Apocalyptic Art
Although Arch Oboler was extremely popular amongst what Tom Brokaw has called "The Greatest Generation" for his radio plays of the '30s and '40s, for baby boomers, his name resonates by dint of his work on a trio of psychotronic films in the early '50s: "Five," "Bwana Devil" (the first 3-D movie) and "The Twonky." In 1951's "Five," Oboler showed that he was a formidable triple threat, writing, producing AND directing the picture. Most known today for its being the first film to depict life after a nuclear holocaust, "Five" turns out to have lots more to offer than that claim to fame. In it, we meet the quintet of Earth's survivors who fetch up at a very peculiar-looking abode (Oboler's own Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home) in what we must infer is California: Mike (played by William Phipps), an English major and Empire State Building worker; Roseanne (Susan Douglas), a mild-mannered pregnant widow who brings to mind the young Lillian Gish; Charles (Charles Lampkin), a black doorman from a Santa Barbara bank; Mr. Barnstaple (Earl Lee), an elderly, addled clerk from that same bank; and Eric (James Anderson), a Germanic adventurer and undisguised racist. The film, I'm happy to say, is not the least bit dated and could have been made last year, rather than 60 years ago. It features an adult, literate script, is wonderfully acted by its quintet of relative no-names, and best of all, showcases some absolutely stunning B&W photography (for example, check out the exceptional work during Roseanne's labor scene!). The picture contains many wonderful sequences, including an expedition to the seacoast, and the exploration of a nearby city to the imagined sound of air-raid sirens. I'm afraid words are failing me here; you're gonna have to trust me on this one. This is not just a superbly well-done exemplar of apocalyptic sci-fi; it is a genuine work of art.score 10/10
ferbs54 23 July 2010
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw2284046/35575
Pages:
[1]