Five (1951)

Admirably grave, indelible parable of nuclear unease

A beautifully realized, semi-pretentious, almost forgotten mini-classic of Atom Age after-the-bomb poetry and paranoia, 'Five' sketches its post-disaster environment with admirable economy; it now seems more like an 'art' film than a genre effort.

For all of his budgetary limitations, it's a strikingly atmospheric and handsome film and [Arch] Oboler creates an eerie sense isolation with simple techniques.

While survivors with too much time on their hands argue, joke and flirt in the wilderness, enough juice finally kicks in from a found generator for waltzes to start playing on 45s. And not exactly a Hollywood happy ending, but with vintage charm to spare.