Five

Here's a still-powerful film about the end of the world that has all the more emotional impact for being so understated. Apparently the very first film to deal with the possibility of nuclear war & its aftermath, it almost has the look & feel of a European arthouse film -- clear, vibrant B&W cinematography; innovative filming angles; restrained performances from its little-known actors; philosophical overtones. Yet I never once found it dull or dragging in the least. It gripped my attention, it made me feel & it made me think. At this point, let me warn the potential viewer to utterly ignore the snark-laden "review" from the Amazon reviewer, which to me reveals more about the lack in the reviewer, rather than any lack in the film. The story very quietly but effectively points up the folly of grasping after power, wealth, status; and it also makes clear that the futile attempt to possess all those things, especially at the expense of others, can destroy an individual's world as well as the entire world. It asks us to consider what really matters in life, as with Mr. Barnstaple, whose final words are of all the things he always wanted to do, but never got around to doing. And the ludicrous sight of the shallow, self-centered Erik, gloating over his treasure trove of jewelry in a world where it has absolutely no value ... and perhaps never really did. As for the dialogue being "purple" or "pretentious" as some have claimed, I heard very little of that myself. And in any case, even if a line or two does get a little self-consciously poetic or portentous -- if being one of a handful of survivors after the end of the world isn't reason enough for that, then what is? Personally, I think a certain amount of reflective, solemn dialogue is quite believable in these circumstances. Obviously a labor of love for producer/director/writer Arch Oboler, it benefits from its minimalist approach. Even the shocks are muted, reflecting the emotional numbness of the survivors. The ruins that he's really exploring are psychological, and quite clearly existed even before the bombs fell. His choices are small, unexpected, and ultimately deeply moving: the little details of everyday life that were never noticed until they weren't there (and which we seldom notice in our own busy, rushed, everyday lives). This is a film that deserves to be better known, and I'll definitely be watching it again in the near future -- most highly recommended!

an early 1951 post-apocalyptic movie about 4 men and 1 woman who ultimately find each other after the nuclear holocaust. anxiety about nuclear destruction and the cold war were very common themes in some sci-fi and horror movies of that time period. this movie isn't as campy as other reviewers may make it out to be. the acting isn't the best and not much for special affects, but still it is an entertaining movie. drama, conflict, racism, murder, are all blended in with a minimal background (filmed in director's arch oboler's frank lloyd wright cliff house). bonus material is fun: "how to be an arch villian" and "secrets of deception" are a couple of shorts, with recipes for a dirty martini and secret martini. also included is the trailer which really promises more than this movie could deliver. overall, an enjoyable viewing if you like the earlier b&w end of the world type of movies.

Five, filmed in 1951, is the original movie where only a few people are left alive on earth after nations kill poison one another with nuclear isotopes. This is a pretty good transfer to DVD. Actually, it's the best copy of the film I've viewed. FIVE is not an exciting movie, but it is a good story. Like the original B&W film "On the Beach" with Gregory Peck. It covers some racial issues too. If you're into these type of films, you'll like "The World, the Flesh, and the Devil" with Harry Belafonte. Again, some racial issue here. Going more sci-fi, check out "The Last Man on Earth" (Vincent Price), and "The Omega Man" (Charlton Heston". The house used in the movie is a famous hilltop building by Frank Lyoyd Wright.

This is one sad movie. Very good ,but sad. The story is very good and very realistic . Acting is never over the top. Rough story about atomic war but well done. Dvd was new and played great. Shipping was on time and well packaged.

The movie Five has to be one of the best sci-fi movies i have ever seen. A group of my close friends met at my house to watch old movies and Five was scheduled to play . The title of the movie caught my attention and and we decided to watch it. The actors were unknown to us but so what. The plot of the movie scared the daylights out of us because who is to say that this can't happen in our lifetime. I am so happy that i have access to Amazon because i was able to search for this classic gem. Once found i immediately purchased it and let me tell you that the quality of this dvd is excellent. In all my dealings with Amazon i can honestly say i have never been disappointed. The products and service are top rate. D. Singh

One of those weird films from the 50's that are just fun to watch and there are some effective moments.

Interesting movie on several elements. This must be the ancestor of the many, many post-apocalyptic movies. Without the special effects & heavy-handed gore of today's efforts in that genre, this focuses entirely on the characters and the situation they are trapped in. If you like the Sirius XM retro-radio shows, including the Arch Oboler series "Lights Out", this will be one you want to watch. Like the radio series of the 30's-early-60's it's a theatre of the mind. You see the world through the eyes of these survivors, and it's really quite dramatic without being heavy-handed. I would give a fifth star except for a few plot twists I found unsatisfying (but not annoyingly so). Highly recommended.

I accidentally ran across this film on one of the Roku channels. I had never heard of it and thought I would give it a shot. I was not disappointed. It's an apocalyptic film without the zombies and gore--just the struggles of five people thrown together. It deals with the good and evil of mankind and focuses upon the relationships built by these five individuals. If you're into zombies and plagues, then stay away! But if you like solid drama based upon character development, then this is a movies you should see. I liked it enough to purchase my own copy! Five