Highly Overrated But Still Good

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Has the writing and production values of a TV show. A bad TV show. And is Milland supposed to be the good guy? Barely an hour ater hearing about the nuclear blast he's buying guns and holding up the hardware store owner. Frankly I saw the whole thing as some kind of right-wing survivalist nutjob's wet dream. Oh, and those hipster rapists? Were they supposed to be scary?

I had never seen this movie until now but yes I was alive during this period and understand the fear and apprehension that we all felt with the drills of hiding under ours desks in school. During one of the drills as we were going under our desks, the teacher hid some of her favorites under a table. I saw a place open under a table and I scooted under there. Within a minute, she pulled me out by the leg and told me to get back under my desk. I guess she did not think I was as worthy to survive as her favorites were. I forgive her. Regarding Mr. Milland, his career did stall out since he was a victim of the "Oscar curse" that has befallen a lot of actors. He deserves respect that he picked himself up and did not let it stop him from working. A lot of people fail to realize with its prestige is acting is also a job and one has to feed their family and pay the bills. He did not sit home and pine for not getting good roles. Another actor whom I admire greatly is Eric Roberts who has about 500 movies to his credit. He must have a very good agent. He was once asked why he was doing work that appeared to be inferior to what he started with. He said that he did not get much work when he was holding out for the "good" parts. Ray Milland probably did some embarrassing work to kept the bills paid and the lights on. He later showed that he had a lot left in him with TV and miniseries performances. His is an example that any honest work is honorable. He had a very important part in Rich Man Poor Man. Good job and rest in peace Mr. Milland. The point is that any honest work is honorable and should be respected. Good job and rest in peace Mr. Milland.

Ray Milland and family (including Frankie without Annette) head off for a camping weekend. As they cruise along, they encounter multiple flashes. It turns out that they see a mushroom cloud forming over Los Angeles. At first they try to return but find out quickly that there is no going back and that numerous cities worldwide have been decimated. Of course, there is mass panic and people turn to the dark side (profiteering, looting, and worse). Milland begins the process of trying to save his family. They head to their camping area but have a series of close calls as they try to get supplies. They are confronted by three hoodlums who will later play a part in their lives. Milland is quite enterprising. His wife is little help, not realizing the danger they are in. He is forced to act as he has never acted. While some of this is a bit trite, it's a decent nuclear holocaust story. I'm not sure the science is quite accurate, but it does depict a kind of anarchy that presents itself.

This was a pretty good film. I was expecting the usual AIP B stuff, but old Ray surprised me here; probably because he directed it. His character was convincingly intense, as he tries to save his family from the dangers of civilization on the brink of chaos. The wife could have benefited from a breakdown, and then recovery, as she showed moxie, but it was misdirected. Not much to say about the daughter; her character was pretty much non-existent, getting no development, except for the implied rape scene, which you just knew was going to happen. Frankie Avalon's character, as the son, was ripe for development when you saw that he liked shooting the guns, but alas, he didn't get much development either. His hair looked great however, throughout the whole movie. The girl that they rescued was the most interesting character besides Ray. The scene where they first encountered her was darkly marvelous. Also, the scene where Ray tells her to "Get dressed, and get out!"was a little over the top, but very much in keeping with Ray's intense character. All in all, it was much better than I expected. I wish TCM would show more "B" movies that have established stars that are in vehicles that aren't always great. That's interesting to me. Watching the same old, great movies is like listening to "classic rock" radio stations where they play the same old songs over, and over when there are some great "B" sides that never get played on the same record.