Panic in Year Zero (1962)

[CountryGent]

All this Cold War talk has inspired me to look up some classics from that period. I'll get the party started with the 1962 Panic in Year Zero. It stars Ray Milland, Jean Hagen, and Frankie Avalon and it is a classic SHTF film. Enough yakety-yak, now showing at the NWFA Drive In:

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[jim97701]

Thanks for posting that, great old movie.

 

[kilimanjaro]

That played for long enough in my town back in 1962 that I had to see it about four times for the Saturday matinee. Found the DVD a few years back, it's still a good film, from the era when even B-movies had Oscar-winning players in them.

 

[Guardian 380]

All this Cold War talk has inspired me to look up some classics from that period. I'll get the party started with the 1962 Panic in Year Zero. It stars Ray Milland, Jean Hagen, and Frankie Avalon and it is a classic SHTF film. Enough yakety-yak, now showing at the NWFA Drive In:

Thanks for that. I love sharing the old time movies with my son.

 

[HuckleberryFun]

I wasn't born yet when it was made, but saw it later on TV.
Love those classic old Doomsday flicks.

 

[etrain16]

Interesting movie. Never heard of it before - started watching it for a few moments last week just to see what's up, ended up watching the whole thing. I was actually quite surprised that they focused so much on the threat that others face toward you and your family, and how quickly we can descend into anarchy/WROL in a very short period of time.

Interesting too that Frankie Avalon plays the son - I forgot he was an actor too.

 

[AMProducts]

I actually have this on DVD

 

[DunRanull]

thanks for posting that... been years since I'd seen it- it's an oldie and a goodie. Thank God it hasn't happened... yet...

 

[Gonzales]

Good movie. First time I had seen it. With a few billion more people now, I wonder how far they would have gotten these days. Bug out vs in.

 

[CountryGent]

Back from the grave (cue theremin music), due to this. And an update:

Enjoy.

 

[ferret427]

1983 TV movie The Day After. Gave me nightmares as a kid. Lived in Wyoming and had the MX missile thing going on there. We were supposedly a prime target for a strike. Was on the radio all the time in the news...then this show came along.

I wasn't thinking of the bullies in school or the Hells Angels that took over town in the Summer, all I could think of was my mom and dad getting fried. Scared me more than any show I have ever seen.

 

[CountryGent]

1983 TV movie The Day After. Gave me nightmares as a kid. Lived in Wyoming and had the MX missile thing going on there. We were supposedly a prime target for a strike. Was on the radio all the time in the news...then this show came along.

I wasn't thinking of the bullies in school or the Hells Angels that took over town in the Summer, all I could think of was my mom and dad getting fried. Scared me more than any show I have ever seen.

Should you be interested, The Day After can be seen online:

There was also a panel discussion and debate produced after the airing of the picture. The talk was hosted by Ted Koppel, and featured contributions from Dr. Carl Sagan, Elie Wiesel, Robert McNamara, Henry Kissinger, Gen. Brent Scowcroft, and William F. Buckley, Jr.

And to add a little levity, commercials from the original 1983 airing:

 

[sobo]

1983 TV movie The Day After.

Loved that flick! It's going into my nuclear holocaust binge-watch rotation!

 

[gmerkt]

I've watched it a few times; I think it's buried somewhere in the DVR on my cable box. In reflection, I think it probably understates the level to which desperate humanity would sink under those conditions.

That old Mercury pulling a trailer, those things got about 12 mpg. with a thirsty 352 under the hood. Not the best bug-out vehicle. But they were already launched on their trip when events overtook them.

We kind of got a glimpse of bug-out conditions when Hurricane Katrina hit in Louisiana. Thousands and thousands of cars trying to pour down limited roadway to escape, with the result being they were all bogged down. Didn't they open up some freeways both sides in one direction?

I was reading somewhere recently that in many emergency conditions that might initially inspire flight from disaster, that many people would be better off taking their chances at home. Considering the panic and tumult of trying to drive to the outback. Of course sheltering in place against a hydrogen bomb wouldn't work but equally so might not be trying to outrun one.

 

[revjen45]

Another classic Doomsday flick was On the Beach. I saw it @ about age 7 or 8. It gave me the chills even at that age.

 

[Camelfilter]

Another classic Doomsday flick was On the Beach. I saw it @ about age 7 or 8. It gave me the chills even at that age.

Yup. Great movie. However, not as "optimistic" as Panic in Year Zero...

 

[ATCclears]

 

[sobo]

Got halfway through this one last night, right up to the part where the missiles fly. It was 0200 hrs by then, and I had to pack it in.

I had already watched By Dawn's Early Light and Panic in the Year Zero by that point. Like I said, I'm on a nuclear holocaust binge-watch gig.

After I finish The Day After tonight, I'll be looking for On the Beach, so if anyone finds the full movie online, please save me a few minutes and post it up right here!

 

[revjen45]

Here ya go Sport:

on the beach movie - Yahoo Search Results Video Search Results

The search engine that helps you find exactly what you're looking for. Find the most relevant information, video, images, and answers from all across the Web.

video.search.yahoo.com

 

[Jasonanddeonna]

The Day After was definitely unnerving when it aired. For me, the movie Threads was absolutely terrifying.