On the Beach

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?

Cast

Gregory Peck

as Dwight Towers

Ava Gardner

as Moira Davidson

Fred Astaire

as Julian Osborn

Anthony Perkins

as Lt. Peter Holmes

Donna Anderson

as Mary Holmes

Guy Doleman

as Lt. Cmdr. Farrel

John Meillon

as Ralph Swain

Harp McGuire

as Lt. Sunderstrom

Lola Brooks

as Lt. Hosgood

Ken Wayne

as Lt. Benson

Reviews

John Chard

Like watching paint dry. Stanley Kramer and John Paxton adapt from Nevil Shute's novel. Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, Anthony Perkins and Donna Anderson star, with music by Ernest Gold and cinematography by Giuseppe Rotunno. After a global nuclear war, the inhabitants of Australia r...

Frank

Well acted story with an obvious anti-war theme, written during the cold war provided an interesting portrayal of how different people may react facing impending doom. Fearful, Angry, Fatalistic. It developed feelings for the characters as they dealt with the situation each in their own way. Ove...

CinemaSerf

With nuclear warfare having eradicated most of the population of the world, it seems that only Australia still has a population - and they know that it is only a matter of time before the irradiated dust reaches their coastline and death will follow. Just ahead of that, though, is the USS Sawfish un...

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