Five (1951)

Probably the first post atomic apocalyptic film, made in 1951. This is a good film, not great, but a solid early science fiction flick- this one is different in the sense that there are no monsters or dangerous marauders- there are just five survivors who must deal with each other, with dramatic results. This is a tale of major interpersonal conflict, a small group trying to cope with the aftermath of some sort of nuclear catastrophe.The plot is a bit thin, the characters are a bit one dimensional and get involved in maybe too many mundane activities, yet this is a taut story that keeps you guessing what the end will be...against a lovely outdoors backdrop and memorable vistas, the expected sometimes never happens, a testament to the directors talents. Overall, the film 'works' but I wish certain avenues could have been explored that were shunned in this effort- but for a low budget, about $75,000, this one punches above its weight category. 5.9 stars.A home designed by Frank Loyd Wright is featured, this was owned by the director.

The plot to "Five" is very, very, very familiar. Due to the nuclear age and natural fears of annihilation, Hollywood made a ton of apocalyptic films where a very, very small group of survivors somehow survived. Just off the top of my head, I can think of many films like "The World, The Flesh and The Devil", "The Last Woman on Earth", "The Last Man on Earth", "Robot Monster" and "Omega Man"--and I know there are many more. So, seeing "Five" sure gives me a big sense of déjà vu---so it's certainly not original--though I'll admit that it did come relatively early among these films.So, if there are so many films like this one, and I assume you DON'T want to see them all, is "Five" one you should bother with or should you see some of the others instead? Well, my vote would be on the latter for one HUGE reason. "Five" is among the talkiest of all these movies. So often, nothing really happens and the people just talk and talk and talk. And so it never is exciting or weird like "Omega Man" or as profound as "The World The Flesh and The Devil" because, although there could be a good biracial sexual aspect to the film, it never occurs. The black man in "Five" is so nice that any sexual tension between him and the only woman (who is white) doesn't exist--though there is a one-dimensional racist among them. In fact, this guy is SO one-dimensional that he really seemed more like a plot device than anything else. "Five" is not a terrible film but it's just not all that good. My advice is watch it if you have nothing better to do or just hold out and find another similar film that is a bit better--such as "Omega Man" and "The World The Flesh and The Devil". But do NOT watch "Robot Monster" unless you are a serious glutton for punishment or are a confirmed masochist!Always the one to look for mistakes, I noticed that some of the skeletons of dead people used in the film were clearly lab specimens--complete with springs holding the bones in the hand together! This is not an uncommon mistake and I've seen much worse examples in other films.

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.

Enjoyed viewing this black and white film from 1951 dealing with a few people who were able to survive a nuclear war which killed millions of Americans. William Phipps, (Michael) lived in New York City and witnessed the entire city's population killed and he traveled to the West and was able to find a town where he could obtain food and shelter. As the film develops he meets up with a young woman named Roseanne Rogers, (Susan Douglas Rubes) who is pregnant and Michael takes her under his wing and tries to comfort her and he begins to fall in love with her. However, Roseanne wants to find her husband in the city and keeps her distance. There is three men and one woman who remain alive in this film and all these people begin to get on each other's nerves and this story takes on some very mysterious twists and turns.