Round Top Historical Society Free Movie Screening of “On the Beach” is Aug. 16

The “Breakfast Club” at the Round Top Area Historical Society (RTAHS) announces its first film of the 2025 season, “On the Beach” starring Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner for Saturday, Aug. 16 at the Jaehne pavilion on the historical campus at 397 E. Mill St. Round Top behind the US Post Office.

The film will start at 10 a.m. and end at 12:15 p.m.

Join us earlier for breakfast at 9 a.m. for coffee, juice, Belgium waffle, sausage and fruit. All is free but please register in advance for breakfast by texting your initials and the number of people attending at (979) 702-0525.

“On the Beach” was filmed in Australia and along the US California Pacific coast.

The story opens with the SSN Sawfish, a nuclear-powered US submarine commanded by Dwight Lionel Towers (Gregory Peck), surfacing off the southeast coast of Australia. All appears to be routine. The submarine cruises on the surface past the Lonsdale Lighthouse and gives notice to the stationmaster with three (3) blasts of its foghorn as it enters an expansive large bay with the city of Melbourne located sixty miles to the north.

Commander Towers and three of his crew are positioned on top of the sail (the conning tower) with the Stars and Stripes waving majestically behind.

After sighting the submarine from the balcony rail, the lighthouse stationmaster reenters the lantern room to alert the Navy Department.

An official message from the Prime Minister’s office can also be heard on the lighthouse radio, which makes it clear that the SSN Sawfish’s visit to Australia is apparently of a more serious nature.

To learn how this tragic but romantic story progresses into a world catastrophic event, join us “for the rest of the story”.

Please Note: The movie “On the Beach” (1959) is generally not recommended for younger audiences or families due to its mature themes and intense scenes.