On the Beach (1959)
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- Approved
- 2h 14min
- Drama, Romance
- 17 Dec 1959 (USA)
- Movie
After a global nuclear war, the residents of Australia must come to terms with the fact that all life will be destroyed in a matter of months.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 7 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Gregory Peck | ... |
Cmdr. Dwight Lionel Towers
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| Ava Gardner | ... |
Moira Davidson
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| Fred Astaire | ... |
Julian Osborn
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| Anthony Perkins | ... |
Lt. Peter Holmes
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| Donna Anderson | ... |
Mary Holmes
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| John Tate | ... |
Adm. Bridie
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| Harp McGuire | ... |
Lt. Sunderstrom
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Lola Brooks | ... |
Lt. Hosgood
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| Ken Wayne | ... |
Lt. Benson
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| Guy Doleman | ... |
Lt. Cmdr. Farrel
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Richard Meikle | ... |
Davis
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| John Meillon | ... |
Ralph Swain
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Joe McCormick | ... |
Ackerman
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Lou Vernon | ... |
Bill Davidson
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| Kevin Brennan | ... |
Dr. King
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Basil Buller-Murphy | ... |
Sir Douglas Froude
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John Casson | ... |
Salvation Army captain
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| Paddy Moran | ... |
Stevens
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| Grant Taylor | ... |
Morgan
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Harvey Adams | ... |
Sykes (uncredited)
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Peter Ashton | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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| Roland Barnes | ... |
Horseman on the beach (uncredited)
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Jim Barrett | ... |
Chrysler (uncredited)
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Ken Baumgartner | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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| Jack Boyer | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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C. Harding Brown | ... |
Dykers (uncredited)
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Norman Cook | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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Colin Crane | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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Gerry Duggan | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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Keith Eden | ... |
Dr. Fletcher (uncredited)
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Lucian Endicott | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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George Fairfax | ... |
Party guest (uncredited)
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Stuart Finch | ... |
Jones (uncredited)
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Paddy Fitzallen | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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Ronald Fortt | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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Cyril Gardner | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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| Frank Gatliff | ... |
Radio Officer (uncredited)
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Katherine Hill | ... |
Jennifer Holmes (uncredited)
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Collins Hilton | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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Brian James | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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Joseph Jenkins | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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| Delos Jewkes | ... |
Solo for Waltzing Matilda (uncredited) (voice)
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| Audine Leith | ... |
Betty (uncredited)
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Joan MacDonald | ... |
Unknown (uncredited)
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Paul Maloney | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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Ray Marshall | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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John Morgan | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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Peter O'Shaughnessy | ... |
Jorgensen Associate (uncredited)
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Rita Pauncefort | ... |
Party Guest (uncredited)
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Carey Paul Peck | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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Elwyn Peers | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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John Royle | ... |
Senior Officer (uncredited)
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David Sale | ... |
Extra at party (uncredited)
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Jerry Ian Seals | ... |
Fogarty (uncredited)
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| Al Thomas | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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Mario Vecchi | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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Peter Williams | ... |
Prof. Jorgensen (uncredited)
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Hugh Wills | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
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Clive Winmill | ... |
Lighthouse Keeper (uncredited)
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Norman Yemm | ... |
Submarine Crewman (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Stanley Kramer | ||
Written by
| John Paxton | ... | (screenplay) |
| Nevil Shute | ... | (novel) |
Produced by
| Stanley Kramer | ... | producer |
Music by
| Ernest Gold | ||
Cinematography by
| Giuseppe Rotunno | ||
Editing by
| Frederic Knudtson | ||
Production Design by
| Rudolph Sternad | ||
Art Direction by
| Fernando Carrere | ||
Makeup Department
| John O'Gorman | ... | makeup artist |
| Frank Prehoda | ... | makeup artist |
| Jane Shugrue | ... | hair stylist |
Production Management
| Clem Beauchamp | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Ivan Volkman | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Art Cole | ... | property master |
Sound Department
| Walter Elliott | ... | sound effects |
| Hans Wetzel | ... | sound engineer |
Special Effects by
| Lee Zavitz | ... | special effects |
Stunts
| Bill Hunter | ... | Swimming Double (uncredited) |
| Carey Loftin | ... | stunt double: Fred Astaire (uncredited) / stunts (uncredited) |
| Harvey Parry | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Dale Van Sickel | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Daniel L. Fapp | ... | photographer: auto race (as Daniel Fapp) |
| Allen Grice | ... | chief gaffer |
| Martin Kashuk | ... | assistant company grip |
| Morris Rosen | ... | company grip |
| Ross Wood | ... | camera operator |
| Robert Wright | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Joe King | ... | wardrobe |
| Eva Friend | ... | wardrobe assistant (uncredited) |
| Joan Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Sam Freedle | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Charles A. Lockwood | ... | technical advisor (as Vice-Admiral Charles A. Lockwood U.S.N. [Ret.]) |
| A.A. Norris-Smith | ... | liaison: Royal Australian Navy (as Lt. Commander A.A. Norris-Smith) |
| Bill Hunter | ... | swimming double (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Stanley Kramer Productions (presents)
- Lomitas Productions
Distributors
- United Artists (1959) (United States) (theatrical)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1959) (Norway) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1959) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1959) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1959) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1960) (Argentina) (theatrical) (as Artistas Unidos)
- American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1963) (United States) (tv)
- 20th Century Fox Video (1982) (United States) (VHS)
- CBS/Fox (1983) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- CBS/Fox (1984) (United States) (VHS) (For MGM/UA Home Entertainment)
- MGM Home Entertainment (1990) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1991) (United States) (VHS)
- Image Entertainment (1993) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1996) (United States) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (United States) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (United States) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- 9Gem (2023) (Australia) (tv)
- Epoca (Argentina) (VHS)
- HanseSound (2019) (Germany) (DVD) (and Blu-ray)
- Kino Lorber (United States) (DVD) (dvdr)
- Studio Hamburg Enterprises (2019) (Germany) (DVD) (release through)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Atelier Fontana (Miss Gardner's wardrobe by)
- Royal Australian Navy (acknowledgement)
- The Officers and Men of H.M.A.S. Melbourne (acknowledgement)
- The Officers and Men of H.M.S. Andrew (acknowledgement)
- MGM Home Entertainment (VHS package design)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
In 1964, atomic war wipes out humanity in the northern hemisphere; one American submarine finds temporary safe haven in Australia, where life-as-usual covers growing despair. In denial about the loss of his wife and children in the holocaust, American Captain Towers meets careworn but gorgeous Moira Davidson, who begins to fall for him. The sub returns after reconnaissance a month (or less) before the end; will Towers and Moira find comfort with each other?
Written by Rod Crawford |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The Biggest Story Of our Time! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $2,900,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Fred Astaire launched his non-musical, dramatic acting career with this film. Stanley Kramer couldn't decide who to cast in this role until his wife suggested Astaire while watching one of his films on TV. See more » |
| Goofs | Before the submarine's deployment on its proposed 13,000 mile round trip, Dwight is asked if he has enough power on-board his nuclear sub. A nuclear sub's range is only limited by the amount of food it can carry and the endurance of the crew. The time between refueling a nuclear sub is measured in years if not decades. Plus, the sub could easily cover the 13,000 miles in three weeks or less. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into 365 Days, also Known as a Year (2019). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Waltzing Matilda See more » |
| Crazy Credits | The following acknowledgment appears in the opening credits: "We acknowledge with appreciation the assistance given by the Royal Australian Navy and, in particular, by the officers and men of H.M.A.S. Melbourne and H.M.S. Andrew." See more » |
| Quotes |
Julian Osborne:
The war started when people accepted the idiotic principle that peace could be maintained by arranging to defend themselves with weapons they couldn't possibly use without committing suicide. See more » |