On the Beach Trivia Quiz

Answer:

"On the Beach" starred Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Anthony Perkins, and a terrific Fred Astaire (in a rare dramatic role). The film took place in 1964 after a nuclear war had apparently wiped out the entire planet except for a few spots in the extreme southern hemisphere. We're told that 'Our scientists disagree as to when the radiation will reach Australia... but the Prime Minister reports no proof of survival of human life anywhere except here.'

An American nuclear SUBMARINE commanded by Gregory Peck docks in MELBOURNE, having survived the attack while at sea. The crew briefly gets to enjoy shore time, where at first, life appears to go on as normal, but they are tasked with taking the sub up to Point Barrow, ALASKA to test the air quality. The theory is that snow and rain may have forced the radiation to the ground and that the levels in the air will have decreased, thus giving hope for humans to survive in Antarctica. They also need to stop in San Diego, as a mysterious gibberish Morse Code message is being received from there.

The air quality in the Arctic turns out to be worse than it was in the mid-Pacific, so the sub then heads down to take a peak at SAN FRANCISCO. From the bay, the periscope shows a city perfectly intact but devoid of life. A crew member from that city jumps ship to return home and decides to stay there even though his family is dead. The sub then heads to San Diego, where a crew member wearing protective gear heads into a power station to track down the Morse Code message. He finds that the string from a window blind has wrapped around a COKE BOTTLE, and when a breeze moves the blind, the bottle taps out the gibberish message.

The sub crew then returns to Melbourne, knowing that the end will be soon. While citizens line up to get SUICIDE PILLS to take in lieu of suffering through radiation sickness, others pursue their hobbies for a final time: The city holds a GRAND PRIX RACE and opens TROUT FISHING season early. Drunken fisherman sing "WALTZING MATILDA", a song that is played throughout the film. Others prefer spending their time spiritually in prayer meetings in the city square under a "THERE IS STILL TIME...BROTHER" banner.

The sub crew votes to return home to the U.S., knowing that they won't make it that far in their remaining time. The ending film shots show fewer people on the streets and at the prayer meeting until the streets are empty and the "There is Still Time... Brother" banner waves desolately in the wind.

The wrong answers (War Room, We'll Meet Again, Washington D.C., Bodily Fluids, B-52 Bomber, Mandrake) were from another nuclear apocalyptic film, 1964's "Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb".