Click here to copy URL

On the Beach

6.6

1,839

Ratings

Add to lists

where to watch

Rent

buy

Links

1 Related Movies

Remake:

On the Beach (TV Miniseries)

Original title

On the Beach

Year

1959

Running time

134 min.

Country

United States

Director

Stanley Kramer

Screenwriter

John Paxton. Novel: Nevil Shute

Cast

Music

Ernest Gold

Cinematography

Giuseppe Rotunno, Daniel L. Fapp (B&W)

Producer

Stanley Kramer Productions

Genre

Drama. Sci-Fi | Disaster Film. Nuclear Holocaust. Submarines. End of the World

Synopsis

In 1964, nuclear 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?

Awards: 1959: Nominated for Oscar: Best Soundtrack (Drama or Comedy)

1959: Golden Globes: Best Motion Picture Score. 5 Nominations

1959: BAFTA Awards: Nominated to Best Foreign Film (Ava Gardner)

1959: National Board of Review: Top 10 Best Films

1959: New York Film Critics Circle: Nominated for Best Film

Show all

Critics' reviews

"Critics overpraised Stanley Kramer's doomsday drama in a year when they undervalued North by Northwest and Rio Bravo, and it's still dramatically mushy."

Mike Clark: USA Today
"U solid film of considerable emotional, as well as cerebral, content. But the fact remains that the final impact is as heavy as a leaden shroud"

Variety Staff: Variety
"In retrospect, and viewed as either a once-topical curio or a nostalgic artifact from Hollywood's golden era, 'On the Beach' doesn't seem lousy. It seems naively, even innocently, preachy."

Tom Shales: The Washington Post
"Fine photography, but the script is a typically numbing affair, and the cast, aside from Peck and Meillon (whose part was considerably cut), seem totally out of their depth."

Time Out
"Though it occasionally goes over the top with its melodrama and lacks some technical credibility, On The Beach remains a powerful, well-acted, deftly photographed film"

TV Guide
"Kramer has brilliantly directed a strong and responsive cast, headed by Gregory Peck as the submarine commander and Ava Gardner as the worldly woman who craves his love"

Bosley Crowther: The New York Times
"Stanley Kramer issues the final warning to Mankind, in a tiresome, talky 1959 film set in the shrunken aftermath of World War III."

Dave Kehr: Chicago Tribune

Movie Soulmates' ratings: Register so you can access movie recommendations tailored to your movie taste.
Friends' ratings: Register so you can check out ratings by your friends, family members, and like-minded members of the FA community.

Is the synopsis/plot summary missing? Do you want to report a spoiler, error or omission? Please send us a message.
If you are not a registered user please send us an email to [email protected]

All copyrighted material (movie posters, DVD covers, stills, trailers) and trademarks belong to their respective producers and/or distributors.

For US ratings information please visit: www.mpaa.org www.filmratings.com www.parentalguide.org

User history

On the Beach

1959

Stanley Kramer

6.6

(1,839)