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In the year 1964, nuclear war has wiped out all life in Earth's northern hemisphere. After discovering San Francisco to be devastated and deserted, US submarine commander Dwight Towers (Gregory Peck) and his crew head for Australia, where they each cope with the situation in their own individual ways while awaiting the fall-out that will kill them: scientist Julian Osborn (Fred Astaire) achieves his life's ambition of winning an auto race; while naval officer Peter Holmes (Anthony Perkins) considers taking his life; and Towers finds romance with good-time girl Moira Davidson (Ava Gardner), who is determined to take one last chance at love.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
66 of 68 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is the film that for me captures the terror I felt as a child, growing up at the height of the Cold War; it is bleak and intense, with scenes that are forever etched in my mind. It's one of the great films of that era ("Seven Days in May" and "Fail Safe" are others) that I can watch repeatedly, and their power and impact are never diminished.
Based on Nevil Shute's best seller, and brilliantly directed by Stanley Kramer, the use of sound effects combined with Ernest Gold's Oscar nominated score is very effective. Sometimes the simplest noise set against complete silence is ominous, and gives the feeling of the desolation of empty cities.
As time runs out, people try to avoid the "morbid discussion" of what awaits them, and some make the most of those precious days, weeks and months, like the elderly scientist Julian (in an exceptional performance by Fred Astaire), who completes his dream of being a race car driver.
Based on Nevil Shute's best seller, and brilliantly directed by Stanley Kramer, the use of sound effects combined with Ernest Gold's Oscar nominated score is very effective. Sometimes the simplest noise set against complete silence is ominous, and gives the feeling of the desolation of empty cities.
As time runs out, people try to avoid the "morbid discussion" of what awaits them, and some make the most of those precious days, weeks and months, like the elderly scientist Julian (in an exceptional performance by Fred Astaire), who completes his dream of being a race car driver.
Both strong and tender, Gregory Peck is fabulous as Dwight Towers, the commander of a submarine, who has trouble accepting that he is alive, while his family are victims of the "monstrous war". The woman who falls in love with him is Ava Gardner, who has spent far too much time being consoled by a bottle of brandy. The plot is filled out by Anthony Perkins and Donna Anderson, a young couple facing the fact that their baby has no future.
In the late 50s and early 60s, the scenario in this film was all too real; we face other dangers now, but there was something truly chilling about those Cold War years, and this film vividly brings back the memory of them. Total running time is 134 minutes.
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
This movie sums up the feelings and fears of the sixties in the shadow of the bomb, atomic war and aftermath. The story line is faultless as is the content. Each actor/actress is perfect for the roles they play, Gregory Peck being at his best. One of the very few movies that sticks to the original story, so rare. If you watch this movie and you are not deeply moved, I would say you are already dead. The pace of things is exactly right, leading up to the final shots, which must be termed as the most dramatic ending ever. I have watched this movie many times and I never cease to be moved. Although this movie is of my generation and times, my children watched it (age 20 and 22)and were as moved as much as me.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
One of my all-time favourites, far superior to the more recent version and - very unusually - I think it is even better than the novel. The condition of the video is excellent, although I always remember it as being in colour and was a little disappointed to find it was in fact in black and white - not that that detracted at all from the wonderful direction and acting. A. T.
28 of 32 people found the following review helpful
By "calypsopiper"
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
That is the message displayed on the Salvation Army banners as Humanity slips into extinction. There are no explosions, no bodies, no physical horror or special effects whatsoever....and more importantly, no hope. The plot is well covered by other reviewers, so I'm giving nothing else away.
This B/W 1959 film by Stanley Kramer based on a novel by Nevil Shute (A Town Like Alice), will haunt you for the rest of your life. Not often repeated on afternoon TV, buy this DVD to show your children and grandchildren how really brave and talented film makers were, before they became a meaningless dross factory.
The only choreography that Fred Astaire oversees is the Dance of Death. He is simply sensational in this straight acting role as the scientist, Julian Osborne. All the suffering of the world is etched in every line on his face. Peck plays Peck, one of the greatest screen actors of the 20th Century expressing the qualities of leadership, integrity and vulnerability in Dwight Lionel Towers, commander of the American submarine USS Sawfish.Ava Gardner is perhaps a little old and glamorous for the role of Moira Davidson, Peck's love interest, but she does OK.
Pre Psycho, Anthony Perkins, as Lt. Cmdr. Peter Holmes, Royal Australian Navy, is devastating as he assists his wife and baby in mutual suicide in the privacy of their bedroom. This relays a horror, greater than anything in Hitchcock's vivid imagination.
This is a real film, about real issues and real people, by real actors. As I said before, buy it, it's probably the only chance you'll get to see this classic.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By phantom
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
you either like this type of film or you don,t good about the era it was made and the stupidity of politicians
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Hopefulcook
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Many years ago when I read the book, I couldn't wait for the film. Nevil Shute's particular Australian take on the "end of the world scenario" doesn't lose any of its poignancy, when acted out on the large scren by Hollywood "A-listers, of the period".
There are both moving and amusing threads to this tale of "what if".
There are both moving and amusing threads to this tale of "what if".
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By ab..c
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
* The basis of the movie
This b&w movie was made in the late cold war of the 1950s to explore the concepts and consequences of this type of war in a a newer light. Briefly, the northern continents have already waged nuclear war against each of the other countries. As a result, this means the dangers of wider nuclear radiation on these continents is raised beyond lethal levels. Only the Australian continent has people in any numbers left, as they did not launch nuclear weaponry to make themselves a target.
*Its main idea
The grinding consequences of this action is the natural winds will to carry this nuclear fallout from the northern continents to all around the world, even to those who did not wage nuclear war. All the cast have is time to wait and its inevitable. The worlds available resources and being held in reserve to make this last as long as possible, from petrol to booze to car parts the list is long.
* Reflections
The film mostly avoids the big action, theatrical visions of blast and its results, all with huge images of decimation as the message. The cast consider how to cope with this end of the world news in differing ways; intellectualism, emotionally, as a patient or parent, as military personnel, from the concepts of faith, having a emotional partner. To avoid the severe pain suicide is the only way? This is anger projected internally and not externally against the 'enemy'.
And it replaces this gut horror with being made aware and conscious of our mortality and that our days are sharply numbered. This may be left - field, but parts of this its like encountering the genesis of the movie 'Mad max' series of movies.... Read more ›
This b&w movie was made in the late cold war of the 1950s to explore the concepts and consequences of this type of war in a a newer light. Briefly, the northern continents have already waged nuclear war against each of the other countries. As a result, this means the dangers of wider nuclear radiation on these continents is raised beyond lethal levels. Only the Australian continent has people in any numbers left, as they did not launch nuclear weaponry to make themselves a target.
*Its main idea
The grinding consequences of this action is the natural winds will to carry this nuclear fallout from the northern continents to all around the world, even to those who did not wage nuclear war. All the cast have is time to wait and its inevitable. The worlds available resources and being held in reserve to make this last as long as possible, from petrol to booze to car parts the list is long.
* Reflections
The film mostly avoids the big action, theatrical visions of blast and its results, all with huge images of decimation as the message. The cast consider how to cope with this end of the world news in differing ways; intellectualism, emotionally, as a patient or parent, as military personnel, from the concepts of faith, having a emotional partner. To avoid the severe pain suicide is the only way? This is anger projected internally and not externally against the 'enemy'.
And it replaces this gut horror with being made aware and conscious of our mortality and that our days are sharply numbered. This may be left - field, but parts of this its like encountering the genesis of the movie 'Mad max' series of movies.... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
on the beach
a long boring film more about the love lives of the survivors. We thought the story was about the holocaust and the mysterious morse code. boy were we wrong
Published 5 months ago by Mary Galloway
5.0 out of 5 stars
On the Beach (original)
Five stars (*****) because I wanted to check if the movie I've watched in my childhood is still thrilling. It is. Read more
Published 6 months ago by jacekban
4.0 out of 5 stars
Classic disaster movie
Famous stars from the fifties,but curiously not engaging now.
The acting is of its time,and now appears very stilted compared to the acting of today.
The acting is of its time,and now appears very stilted compared to the acting of today.
Published 6 months ago by Mrs. Jeanne M. Bodnar
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent author
This an old movie made over the book of the same title "On the Beach", written by Nevil Shute.
Nevil Shute was an excellent author, able to tell and describe in a way so you... Read more
Nevil Shute was an excellent author, able to tell and describe in a way so you... Read more
Published 10 months ago by EBOS
5.0 out of 5 stars
on the beach
haunting and impressive story.
perfomence with a dignity which we miss those days.
breathtaking and holding up the mirror, what should I do
perfomence with a dignity which we miss those days.
breathtaking and holding up the mirror, what should I do
Published 12 months ago by Lia
5.0 out of 5 stars
On The Beach (DVD)
Wonderful DVD. I had read the book a long time ago and didn't realise until now that there was a film too. It ws really sensitively made and I enjoyed it.
Published 14 months ago by Annie M
1.0 out of 5 stars
on the beach
Having recently re-read the book and having seen the film in the 1960' (and according to my diary - enjoyed it !)
I purchased it to watch over Christmas. Read more
I purchased it to watch over Christmas. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Patty
4.0 out of 5 stars
Has stood the test of time
This is one of the all-time greats of the Neville Shute stories, and is as relevant now as ever. As you would expect from such a cast, the acting is perfact. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Sailrodney
4.0 out of 5 stars
On the Beach (DVD)
A classic film set in the Cold War with the greats of acting though the film is not quite as good as the book.
Published 19 months ago by KeithM
3.0 out of 5 stars
on the beach
film captures the age the book was written and having lived thro the cold war certainly the emotions so true,BUT so different from the book. Read more
Published 19 months ago by lindap
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