On the Beach

Name: On the Beach
Genre: Science Fiction, Drama, Romance
Released: 1959-12-17
Duration: 2 h 14 min
Rating: 7.1
Cast: Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, Anthony Perkins, Donna Anderson

The Biggest Story of Our Time!

On the Beach (1959)

Timing: 2:14 (134 min)

7.1/10
19 186

—
no scores

6.7/10
244

7.1/10
16000

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Everything about the movie

Video 2

Photo 35

Actors and characters

Video for the film On the Beach — On the Beach (1959) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]

4:46

Photo 35

Release date

1959-12-17

Country

United States

Production

United Artists, Stanley Kramer Productions

Genre

Science Fiction, Drama, Romance

Budget

$2 900 000

Box office

$11 011 271

Website

Director

Stanley Kramer

Actors

Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, Anthony Perkins, Donna Anderson, Guy Doleman, John Meillon, Harp McGuire, Lola Brooks, Ken Wayne
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Producer

Camera operator

Composer

Artist

Audition

Editing

Frederic Knudtson
Whole Team (17)

Short description

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?

What's left behind the scenes

With this film, Fred Astaire began his non-dancing cinematic career. Director Stanley Kramer couldn't decide who to cast in the role until his wife, who happened to be watching one of Astaire's films on television, suggested him.
Director Stanley Kramer faced many frustrations caused by thousands of vacationers who watched the filming by wading shoulder-deep into the water and applauding the actors after every take. At times, the spectators' enthusiasm became openly irritating, especially when they constantly wandered into the shot in an attempt to get a closer look at Ava Gardner.
This was Ava Gardner's first film after completing her 20-year contract with MGM, during which she worked for a weekly salary and received nothing if she was 'loaned' to other studios. After fulfilling her contract with MGM, she was able to choose her own roles and negotiate fees.
The US Department of Defense and the US Navy refused to assist the filmmakers with the project. They also denied the filmmakers access to a nuclear submarine, so they had to film with the non-nuclear British submarine 'HMS Andrew'. (Until 1967, submarines of the Royal Navy were based in Australia, after which the Australians acquired their own submarine fleet.) Scenes at the naval base were filmed at the Williamstown Naval Dockyard in the Australian state of Victoria.
Before filming the finale, Stanley Kramer appealed to the city's residents via radio and local publications, asking them to stay home to capture footage of deserted streets.
Before filming the finale, Stanley Kramer used the radio and local publications to ask city residents to stay indoors so that he could capture the deserted streets.
Director Stanley Kramer was greatly inconvenienced by the thousands of onlookers who watched the filming, wading into the water up to their shoulders and applauding the actors after each take. The audience's enthusiasm was often frankly irritating, especially when they constantly wandered into the frame, wanting to get a closer look at Ava Gardner.
Some streets in the Australian suburb of Berwick, where filming took place, were subsequently named after members of the project: Gardner Street, Schute Avenue, Kramer Drive.
Based on the novel "On the Beach" by Nevil Shute.
This was Ava Gardner's first film after completing her 20-year contract with MGM, during which she worked for a weekly salary and received nothing extra whenever she was 'loaned out' to other studios. After fulfilling her contract with MGM, she was finally able to choose her own roles and negotiate her own fees.
The film is also mentioned in Stephen King's novel "Needful Things." It is playing on television when one of the characters, Netty Cobb, is posting notes in Danforth Keaton's house. Another character, Wilma Jerzyk, also wants to watch the film after Sunday service.
With this film, Fred Astaire began his non-dancing career in cinema. Director Stanley Kramer couldn't decide who to give the role to, and Kramer's wife, who was watching one of Astaire's films on television at the time, suggested Astaire to him.
The Strugatsky brothers mention this film in their "A Tale of Three" and "Distant Rainbow."
The film is mentioned in the first volume of Haruki Murakami's novel "1Q84."