On the Beach

1959
Approved
2h 14m

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

15K

YOUR RATING

After a global nuclear war, the residents of Australia must come to terms with the fact that all life will be destroyed in a matter of months.

Play trailer4:47

1 Video

99 Photos

Dystopian Sci-Fi Psychological Drama Drama Romance Sci-Fi

After a global nuclear war, the residents of Australia must come to terms with the fact that all life will be destroyed in a matter of months.After a global nuclear war, the residents of Australia must come to terms with the fact that all life will be destroyed in a matter of months.After a global nuclear war, the residents of Australia must come to terms with the fact that all life will be destroyed in a matter of months.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

15K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 4 wins & 9 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 4:47

Official Trailer

Photos99

+ 93

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The movie was filmed in 1959. For one year (July 4, 1959 - July 4, 1960) the US flag had 49 stars. In the opening scene a 49-star flag can be seen flying from the submarine.

Goofs
Before the submarine's deployment on its proposed 13,000 mile round trip, Dwight is asked if he has enough power on-board his nuclear sub. A nuclear sub's range is only limited by the amount of food it can carry and the endurance of the crew. The time between refueling a nuclear sub is measured in years if not decades. Plus, the sub could easily cover the 13,000 miles in three weeks or less.

Quotes
Julian Osborne: The war started when people accepted the idiotic principle that peace could be maintained by arranging to defend themselves with weapons they couldn't possibly use without committing suicide.

Crazy credits
The following acknowledgment appears in the opening credits: "We acknowledge with appreciation the assistance given by the Royal Australian Navy and, in particular, by the officers and men of H.M.A.S. Melbourne and H.M.S. Andrew."

Connections
Edited into 365 Days, also Known as a Year (2019)

Soundtracks
Waltzing Matilda
Original music by Christina McPherson, revised music by Marie Cowan and lyrics by A.B. 'Banjo' Paterson (as A.B. Paterson)

User reviews211

Review

Featured review

10/10

A great Tour de Force by a fine cast, interpreting a great story

I watched this movie in a USAF chow hall on the island of Makung in the China Strait with about 20 other airman. The year was 1960. We were stationed there on a missile site. Our targets were 7 Chinese missile sites. Their target was us.

I was 22 years old and immortal.

Until I watched this movie.

When the movie ended, I will never forget the fact that no one moved for perhaps 10 minutes. There was just the bright, blank screen and the sound of the end of the film going around and around. Thiketa-thicketa-thicketa................... No one ever said a word about what we had just seen.

We, or at least I, never forgot this movie. As said earlier, it was more than scary. It was sad.

It seems strange now, 40 some years later, to be telling people that you really should watch this film and watch the masters at work, with a script that is chilling. And you know what? We still haven't outlived the possibility...........