On the Beach

Continuity mistake: In the part when the two American officers are looking around in Anchorage, USA, and come across the dead woman at the News Studios you can clearly see her blink 2 or 3 times as the camera pans out.

Continuity mistake: When Moira is watching the submarine leave during the last scene, the deck is nearly submerged and waves are washing over it. When the shot changes to the Captain on the conning tower, the deck behind him is dry as a bone.

Continuity mistake: During the long shots in final scene as the submarine is leaving, the wind is so strong that the flag flies straight out behind the conning tower. During the close-ups of the crew, their shirts and hats show no wind at all.

Continuity mistake: During the Grand Prix when the burning car is next to Julian, he has three cars immediately behind him in the close-up shot. When the shot quickly changes to a wide view as the burning car crashes, Julian is now behind the other cars.

Continuity mistake: Two scenes in the movie show a closeup of the tower on the submarine with a plexiglass shield in front of the actors. Both times you can make out the reflection of trees as the camera moves.

Other mistake: According to the plot, no life is possible in the Northern Hemisphere by the time the film is set. Yet, when the sailor who has been sent ashore to look around the San Diego refinery enters the premises (more precisely, when we see the smoking-prohibited sign on our right and his left) a bird can be seen flying in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.

More mistakes in On the Beach

Moira Davidson: All I want to know is: if everybody was so smart, why didn't they know what would happen?
Dwight Towers: They did.
Moira Davidson: Well, I - I can't take it. I - oh, yes, I can take it! But, it's unfair. It's unfair because I didn't do anything. And nobody I know did anything.

More quotes from On the Beach

Trivia: When Moira and Bill Davidson are strolling in the pasture, they pause to admire a beautiful mare that is posing for them, and Bill offers the horse something to eat from the palm of his hand (sugar cubes or some other treat, presumably, but it's not visible). However, the horse does not react to the treat nor eat anything that Bill offers, because the actor's hand was actually empty. The trained horse was obeying cues from her trainer, off-camera, and only her trainer carried the real treats.

Charles Austin Miller

More trivia for On the Beach

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