tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post5570249171334025560..comments2024-03-29T04:57:26.162-04:00Comments on John Kenneth Muir's Reflections on Cult Movies and Classic TV: CULT MOVIE REVIEW: On the Beach (1959)John Kenneth Muirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-66847668261052697702023-10-11T12:37:22.776-04:002023-10-11T12:37:22.776-04:00Film never gets old Film never gets old Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-89548550438514432422023-04-08T10:56:35.470-04:002023-04-08T10:56:35.470-04:00I just watched this film for the first time last n...I just watched this film for the first time last night (Good Friday) and came upon your blog as I was preparing to write about watching it on Good Friday... I think the film has a meaning for the day. I appreciate your review, thanks for posting it. I have read the book twice, once in high school and again in the early 80s, right after college. I remembered enough that I was thinking that morse code transmitter was in Seattle not San Diego. Thanks for your insights on the differences! <br /><br />https://fromarockyhillside.com Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18339789596944683688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-61589147587971790312016-04-23T07:10:36.041-04:002016-04-23T07:10:36.041-04:00Marley, that was a beautiful comment. Thank you.Marley, that was a beautiful comment. Thank you.John Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-36079399015970197452016-04-22T23:00:50.309-04:002016-04-22T23:00:50.309-04:00I was 8 years old in 1959 and my parents took us a...I was 8 years old in 1959 and my parents took us all to watch this film. They believed it was important we understood the nature of nuclear war. I have NEVER forgotten this movie--it touched me at a cellular level and I'm sure shaped my Antiwar stance I took on so vehemently in the sixties. As I child I remember conversations with my parents in the car ride on the way home-it was my first understanding of life and death, mankind and war. They answered all our questions (there were six kids!) I'm an old woman now and my life has been overrun with loss and grief. Pain and suffering and still I find myself grateful for the dance. Always open to each moment that changes how I move through each day. Marley Barrettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-62254315889710410772011-06-06T20:10:02.879-04:002011-06-06T20:10:02.879-04:00An excellent review. I have to admit though, I do ...An excellent review. I have to admit though, I do prefer the made-for-TV remake that aired back in 2000 (available on video, now). Both are well worth a couple of hours of your time if you haven't seen them already (or even if you have).<br /><br />PAUL JONES<br /><i>Towards Yesterday</i>Towards Yesterdayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02952081739361501162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-13087026414901099302011-06-06T07:58:57.141-04:002011-06-06T07:58:57.141-04:00PDXWiz: I agree with you about this film's pow...PDXWiz: I agree with you about this film's power, even fifty years later. It's a haunting masterpiece, and it works, I think, becaue the characters are realistic, not typical movie heroes. It's easy to put yourself in their situation.<br /><br />Le0pard13: Thank you, my friend. I agree that the film is talky, but I love the talkiness. It seems true, it seems real. When you're with these characters, you want to know what they're feeling and thinking, and the talkiness provides a lot of good context and commentary.<br /><br />Thank you, both<br /><br />best,<br />JKMJohn Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-29944259166314595632011-06-06T01:36:00.321-04:002011-06-06T01:36:00.321-04:00You did the film justice, John. It's a great o...You did the film justice, John. It's a great one and certainly reflects its era. Commenter jdigriz and I feel the same about its ending. Yes, it is talky. But, it's talky in the way FAIL SAFE (1964) was, and no less as powerful. I'll undertake Kramer and Lumet's ventures on this subject any day of the week. Thanks for this.le0pard13https://www.blogger.com/profile/09421175808461787862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-76177816878243884122011-06-05T21:12:11.408-04:002011-06-05T21:12:11.408-04:00I agree with your comments in the entry and those ...I agree with your comments in the entry and those above. This is my all-time favorite end-of-the-world film. I have read the book once and seen the film twice. Even though I had seen the film and read the book, it still haunted me on the second viewing in a way no end-of-the-world film ever has. The only other end-of-the-world film that gave me any serious emotional response (other than enjoying the effects, of course) was Armageddon. Every time I have seen it, I've bawled at the end. Must be five times now... But it lacks the haunting qualities of this masterpiece, with an incredible cast that should have won major awards.<br /><br />Gordon LongPDXWizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10884427889989897626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-27765530985511461982011-06-04T12:44:24.835-04:002011-06-04T12:44:24.835-04:00Hello, my friends.
SFF: I do recommend the film, ...Hello, my friends.<br /><br />SFF: I do recommend the film, highly. It's sad and grim, but enitrely worth your energy and attention, and beautifully-produced. Nuclear weapons remain a serious problem...I think the world would be a better place without them, but you're right...some would see such a void as an opportunity, no doubt. Still, it's crazy to think that one lunatic could press a button and destroy everything we've built in a span of minutes. Gruesome.<br /><br />jdigriz: Nothing to be ashamed of in being moved by this film. I must admit, I also got emotional during the final scene between Peter and Mary, and during Gregory Peck's monologue about his wife and children. Very heavy stuff...beautifully rendered and explored.<br /><br />I have heard of the book you mentioned, but not yet read it. I'm afraid it would absolutely terrify me...<br /><br />best,<br />JKMJohn Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-13076284656765470502011-06-03T20:49:01.710-04:002011-06-03T20:49:01.710-04:00Thanks for the review. I'm not embarrassed to ...Thanks for the review. I'm not embarrassed to say I lose it at the end every time I watch it. The shot of Gregory Peck looking at the sky before taking the sub down for the last time always gets me. "How the End Begins", by Ron Rosenbaum demonstrates how close we've come in recent history to nuclear war. It's a fascinating book.jdigrizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17887305269410549709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-70109230764444744282011-06-03T20:44:09.443-04:002011-06-03T20:44:09.443-04:00John
I really have to admit I'm clearly missi...John<br /><br />I really have to admit I'm clearly missing out on this film. Your examination of the film makes it sound like a fairly strong must see and I really think I would enjoy it based on your thoughtful remarks here.<br /><br />Obviously it tackles some big human questions. I must admit I'm not sure there are many political leaders who woould heed your advice. Not to mention there may be a few out there who might find it a nice template for their own designs sadly. <br /><br />Maybe I will check it out one of these fine days. Excellent as always my good friend! sffSFFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04256589316922398158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-87005862879677484852011-06-03T15:59:45.417-04:002011-06-03T15:59:45.417-04:00Hi everyone,
Mich: Thank you for the compliment. ...Hi everyone,<br /><br />Mich: Thank you for the compliment. I would have loved to have sat in on that class about post-apocalyptic cinema. Sounds very intriguing.<br /><br />Jane: I agree with you about On the Beach, a great and deeply affecting film; in large part due to the great performances. Right on.<br /><br />Claudiu: I never saw the year 2000 made-for-TV version, but I imagine it's not nearly so good as the 1959 film. This movie is very long, however, over 2 hours and fifteen minutes, I believe, so it isn't really ideal for a quick watch.<br /><br />Anonymous: Well, fair enough! I always appreciate reader feedback, even if it isn't positive. I am just about winding down my concentration on dystopia/ post-apocalyptic films, so maybe that's a good thing. In the future, leave a name, though, all right? Feedback like yours always carries more weight when there's a name attached.<br /><br />best to all, and great comments!<br /><br />best,<br />JKMJohn Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-88813458010786672472011-06-03T15:48:22.227-04:002011-06-03T15:48:22.227-04:00I love your writing, John, but I have to say that ...I love your writing, John, but I have to say that I'm burnt out on the post-apocalyptic/nuclear war topic here. I'd love to see you tackle a few items in the near future that step away from those sorts of films.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-6257646537386236652011-06-03T10:55:48.700-04:002011-06-03T10:55:48.700-04:00I saw the 2000 version and I found it... not very ...I saw the 2000 version and I found it... not very convincing, even though it has it's strong moments.<br /><br /> I had no idea it was a remake. I'll give it a try, even though my attention span is very short, these days :).<br /><br /> Thanks.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06741077654926599386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-69661726387960867322011-06-03T10:22:15.785-04:002011-06-03T10:22:15.785-04:00I just saw this film for the first time about a ye...I just saw this film for the first time about a year ago, after many friends had been bugging me to see it for forever. It's great, for all of the reasons you mention. Excellent performances all around.Jane Considinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-65777960864461136852011-06-03T10:09:28.211-04:002011-06-03T10:09:28.211-04:00I saw that film in college (the class was called &...I saw that film in college (the class was called "Visions of the Apocalypse in the Media") and loved it!<br /><br />Great review.Michhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12456803425068822920noreply@blogger.com