Rent On The Beach for FREE

Start your 30 day FREE trial » Find out more

+70,000 other titles and counting

NO late fees or long term contracts - cancel anytime
FREE first class post for DVD, Blu-ray & Games rental
1000's of films to stream instantly to your PC, TV or PS3^TM at no extra cost

On The Beach Details

1959

70
from 1051 members

Starring	Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, Anthony Perkins
Director	Stanley Kramer
Genres	Romance

On The Beach

Although there'd been doomsday dramas before it, Stanley Kramer's On the Beach was considered the first important entry in this genre when originally released in 1959. Based on the novel by Nevil Shute, the film is set in the future (1964) when virtually all life on earth has been exterminated by the radioactive residue of a nuclear holocaust. Only Australia has been spared, but it's only a matter of time before everyone Down Under also succumbs to radiation poisoning. With only a short time left on earth, the Australian population reacts in different ways: some go on a nonstop binge of revelry, while others eagerly consume the suicide pills being issued by the government. When the possibility arises that rains have washed the atmosphere clean in the Northern hemisphere, a submarine commander (Gregory Peck) and his men head to San Diego, where faint radio signals have been emanating. The movie's all-star cast includes: Peck as the stalwart sub captain, Ava Gardner as his emotionally disturbed lover, Fred Astaire as a guilt-wracked nuclear scientist, and Anthony Perkins and Donna Anderson as the just starting out in life married couple.~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Starring	Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, Anthony Perkins, Donna Anderson
Director	Stanley Kramer
Studio	MGM ENTERTAINMENT
Run time	DVD: 2 hrs 14 mins
Certificate
Genres	Romance
Language	DVD: English
Released	Production year: 1959 To Rent: DVD: 03 May 2004

Critic's review of On The Beach
View all critics' reviews (2)
- Gloomy prophecy which works well in spasms but is generally too content to chat rather than imagine. A solid prestige job nevertheless.
- 33362
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:43
Most helpful member's review of On The Beach
View all members' reviews (17)
- - 9
  - 0
  This film presents a ...
  
  This film presents a unique perspective on the consequences of nuclear war. By setting the action in Australia, the film presents the perspective of the ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 36249
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - HD
  - 148 reviews
  - West Midlands
  - 19 May 2004 at 08:18
Most recent members' reviews of On The Beach
View all members' reviews (17)
- - 0
  - 0
  From book to celluloid done right!
  
  Consider when this film was made and consider what the world had already been through, this film (perhaps the book more so) must have made people really worry ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1053245
- - MRoyan
  - 3 reviews
  - 20 Oct 2011 at 09:33
- - 0
  - 0
  our final long weekend...
  
  A view of 'The End' from 1959 - set in the future of 1964. Good perspective of the science of the time and, of course a warning... In this case it ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 994751
- - Treblig
  - 2 reviews
  - St. Albans. England.
  - 19 May 2011 at 17:46
- - 0
  - 0
  On The Beach
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  A very low key end to human kind, middle class acceptance the of end due to fall out of a nuclear war. The worlds population is slowly dying by the aftermath ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 976980
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Paddybt41
  - 6 reviews
  - Antrim
  - 28 Mar 2011 at 13:19
View all members' reviews (17)
People who rented this also rented
Showing 1 to 4 of 20

[+] [-]
Previous
The Snows of Kilimanjaro

Watch now

Sign up

Buy

Inherit The Wind

Sign up

Buy

The Bravados

Sign up

Buy

Spellbound

Sign up

Buy
Next
19419

22091

39137

3210

Rating breakdown

1,051 Member ratings

100	94
90	74
80	234
70	204
60	201
50	94
40	66
30	39
20	30
10	15

Competitions and Offers

Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- On The Beach
  
  Although there'd been doomsday dramas before it, Stanley Kramer's On the Beach was considered the first important entry in this genre when originally released in 1959. Based on the novel by Nevil Shute, the film is set in the future (1964) when virtually all life on earth has been exterminated by ...