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.
On the Beach (1959)
Plot summary
Directed by: Stanley Kramer
Starring: Gregory Peck, Fred Astaire, Anthony Perkins, Ava Gardner
The last few million humans live in the southern hemisphere -- mainly Australia. The northern hemisphere has been almost totally vaporized by nuclear war. What's left is cooking in a lethal dose of radiation, which is drifting inexorably south. We follow the lives of an American nuclear sub commander (his wife and children dead); his Australian girlfriend, Moira; an Australian naval officer with a young wife in denial and with a newborn baby; and a scientist who feels responsible. They live their familiar lives in whatever time is left, vainly hoping to find an escape.
Guy Holladay
More mistakes in On the Beach
Adm. Bridie: Would you have a glass of sherry - with an old man?
Lt. Hosgood (Bridie's secretary): No, sir. But, I would very much like to have one with you, sir.
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.
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