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On The Beach Reviews

1959

70
from 1073 members

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 .. Read more

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

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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
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Most helpful member's review of On The Beach
View all members' reviews (18)
- - 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 (18)
- - 0
  - 0
  a true, classic even if nobody agrees with me
  
  Why is this not a classic, an idea that has rarely been attempted, and not busting blocks, all special effects and people screaming, it focuses on human lives ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1095252
- - RDWRER
  - 34 reviews
  - Ventnor
  - 21 Feb 2012 at 21:51
- - 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
- - 2
  - 8
  Husband appreciated - I didn't
  
  Don't want to view the end of the world in our living room
  
  Report this review
- 867898
- - Jeena
  - 31 reviews
  - Congleton
  - 02 Mar 2010 at 11:36
- - 1
  - 0
  This film still packs a powerful punch
  
  The science behind the concept may be a bit shaky (though undoubtedly would have been considered more accurate at the time the film was made), but then On The ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 844314
- - danieljparsons
  - 113 reviews
  - Ashford
  - 02 Jan 2010 at 16:31
- - 1
  - 0
  On The Beach
  
  Not bad film - a bit gloomy though. Well acted
  
  Report this review
- 710940
- - stumpymuffin
  - 49 reviews
  - Ramsgate
  - 18 Feb 2009 at 09:22
- - 0
  - 0
  This could happen
  
  I have always loved this film, some may say it is dated, but think about it, when it first came out it could have happened, and IT STILL COULD. Sit back and ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 664346
- - a customer
  - Uckfield
  - 25 Nov 2008 at 17:58
- - 0
  - 0
  On the Beach
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  I first saw this movie when it was first released and the horror of the stuation about which nothing can be done has never left me. The wonderful surprise in ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 612074
- - barbrasgirl8
  - 2 reviews
  - Corby
  - 11 Aug 2008 at 20:47
- - 0
  - 0
  a film of its time
  
  I remember a teacher at school saying how audiences would come out of the cinema in a state of quiet shock, watching it now it has lost a lot of its potency and... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 422585
- - itstinks
  - 573 reviews
  - North of Reading
  - 22 Mar 2007 at 08:26
View all members' reviews (18)

- - 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
- - 3
  - 0
  A masterpiece
  
  Definitely a masterpiece here.
  
  The northern hemisphere has wiped itself out. The radiation is heading south to the last remaining bastion of human ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 309271
- - Tobo
  - Kent
  - 11 Sep 2004 at 09:39
- - 2
  - 0
  As pertinent now as it was then...
  
  I saw this film as a youngster a few years after it was released, during the Cold War proper. The message has never left me and never will. This is an elegant... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 396241
- - a customer
  - Folkestone, Kent, England
  - 20 Dec 2006 at 21:35
- - 1
  - 0
  Life's a beach (just)
  
  Great basic scenario - nuclear war aftermath, with one corner of the globe (Australia) not yet suffering radiation sickness and trying to carry on as usual. ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 308064
- - Rockie
  - UK
  - 22 Aug 2004 at 18:53
- - 1
  - 0
  On The Beach
  
  Not bad film - a bit gloomy though. Well acted
  
  Report this review
- 710940
- - stumpymuffin
  - 49 reviews
  - Ramsgate
  - 18 Feb 2009 at 09:22
- - 1
  - 0
  This film still packs a powerful punch
  
  The science behind the concept may be a bit shaky (though undoubtedly would have been considered more accurate at the time the film was made), but then On The ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 844314
- - danieljparsons
  - 113 reviews
  - Ashford
  - 02 Jan 2010 at 16:31
- - 0
  - 0
  Still manages to enchant
  
  This movie was well before it's time, although watching it again through modern movie goers eyes, it can appear dated. Just remember when it was made; ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 99613
- - a customer
  - Falkirk, Scotland
  - 04 May 2005 at 16:37
- - 0
  - 0
  The best film
  
  If you think 50 years has improved film-making you are wrong. This is an elegant, political, emotional and philosophical diamond. A brave film. It is about how ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 241052
- - a customer
  - London, U.K.
  - 06 May 2006 at 14:50
- - 0
  - 0
  Black despair
  
  I first experienced this film at the age of 19 in 1960 the cold war was gaining momentum although still a few years away from the cuban missile crisis I would ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 325083
- - johnpaint
  - North Yorkshire
  - 28 Feb 2005 at 22:04
- - 0
  - 0
  a film of its time
  
  I remember a teacher at school saying how audiences would come out of the cinema in a state of quiet shock, watching it now it has lost a lot of its potency and... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 422585
- - itstinks
  - 573 reviews
  - North of Reading
  - 22 Mar 2007 at 08:26

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Critics' reviews
- 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
- Heavy going indeed as Mr Liberal Conscience himself, Stanley Kramer, wades turgidly through Nevil Shute's story of the... read more on Time Out
- 46646
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:17

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

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- 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 ...