FIVE is a 1951 post nuclear war film. A wandering female survivor stumbles accross a single male who is living in seclusion far away from any large city and even relatively far away from any small towns.
An initial but brief conflict occurs when Michael's advances on Roseanne are rebuffed.  But this quickly resolves itself when Michael learns Roseanne is pregnant and must have some proof of her husband's fate.  Two other survivors see the smoke from the cabin and make contact.  Mr. Barnstaple is an elderly bank teller and Charles is a resourceful black doorman at the same bank.  All four seem to get along fine with no real issue.

Eventually Mr Barnstaple starts to succumb to effects of radiation.  As a dying wish he is taken to the ocean.  After Mr Barnstaple's death a body is found on the beach.  This new entrant is Eric. There is instant tension and hostility among the two remaining initial survivors and Eric.  Eric refuses to work and puts on airs of superiority.  Eric is a bigot and resents the fact that Charles (a black man) is even in the same area.  Things calm down slightly when Rosanne gives birth.  Roseanne, pining for her husband refuses to name the baby until she knows for sure her husband's fate.

Eric is also rather slick and convinces Roseanne to leave with him on the grounds they can determine once and for all if her husband is dead. While leaving, unbeknownst to Roseanne, Eric kills Charles.

Returning to the city, Eric's motives are discovered.  Roseanne also finds the remains of her husband.  Unable to ply Roseanne with now useless riches, Eric attempts to force her and the child to stay.  Eric however is dyng of radiation poison himself and wanders off with Roseanne to die.

Michael finds Roseanne but too late to save the child.  Both return to the cabin to start again with their futures uncertain.

Review:
OK, so I know this was a low budget movie when I bought it.  I bought the Martini Movies copy which was renamed "5IVE" although this does not really detract from the film.  If you take into account what little the public knew about nuclear war in 1951 the film did an OK job with presenting some basic conflicts.  But the characters are never really well enough developed to make you sympathetic to any of them.  Charles is the only really likable fellow.  Mr Barnstable is not really around very long.  Eric is bad, not a good man gone bad, just bad.  Michael does not know how to relate to anyone other than the most pliable of characters. Roseanne plays a weak woman unable to cope with the new reality. So not great acting.

The sets were void of most of the destruction one would expect in a nuclear exchange.  City scenes were shot at angles that made you think the cameraman was just avoiding any passerby who might wander into the shot.  And finally all the "dead" bodies were anatomy class skeletons fully dressed.  Pretty neat trick.  Radiation destroys you down to the bone but leaves your clothes pretty much intact.

All in all this was a fair low budget film that tried.  Watch it once if you like the genre.  Borrow it from a friend.  But save your money on a purchase.

 

You can view the trailer for Five here

 

Reviewer Rating: 5/10

 

This movie was submitted and reviewed by Panzerjager

 

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