Panic in the Year Zero - an oldie but goodie

[Joelist]

I recently was hunting around for something to watch as I was waiting for an appointment and had 2 hours before I needed to roll and found this film on Amazon. It is one of the first of the "nuclear war" films and stars Ray Milland and Frankie Avalon. I went into it and was pleasantly surprised. Here's why:

First, the nuclear war element was actually a background component. They could have used pretty much any kind of global disaster here. The film really is a lot more about the effects of the event on social order and such, viewed through the eyes of one family.

Second, it is acted well. Ray Milland as the father definitely was well cast in the role, especially as he slowly becomes (to his horror) in part what he was fighting to prevent his family from becoming, namely brutal and ruthless. The wife (Jean Hagen) is played well and the son (Avalon) and daughter (Mary Mitchell) also play their parts properly.

Third, especially considering it is and older cold war era film it sets tone very well. Like I said earlier the war itself is background and there is really nothing at all about the "enemy" (they aren't even named and we only hear about war progress rarely and in radio broadcasts). The whole tone is about social breakdown and it is pervasive.

So if you don't mind an oldie and are in a mood for one that is deeper than its title lets on, this may be one you'll like.

 

[Gate_Boarder]

I recently was hunting around for something to watch as I was waiting for an appointment and had 2 hours before I needed to roll and found this film on Amazon. It is one of the first of the "nuclear war" films and stars Ray Milland and Frankie Avalon. I went into it and was pleasantly surprised. Here's why:

First, the nuclear war element was actually a background component. They could have used pretty much any kind of global disaster here. The film really is a lot more about the effects of the event on social order and such, viewed through the eyes of one family.

Second, it is acted well. Ray Milland as the father definitely was well cast in the role, especially as he slowly becomes (to his horror) in part what he was fighting to prevent his family from becoming, namely brutal and ruthless. The wife (Jean Hagen) is played well and the son (Avalon) and daughter (Mary Mitchell) also play their parts properly.

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So if you don't mind an oldie and are in a mood for one that is deeper than its title lets on, this may be one you'll like.

A very interesting movie I remember watching live - way back when. I liked when Milland went survivour mode, pulling out his gun to throw fear into all those who caused him grief.

There was an intersting scene when they needed gas. Then he tells his whole family to basically go underground and to not tell anyone where their camper is.

Fear running amuk. Not bad for an 'el cheapo' movie.

 

[Joelist]

Exactly. The whole movie is about people panicking in the big crisis. It's also good how Milland while never intending to be ruthless winds up being ruthless. In that respect it is a good character piece.

 

[Overmind One]

Exactly. The whole movie is about people panicking in the big crisis. It's also good how Milland while never intending to be ruthless winds up being ruthless. In that respect it is a good character piece.

Im gonna watch this tonight.

 

[Joelist]

Im gonna watch this tonight.

Did you?

 

[Overmind One]

Did you?

No, I watched more of The Secret Circle. I will have to watch it today. Lazy, hot Sunday today in Redondo Beach!

 

[Tripler]

Watched it yesturday and it is very good accept for the horridly stupid 6t's music which drives me nuts . Deffinately tells it like it would be . Mankind are a-holes

 

[Bluce Ree]

No, I watched more of The Secret Circle. I will have to watch it today. Lazy, hot Sunday today in Redondo Beach!

Bastard. It's 46F up here. I think I'm gonna leave next week.

 

[Joelist]

OM is in the tiny portion of the US that is above normal temps.

 

[Overmind One]

OM is in the tiny portion of the US that is above normal temps.

I have queued this up right now. Ill come back when I have something to say about it.

 

[Overmind One]

Bastard. It's 46F up here. I think I'm gonna leave next week.

It was in the low 90s yesterday, and this whole week has been hot.

 

[Bluce Ree]

It was in the low 90s yesterday, and this whole week has been hot.

Where's the "I hate you" reward button?

 

[Overmind One]

It was in the low 90s yesterday, and this whole week has been hot.

Right now at 9:30pm, it is 75F.

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=redondo beach weather

California only seems to have two seasons....Hot and Cool. Inside the Hot season is breezy hot, humid hot, and dry cloudless sky hot (desert hot). In the Cool season, we get windy cool, rainy cool, and cold cool (Californians consider anything below 50 F cold). In place of snowstorms and blizzards, we get torrential rains and flooding around February through April.

About this movie, the times it was made defined it. The music was totally 1960s, the clothing, and the message. But it was enjoyable to watch the changes in the characters. The writing still holds up today, if the premise doesn’t. Worth watching! I was 2 years old when it came out.

 

[Joelist]

Yup. The music and clothing would be early 1960s of course. The message was not really time locked as it was a lot more about people's reactions in big crises and the character changes as you noted. I liked how Ray Milland reacts when it dawns on him that he is turning into pretty much the savage he was trying to protect his family from.

 

[Overmind One]

Yup. The music and clothing would be early 1960s of course. The message was not really time locked as it was a lot more about people's reactions in big crises and the character changes as you noted. I liked how Ray Milland reacts when it dawns on him that he is turning into pretty much the savage he was trying to protect his family from.

Agreed. The overall message is timeless and accurate. This was definitely about the characters and their development over the story.

 

[Gate_Boarder]

I recently was hunting around for something to watch as I was waiting for an appointment and had 2 hours before I needed to roll and found this film on Amazon. It is one of the first of the "nuclear war" films and stars Ray Milland and Frankie Avalon. I went into it and was pleasantly surprised. Here's why:

First, the nuclear war element was actually a background component. They could have used pretty much any kind of global disaster here. The film really is a lot more about the effects of the event on social order and such, viewed through the eyes of one family.

Second, it is acted well. Ray Milland as the father definitely was well cast in the role, especially as he slowly becomes (to his horror) in part what he was fighting to prevent his family from becoming, namely brutal and ruthless. The wife (Jean Hagen) is played well and the son (Avalon) and daughter (Mary Mitchell) also play their parts properly.

Third, especially considering it is and older cold war era film it sets tone very well. Like I said earlier the war itself is background and there is really nothing at all about the "enemy" (they aren't even named and we only hear about war progress rarely and in radio broadcasts). The whole tone is about social breakdown and it is pervasive.

So if you don't mind an oldie and are in a mood for one that is deeper than its title lets on, this may be one you'll like.

In the same vain as "Panic In The Year Zero" we have these hidden gems.

Do you enjoy 'the commies are coming, the commies are comming' films from the 1950s? Or how about those stop worrying and enjoy the thought of being enveloped by the atomic mist movies? This selection might be right up your alley.

For those who won't wake up in a cold sweat, this old offering from 1952 might fill in an hour or two. Slightly comical, but it sure has similarities to a modestly successful movie in the 80s. No "Wolverines" in this one but I wonder if the writer of "Red Dawn" had ever seen this film. P-51 Lightnings in the Russian air Force - possibly 2nd World War lend-lease?

Invasion USA​

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It is amazing! Here I thought it would take me an hour to find this old classic. Knowing the name of an actor, Gerald Mohr acting in "The Case of The Final Fade-out, always leads you down the perfect road and maybe saves you time in the process.

As another selection, I can not see how anybody has missed this classic: directed by Roger Corman.

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In the days of biblical purification I can see who survives this one. I am betting against ... as the one who will survive to tell a tale when "The Day The World Ended".