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What makes it different from others?

Such a frustrating disappointment

A Disappointing Continuation

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

I recently watched the movie on DVD with my eleven year old grandson who wanted to watch a movie that dealt with nuclear war. Ironically I was his age when the events of the movie were to have taken place. He was every bit as stunned and transfixed as I was when I first saw it. As for me now in my 60s the very overwhelming issues of the survival and/or destruction of humanity from that era actually brought tears to my eyes. Having read the book I must agree the movie was superior in touching the subject of nuclear annihilation.

The film does a good job developing the premise with a wide array of characters, each with their own intrigues pertaining to the plot - that of the end of the world. Through this apocalyptic narrative, each character reveals a different set of aspirations, preoccupying thoughts, and fears. The film does very well at sustaining an enjoyable framework for just about the whole 'first act', but the problem isn't nearly the take-off but rather the landing. It seems the film will end about 3, possibly 4 times, and all the tension it builds resolves, and yet it keeps going on, before deciding to end with an abrupt conclusion. It's too long for what it is, and the extra footage isn't necessary at all. It seems the whole tension/structural aspect has been over-managed, over-done. The apparent inherent logic seems to be one way, and then we're given an encore, and then another...and it only works against it. There's a lot of good in this film - good acting, entertaining content, somewhat interesting intrigues with their philosophical implications and romances...but it's just about half an hour too long.

On The Beach is directed by Stanley Kramer, has a screenplay by John Paxton, is based on the novel by Nevil Shute and stars Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, Anthony Perkins and Donna Anderson.On The Beach is set in 1964 where following a Nuclear war the majority of the worlds population has been killed, apart from some people who were at sea at the time and the population of Australia. The deadly radiation is making it's way towards Australia and the citizens and any survivors from other countries who've made their way there must come to terms with their impending doom.The US submarine USS Sawfish commanded by Captain Dwight Towers(Gregory Peck)arrives in Australia where Towers and his crew await the end of the world. Towers befriends Australian Navy Lieutenant Peter Holmes(Anthony Perkins)who's young wife Mary(Donna Anderson)is struggling to accept that they and their new born daughter will soon lose their lives.Towers also meets Moira Davidson(Ava Gardner) a weary woman who uses alcohol as a way to cope with what humanity is facing. Towers and Moira fall in love and for a while bring some comfort to each other. Towers is a widower who's family were killed in the Nuclear war although he still holds onto a small hope that somehow they may have survived. Towers also meets Julian Osborne(Fred Astaire)a scientist who helped create the atom bomb and bitterly regrets that invention and the military who used these weapons.As they seek to come to terms with their situation a radio transmission is received from America which could indicate survivors there. Towers, Osborne and the Sawfish crew go to investigate.Bleak and chilling On The Beach makes us question the sense of having so many Nuclear and biological weapons when just having one is one too many. Both the film and the novel make you think how you would react to the world ending, would you pretend it wasn't going to happen? would you get sick or would you commit suicide to prevent a horrible death? The films characters all have to face these questions and Mary and Peter Holmes in particular struggle to decide when faced with suicide or agonising radiation sickness. It's an horrific choice none of us should ever have to face. Being released so close to the Cold War this film no doubt struck a powerful chord with audiences who thought they might well be facing the worlds end soon themselves.Chilling,thought provoking and deeply moving with brilliant performances On The Beach is an unforgettable experience. The films use of the tune Waltzing Matilda is haunting and it works really well with the film especially during the final few minutes.

In this, my 65th year of life today, I have have enjoyed so many great and memorable films. But in all that time, this wonderful B&W classic remains my single favorite. It's one of those gems that once you see it you can never forget it, and how many movies can you say that about today? This truly inspired piece of filmmaking was remarkable from the start. The amazing ensemble cast, starring the wonderful Gregory Peck in one the best roles of his life, to a memorable and stunning Ava Gardner in the sunset of her career in a role she was born to play, and the dark horse in this remarkable drama, Fred Astaire, in a nuanced performance that should have won him the Oscar. While never really known as a dramatic actor, more as a song and dance man, this was the shining, glorious moment of his entire serious movie career. Add to this splendid line-up the always underrated Tony Perkins as the young Lieutenant, and you have pure screen magic. Under the subtle guiding hand of Stanley Kramer and based upon the riveting novel by Neville Shute, this masterpiece of a post-Apocalyptic future remains a film for the ages. WATCH IT.