On the Beach (1959 film)

thumb On the Beach is a 1959 American post-apocalyptic science fiction drama film in which, 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. Directed by Stanley Kramer. Written by John Paxton, based on Nevil Shute's 1957 novel of the same name. The Biggest Story Of our Time!taglines Julian Osborn The trouble with you is you want a simple answer. There isn't any. 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. Everybody had an atomic bomb, and counter-bombs, and counter-counter bombs. The devices outgrew us; we couldn't control them. I know, I helped build them. God, help me. Somewhere, some poor bloke probably looked at a radar screen and thought he saw something. He knew that if he hesitated one-thousands of a second — his own country would be wiped off the map. So, So, he pushed a button - and the world went — crazy. And, and... I shouldn't drink, you know. I inevitably say something brilliant. Who would ever have believed that human beings would be stupid enough to blow themselves off the face of the Earth? In the end, somehow granted the time for examination, we shall find that our so called civilization was gloriously destroyed by a handful of vacuum tubes and transistors. Probably faulty. Moira Davidson There isn't time. No time to love... nothing to remember... nothing worth remembering. I wouldn't really mind... if you could forget entirely who I am... I don't like myself very much anyway. Dialogue Julian Osborn: There was a choice. It was build the bombs, and use them — or risk the United States, the Soviet Union, and the rest of us, would find some way... to go on living Morgan: [scoffs] That's wishful thinking if ever I heard it. Julian Osborn: [softly] I'm not against wishful thinking. Not now. Morgan: They pushed us too far! They didn't think we'd fight, no matter what they did! Julian Osborn: And they were wrong. We fought. We expunged them. And we didn't do such a bad job on ourselves. Moira Davidson: All I want to know is: if everybody was so smart, why didn't they know what would happen? Dwight Towers: They did. Moira Davidson: Well, I, I can't take it. I, oh, yes, I can take it! But, it's unfair. It's unfair because I didn't do anything. And nobody I know did anything. Peter Holmes: Now, this is a special kind of — sleeping pill. I had a devil of a time getting 'em. But, I wanted you to have them on hand and to make sure you knew how to use 'em. What happens with the radiation is that you get — you get ill — and you start feeling sick and then you are sick and you go on being sick. You can't keep anything down. You may feel better for awhile; but, but it always comes back. You get weaker. Mary Holmes: And this cures it. Peter Holmes: Darling, you know nothing cures it. This ends it. Julian Osborn: We're all doomed, you know. The whole, silly, drunken, pathetic lot of us. Doomed by the air we're about to breathe. We haven't got a chance! Mary Holmes: Stop it! I won't have it, Julian. I won't! There is hope. There has to be hope. There's always hope. We just can't go on like this. We can't. We - we... Dwight Towers: Well... how'd you recognise me? Moira Davidson: I love Americans. They're so naïve. Peter Holmes: You remember when we first met? It was on the beach. I thought you were everything I'd always wanted. Mary Holmes: I thought you were underfed. Mary Holmes: It's all over now isn't it? Peter Holmes: Yes. It's all over. Peter Holmes: Darling. Mary Holmes: God, God forgive us. Peter, I think I'll have that cup of tea, now. Taglines The Biggest Story Of our Time! IF YOU Never See Another Motion Picture In Your Life You Must See ON THE BEACH Cast Gregory Peck - Commander Dwight Lionel Towers Ava Gardner - Moira Davidson Fred Astaire - Julian Osborn Anthony Perkins - Lieutenant Commander Peter Holmes Donna Anderson - Mary Holmes John Tate as Admiral Bridie Harp McGuire - Lieutenant Sunderstrom Lola Brooks - Lieutenant Hosgood, Bridie's secretary Ken Wayne - Lieutenant Benson Guy Doleman - Lieutenant Commander Farrel Richard Meikle - Davis John Meillon - Sawfish crewman Ralph Swain Joe McCormick - Ackerman, radiation sickness victim Lou Vernon - Bill Davidson Kevin Brennan - Dr. King Keith Eden as Dr. Fletcher Basil Buller-Murphy - Sir Douglas Froude Brian James - Royal Australian Navy officer John Casson - Salvation Army captain Paddy Moran - Stevens (club wine steward) Grant Taylor - Morgan External links 0053137 On the Beach 1015530_on_the_beach 36271 On the Beach Category:Films based on English novels Category:American science fiction films Category:Submarine films Category:Drama films Category:Films about World War III Category:Films set in California Category:Films set in Australia Category:Post-apocalyptic films Category:Disaster films Category:Films about the United States Navy Category:Films directed by Stanley Kramer Category:Films set in the 1960s Category:Films about nuclear war and weapons Category:1959 American films Category:1959 English-language films Category:American survival films Category:Apocalyptic films Category:Films about suicide Category:Films set in Melbourne Category:Films set in Victoria