On the Beach (1959): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
On the Beach is a 1959 sci-fi drama directed by Stanley Kramer, starring Gregory Peck, Anthony Perkins and Donna Anderson. It is based on On the Beach by Nevil Shute. It runs 2 hours 14 minutes and earned $11,271 worldwide. It was nominated for 2 Oscars. Critics gave it 55 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 14m (134 min)
- Director
- Stanley Kramer
- Studio
- United Artists
- Based on
- On the Beach by Nevil Shute
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is On the Beach About?
The premise of On the Beach without spoilers, adapted from On the Beach by Nevil Shute. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Following a nuclear war that has annihilated most of the world, a U.S. naval officer and his crew await the arrival of deadly radiation clouds in Australia. As they face their impending doom, the captain finds himself drawn to a vibrant Australian woman. They grapple with morality, hope, and the meaning of life in the face of extinction, while others attempt to deny the inevitable.
On the Beach Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- submarine
- nuclear holocaust
- nuclear holocaust aftermath
- 1960s
- post apocalypse
- global catastrophe
- nightgown
- woman wears a two piece swimsuit
- man hits a woman's bottom with an oar
- sleeping pill
- doomsday scenario
- neo noir horror
+38 more Show fewer
- dystopian sci fi
- australia
- nuclear fallout
- radiation
- nuclear war
- end of mankind
- based on novel
- catastrophe
- melbourne australia
- social commentary
- drunkenness
- marriage
- singing
- golden gate bridge san francisco
- 1950s
- reference to idaho
- reference to connecticut
- reference to iwo jima
- reference to annapolis maryland
- lieutenant the military rank
- commander the military rank
- admiral the military rank
- baby
- reference to queen elizabeth ii
- captain the military rank
- framed photograph
- ship
- military uniform
- reference to shakespeare's king lear
- san diego california
- binoculars
- jumping into water
- playing pool
- husband kisses his wife's hand
- husband wife relationship
- dancing
- street life
- woman knocks on a door wth her shoe
On the Beach Cast
Gregory Peck leads the cast, with Anthony Perkins and Donna Anderson. Directed by Stanley Kramer; 10 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Stanley Kramer
Also Starring in On the Beach
· 6 moreMore from Stanley Kramer
More films directed by Stanley Kramer, best-rated first: Inherit the Wind, Judgment at Nuremberg, The Defiant Ones and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.
On the Beach Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave On the Beach 55 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 55 Metascore
User score 6.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 66% User score
See on TMDB
On the Beach Plot Summary
What happens in On the Beach from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 16 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The year is 1964, and the aftermath of a catastrophic nuclear war has left the northern hemisphere devastated. The USS Sawfish, an American nuclear submarine, now sails the vast expanse of the mid-Pacific, making its way toward the seemingly untouched shores of Australia. Commodore Dwight Towers, portrayed by Gregory Peck, and his crew live in a state of suspended existence, each day marked by the creeping threat of radioactive winds from the North that promise to obliterate all life as they know it.
Full summary
The whole story of On the Beach, scene by scene
On the Beach Box Office
On the Beach grossed $11,271 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$11.3K
- International
- $11.3K
On the Beach Awards & Nominations
On the Beach was nominated for 2 Oscars. The 6 nominations come from 3 ceremonies, the most at the Golden Globes 1960.
6 nominations3 ceremonies
-
Golden Globes 1960 3 nominations- Nominated Best Director – Stanley Kramer
- Nominated Best Film - Drama
- Nominated Best Supporting Actor – Fred Astaire
-
Oscars 1960 2 nominations- Nominated Film Editing
- Nominated Music (Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture)
-
BAFTA 1960 1 nomination- Nominated Best Foreign Actress – Ava Gardner
On the Beach Trailers & Videos
The trailer of On the Beach.
How Well Do You Know On the Beach?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What year does 'On the Beach' take place?
Cars in On the Beach
23 cars on screen, including the 1957 Austin-Healey 100/6 and the 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza.
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1957 Austin-Healey 100/6 Important role -
1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Important role -
1954 Austin-Healey 100/4 Minor role -
1956 Chevrolet Corvette C1 Minor role
On the Beach Also Known As
29 alternative titles, including “La hora final” and “Le Dernier Rivage”.
- Also known as
-
- La hora final
- Le Dernier Rivage
- L'ultima spiaggia
- 碧波金沙
- A Hora Final
- Az utolsó part
- Das letzte Ufer
- Den Siste Bredd
- Kumsalda
- На берегу
- Na plazi
- Όσο θα υπαρχη ο κόσμος
+17 more Show fewer
- Ostatni brzeg
- På Stranden
- Ultimul țărm
- Viimeisellä rannalla
- На пляжі
- 海濱
- Na břehu
- На брега
- L’hora final
- על החוף
- 그날이 오면
- Pe plajă
- Rannal
- 渚にて
- Последња обала
- Όσο θα Υπάρχει ο Κόσμος
- 海滨
Seen On the Beach?
Movies Like On the Beach
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including On the Beach, Last Woman on Earth and Forbidden Beach.
On the Beach FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of On the Beach, each answered in a sentence.
How long is On the Beach?
On the Beach runs 2 hours 14 minutes (134 minutes).
When was On the Beach released?
On the Beach was released on December 17, 1959.
Who directed On the Beach?
On the Beach was directed by Stanley Kramer.
More films by Stanley Kramer Who is in the cast of On the Beach?
On the Beach stars Gregory Peck, Anthony Perkins and Donna Anderson, among 10 credited actors.
How much did On the Beach make at the box office?
On the Beach grossed $11,271 worldwide.
How is On the Beach rated?
On the Beach has 55 on Metacritic and 66% on TMDB.
Is On the Beach based on a book?
Yes. On the Beach is adapted from On the Beach by Nevil Shute.
Was On the Beach nominated for any awards?
On the Beach received 6 nominations across 3 ceremonies.
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