MovieChat Forums > On the Beach (1959) Discussion > Opening Scenes of Sub

Opening Scenes of Sub

posted 11 years ago by Madness832
5 replies | jump to latest

We later learn that the sub is "nuclear powered." But in the opening scenes, after the sub surfaces, one can hear what sounds like diesel engines & see exhaust coming from ports towards the stern.

[–] lenlarga 11 years ago

Also, at the end, Dwight talks about the sub being at a fuel depot. I assume nuke subs would not need to be 'fueled' up.

[–] andrewwjohnson 11 years ago

While Stanley Kramer tried to get a real US Navy nuclear sub for the exterior shots. Given the movies antinuclear theme it's not surprising the Pentagon turned him down. The alternative was a Australian Navy diesel sub.

The sub was still supposed nuclear in the movie. If I remember right a character said something about having enough nuclear fuel for several trips to North America. Either the sub had used up it's fuel, the story was set five years in the future, or, more likely the screen writer didn't no that much about nuclear power.

TAG LINE: True genius is a beautiful thing, but ignorance is ugly to the bone.

[–] lenlarga 11 years ago

The story is set over a 5 month period, so I think it was just a writer's error.

[–] Jes' Sayin' (6360) 5 years ago

They don't have diesel engines as backups?

[–] trevorh321 (5495) 3 years ago

They would certainly have diesel engines for backup.