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?
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Gregory Peck
Dwight Towers
Ava Gardner
Moira Davidson
Fred Astaire
Julian Osborn
Anthony Perkins
Lt. Peter Holmes
Donna Anderson
Mary Holmes
Guy Doleman
Lt. Cmdr. Farrel
John Meillon
Ralph Swain
Harp McGuire
Lt. Sunderstrom
Lola Brooks
Lt. Hosgood
Ken Wayne
Lt. Benson
Director
Stanley Kramer
Screenplay
John Paxton
Tagline
"The Biggest Story of Our Time!"
Status
Released
Original Language
EN
Budget
$2,900,000
Revenue
$2,200,000
Production
Stanley Kramer Productions
John Chard
September 13, 2015
Like watching paint dry. Stanley Kramer and John Paxton adapt from Nevil Shute's novel. Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, Anthony Perkins and Donna Anderson star, with music by Ernest Gold and cinematography by Giuseppe Rotunno. After a global nuclear war, the inhabitants of Australia realise that the radiation clouds are heading their way. A group of people try to come to terms with ...
Frank
June 10, 2017
Well acted story with an obvious anti-war theme, written during the cold war provided an interesting portrayal of how different people may react facing impending doom. Fearful, Angry, Fatalistic. It developed feelings for the characters as they dealt with the situation each in their own way. Overall, at the end, there was a sadness that prevailed and led one to contemplate the possibility of t...
CinemaSerf
September 5, 2025
With nuclear warfare having eradicated most of the population of the world, it seems that only Australia still has a population - and they know that it is only a matter of time before the irradiated dust reaches their coastline and death will follow. Just ahead of that, though, is the USS Sawfish under the command of the now widowed “Towers” (Gregory Peck) who arrives with a grateful but demoralis...
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