around and around. Thiketa-thicketa-thicketa................... No one ever said a word about what we had just seen.

We, or at least I, never forgot this movie. As said earlier, it was more than scary. It was sad.

It seems strange now, 40 some years later, to be telling people that you really should watch this film and watch the masters at work, with a script that is chilling. And you know what? We still haven't outlived the possibility...........

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