On the Beach
1959
****
Director: Stanley Kramer
Cast: Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Anthony Perkins, Fred Astaire, Donna Anderson, John Tate, Guy Doleman
Nuclear holocaust has ravaged the Earth and the remains of humanity wait for the fallout to reach the last safe haven, Australia. This grim and realistic Cold War drama from Nevil Shute's novel offers no hope to the survivors (or the audience). The story is sad but heartfelt, and it's not afraid to pose big questions. How would you spend your last moments alive? What would you do if you knew you couldn't protect your loved ones? Five years later Stanley Kubrick made fun of this very same scenario in Dr. Strangelove.
