On The Beach

[lagomorph777]

One of the best movies I've ever seen. Particularly apt at this moment. Best performances I've ever seen, from every one of the all-star cast.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Beach_(1959_film)

On the Beach is a 1959 American post-apocalyptic science fiction drama film from United Artists, produced and directed by Stanley Kramer, that stars Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, and Anthony Perkins. This black-and-white film is based on Nevil Shute's 1957 novel of the same name depicting the aftermath of a nuclear war. Unlike in the novel, no one is assigned blame for starting the war; the film hints that global annihilation may have arisen from an accident or misjudgment.

[Sugar Smack]

1. That story has been on my mind. I saw the more recent version,

with Rachel Ward in it. I forgot how long it was, but I remember feeling socked in the gut by it.

[lagomorph777]

2. Look up the original. It's stunning.

[peacefreak2.0]

3. Re-read it a while back

Still powerful, but so sexist. Good read.

[Sugar Smack]

4. I definitely will. Thanks!

[TreadSoftly]

5. Amazing movie

There are many memorable scenes in that old movie which I won't spoil. Sobering to see Fred Astaire in serious acting and Tony Perkins before he was typecast as Mother.

I had always wondered: using horse-drawn carriages in the beginning: was that typical Australia in 1960's or is that part of the "running out of resources" theme?

Outside of that drama: Ava Gardner said something dismissive about Australia which won her scorn.

[John1956PA]

6. As a teen, I read the novel and was taken by its descripton of people facing their fates.

The scenarios in which the characters found themselves saddened me when I read the book. Over the years, particularly when debates about nuclear arsenals have made the news, I have thought back about the haunting vision which Nevil Shute gave us.

[Aristus]

7. The movie was great. The novel was astonishing.

I cry at sad movies. I rarely cry reading sad novels, but this was one time in which I did. The end was shattering.

[PlanetBev]

8. I saw it at the movies

I was only nine, so I didn’t quite understand it.

Seeing it years later, definitely one of the best and saddest films ever made.