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:

The Biggest Story Of our Time!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Moira goes to visit Towers at the dock, an Australian sailor calls out "Get a load of that Charlie Wheeler". This is rhyming slang: 'Charlie Wheeler' rhymes with "sheila", an Australian term for a (young) woman.

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Goofs

When Hosgood announces Holmes to the Admiral, she calls him Lieutenant Holmes using the American pronunciation, instead of the Australian "Leftenant". Curiously though, navies of the British tradition actually pronounce the rank a "L'tenant" but this subtlety is usually overlooked in Hollywood for the more exotic "Leftenant" which is actually the army pronunciation.

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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 Gregory Peck: His Own Man (1988)

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Soundtracks

Stand up Stand Up for Jesus
(uncredited)
Words by George Duffield Jr.
Music by George J. Webb

User Reviews

a great human drama

The Cold War aspects of this movie may be a bit dated, but for those of us of a certain age it is a reminder of the fears we lived under at that time. In retrospect, it may be that Julian was wrong: it may have indeed been the very presence of these terrible weapons that prevented a third world war.

In any case, that aspect of the story never overshadows the movie's underlying theme, which is, rather, how each of us views the sum of our lives as our mortal end approaches. Are we alone? Have we connected with anyone? Have we failed? Have we loved? Have we been loved?

Color would have been all wrong for this essentially b&w story. Superb performances from Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire and the pre-Norman Bates Anthony Perkins. A fine bit as well by John Tate as the old admiral("to a blind, blind world").

A mere cold-war nuclear destruction movie would leave one merely frightened at the end. The fact that this movie leaves you with an almost unbearable feeling of terrible sadness is a testament to the human power of Nevil Shute's book, as well as to the fine script and Kramer's superb direction.

One of the most depressing movies ever made, but a truly great one.

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, Lomitas Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1