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. With the days and hours dwindling, each person confronts the grim situation in his or her own way.
The great merit of this picture, aside from its entertaining qualities, is the fact that it carries a passionate conviction that man is worth saving, after all.
Kramer's apocalyptic drama is too verbose, replete with "message" speeches, but the text is intelligent, reflecting the Cold War mentality, and well-acted by Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire (in his first nonmusical role) and Anthony Perkins.
While heartbreaking and touching, it's hard to imagine that riots aren't rampant and that martial law isn't required, but hey, it's a movie, and quite a good -- if overlong -- one, at that.
Cinema Crazed
July 09, 2016
Director Kramer's drama is a bleak and heart wrenching tale of the end of the world...
