On the Beach


On the Beach


  Movie Database

  Movies by Actor
  Movies by Actress
  Movie Posters
  Movie Store
  Movie News
  Movie Lobby
  Movie Trailers

  Movie Home


On the Beach

(1959)





Director:
Stanley Kramer

Plot:

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?

In the aftermath of an atomic war, much of humanity has been destroyed. Only Australia remains, but time is short as the winds will inevitably spread nuclear fallout and everyone knows they have only a few months to live. Among those coming to terms with the inevitable is a U.S. navy officer, Cmdr. Dwight Towers, whose submarine and crew were at sea when the holocaust occurred; Moira Davidson, a free-spirit who develops a close attachment to Towers; Julian Osborne, whose dream is to win the Australian Grand Prix automobile race; and Lt. Cmdr. Peter Holmes, who is as concerned about his wife and newborn child's future as his own. All cope with the inevitability of death in their own way, but also with love, dignity and affection.

A US submarine is on patrol when the Northern Hemisphere is destroyed by atomic war. They land in Melbourne, Australia where they live with the rest of the city which has less than 12 months to live. They travel back to the west cost of the US and witness the holocaust.

Someone, somewhere, pressed the button and started World War III. Australia has survived - temporarily. The radiation is on it's way, the end inevitable. This is the story of the way in which people faced the coming end, focusing mainly on a young Australian couple and their friends, including the captain of an American submarine that was on patrol in the Pacific when the bombs were falling. And then the Australians detect a morse signal coming from somewhere around San Diego...

Cast:
Gregory PeckCmdr. Dwight Lionel Towers, USS Sawfish
Ava GardnerMoira Davidson
Fred AstaireJulian Osborne
Anthony PerkinsLt. Peter Holmes - Royal Australian Navy
Donna AndersonMary Holmes
John TateAdm. Bridie
Harp McGuireLt. Sunderstrom (ashore in San Diego)
Lola BrooksLt. Hosgood (Bridie's secretary)
Ken WayneLt. Benson
Guy DolemanLt. Cmdr. Farrel
Richard MeikleDavis
John MeillonRalph Swain (ashore in San Francisco)
Joe McCormickAckerman (radiation sickness)
Lou VernonBill Davidson (Moira's father)
Kevin BrennanDr. King (radiation diagnosis)
Basil Buller-MurphySir Douglas Froude (club)
John CassonSalvation Army captain
Paddy MoranStevens (club wine steward)
Grant TaylorMorgan (Holmes party)
Harvey AdamsSykes (State Fisheries & Game Dept.) (uncredited)
Peter AshtonBit Part (uncredited)
Jim BarrettChrysler - Moira's Outfit (uncredited)
Ken BaumgartnerBit Part (uncredited)
Jack BoyerBit Part (uncredited)
C. Harding BrownDykers - Billiards at Club (uncredited)
Norman CookBit Part (uncredited)
Colin CraneBit Part (uncredited)
Gerry DugganBit Part (uncredited)
Keith EdenDr. Fletcher (uncredited)
Lucian EndicottBit Part (uncredited)
Stuart FinchJones - Radio Operator (uncredited)
Paddy FitzallenBit Part (uncredited)
Ronald ForttBit Part (uncredited)
Cyril GardnerBit Part (uncredited)
Frank GatliffRadio Officer (uncredited)
Katherine HillJennifer Holmes (uncredited)
Collins HiltonBit Part (uncredited)
Brian JamesBit Part (uncredited)
Joseph JenkinsBit Part (uncredited)
Graham KennedyBit Part (uncredited)
Audine LeithBetty (uncredited)
Paul MaloneyBit Part (uncredited)
Ray MarshallBit Part (uncredited)
John MorganBit Part (uncredited)
Peter O'ShaughnessyJorgensen Associate (uncredited)
Rita PauncefortElderly Woman at Holmes Party (uncredited)
Carey Paul PeckBoy (uncredited)
Elwyn PeersBit Part (uncredited)
John RoyleSenior Officer (uncredited)
Jerry Ian SealsFogarty - Sonar Operator (uncredited)
Al ThomasBit Part (uncredited)
Mario VecchiBit Part (uncredited)
Peter WilliamsProf. Jorgensen (uncredited)
Hugh WillsBit Part (uncredited)

Writing By:

John Paxton(screenplay)
Nevil Shute(novel)

Produced By:

Stanley Kramerproducer




Share this:

Check out the
On the Beach:

Movie

Soundtrack

Book