As before - everybody's too old

The tragedy in Nevil Shute's original novel was not only that the world was ending, but that those most affected were so young. Dwight Towers was barely in his thirties - no Gregory Peck or Armand Assante, and Moira was only twenty-six, a girl with straight blond hair - no Ava Gardner or Rachel Ward. Even scientist Julian Osborn is youngish. The only semi-authentic characters are those of Peter and Mary Holmes, and both movies show the effects of world-death on this young family. But the novel's major impact is on main characters, all who are very young, and gather together for their last months "on the beach".