Review of On the Beach (1959) by Scott S — 05 Aug 2009
On the Beach (1959) -- [4.0] -- Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Anthony Perkins, and Fred Astaire (in his first dramatic role) play residents of Australia, the last bastion of human civilization after America and Russia have destroyed the rest of the world in nuclear combat.
For a doomsday movie, it's an amazingly low-key affair. No panic, no pandemonium. Just a bunch of people calmly waiting to die. Director Stanley Kramer was reportedly going for realism. If so, I call shenanigans.
The apocalypse will not be a civilized affair. Besides asking for too much suspension of disbelief, "On the Beach" is also long, often boring, and none of the performances are particularly good.
But I'll give it credit for one thing: a very beautiful kiss between Peck and Gardner.
This review of On the Beach (1959) was written by Scott S on 05 Aug 2009.
On the Beach has generally received positive reviews.
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