Always loved Ray Milland, especially his X, The Man with the X-Ray Eyes, which has a spiritual theme.

Thought you all might be interested in the Amazon reviews for Panic in the Year Zero (how'd they get the name so right?!!) from Amazon (video not released):

Sal-Fic@lvdi.net from Las Vegas , Nevada "The Nuclear State" , February 21, 1999 A Haunting Vision From The Past. This film has stayed in my memory since I was a small child. I was never able to find it and hope it is re released. A realistic haunting vision of true panic in a 1950's "Atomic War".

A viewer from Chandler, Arizona , February 20, 1999 a possible preview of the year 2000 a very good example of how our world could revert to the "law of the jungle". Milland's charactor just wants to protect his family, but will go to any lenght to achive this goal.

A viewer from Tucson, AZ and Western Montana , February 15, 1999 Scary, unforgettable and pertinent today 37 years after made We have been looking for this film for the past thirty years, but had forgetten its title. We ran across the title by accident one day by looking under Ray Milland movies. Please do everything possible to add this title to your list of offerings as it is one of the best "holocaust" type of modern movies made, a lesson for all city dwellers and for those of us who have managed to escape to the mountains and/or desert areas. We really want to own this one!

markmonaco@hotmail.com from Southern California, USA , February 9, 1999 Should be renamed: "Panic in Year 2000; Y2K" ... This is what may happen, starting New Years day, 2000. Watch this movie then begin stockpiling food, water, medicine, Guns/ ammo, and lots of TP!

A viewer from Illinois, USA , January 26, 1999 The fall of humanity Even though I was a kid when I saw this movie (many moons ago), I can still vividly recall the deep emotions that came across the screen. The script gave the realism of how humanity becomes animalistic after a holicaust. Those who'll take and do anything they can versus those who must protect themselves at all costs. I give only four stars because I haven't seen the movie since the late sixties, but I'm sure it still deserves five stars. I hope the film gets re-released soon.

rstrat5890@aol.com (Ron Stratton) from Mount Joy PA , September 11, 1998 Scared me so much in 1962 I bought a gun and 500 bullets. I saw this film at the Main Theater in Coldwater, Michigan with my new wife. As a responsible husband with a first child enroute, I was troubled at the content of this movie. In fact I was so scared in case of an A-Bomb attack which formed the basis for this well crafted flick, I ran to Montgomery Wards the next day and bought a 22 calibre rifle and 500 rounds of ammo.

I still have that rifle resting in the corner of our bedroom and a few shells, I don't know where. Those were scary A-bomb times...the cold war was in full force and the fllm was so well dramatized that it gave me the emotional jitters. Ray Milland was his usual staid, stilted self. Frankie Avalon was useless. Mary Kitchel as Karen was cute and sexy. And the scene where the marauding thugs led by Roger Corman who was outstanding, was a turn-on.

-- Blue Himalayan (bh@k2.y), May 25, 1999

Answers

The movie is based on two short stories by Ward Moore: "Lot" and "Lot's Wife". They were written in 1951 and 1953 (if I remember correctly) at the height of the Cold War, but the panic and terror shown in the movie are no less applicable to the near future. There are so many scenes: the panicked single mom in her gunboat of a 1950's auto who stalls, then floods her engine, effectively blocking a key intersection; the disbelieving masses who finally sense that it's time to run-and then gather on the slopes of the hills above L.A. to watch the destruction and thereby seal their fate; the ultra-fine tuned survival sense of Ray Milland's character who offers 10 silver dollars a gallon for gas at a seemingly "empty" rural gas station and then orders the first gallon of gas to be poured out on the ground-just to be sure it isn't water; the awful choice necessary to cross a state highway... This is a real classic and an underrated film.If you buy or rent this, buy a legal pad as well, to take notes.

-- Greg Lawrence (greg@speakeasy.org), May 25, 1999.

Memories, memories...

This film was indeed eerily "ahead of its time" (and the title should stay just like it is, it is quite descriptive of the way Y2K will affect many computer systems if you think about it), in fact makes "The Trigger Effect" pale by comparison (though you should see it too). The "awful choice" that had to be made to cross the highway is especially disturbing and controversial: because of the non-stop traffic of cars fleeing the city, preventing Ray Milland and his family from being able to cross to where they had a cottage in the country, Milland poured gasoline across the road, set it afire, and crossed after a few cars careened through the flames before the traffic halted. (At least, thats the way I remember it -- its been a heck of a long time!!!)

This movie is a must see if it can be seen!!!!!

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.com), May 25, 1999.