Ralph Burton (Harry Belafonte) is inspecting an underground mine when a cave-in traps him. He manages to escape after a few days only to find the world empty of people. Everybody has died from an atomic poisoning. He travels to New York City where he seems to be the last man on Earth. He works to reconnect power to a building. He meets 21 year old Sarah Crandall (Inger Stevens). Somehow, race is still an issue which is only elevated by the arrival of Benson Thacker (Mel Ferrer).
It's fascinating to see racial politics to play out this way. I don't like Ralph getting angry while cutting her hair. There is a better way to portray the sexual tension. The other issue is that Benson should be more ruthless. Let's just say that the ending could be edgy or it could be a call for peace. The filmmaker may be trying to do something socially conscious but stumbled upon more than they could handle. I want it to be more dramatic and more real. It's always great to have the empty big city streets. It does lead to another problem. They need to call it something other than atomic poisoning. Radiation was something new back in the day and the terminology can be excused.
It's fascinating to see racial politics to play out this way. I don't like Ralph getting angry while cutting her hair. There is a better way to portray the sexual tension. The other issue is that Benson should be more ruthless. Let's just say that the ending could be edgy or it could be a call for peace. The filmmaker may be trying to do something socially conscious but stumbled upon more than they could handle. I want it to be more dramatic and more real. It's always great to have the empty big city streets. It does lead to another problem. They need to call it something other than atomic poisoning. Radiation was something new back in the day and the terminology can be excused.