Five

Five

Year: 1951

Runtime: 93 mins

Language: English

Director: Arch Oboler

DramaScience FictionMonsters aliens sci-fi and the apocalypseDangerous technology and the apocalypseThought-provoking sci-fi action and future technology

Four men and a woman are the last survivors after an atomic bomb wipes out humanity. They gather in an isolated hillside house, trying to understand the disaster and figure out how to stay alive together amid scarcity and the psychological strain of being the only people left.

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Timeline & Setting – Five (1951)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Five (1951). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Set in a post-apocalyptic era after a catastrophic atomic event, the film follows survivors living in makeshift shelters and remote areas. Society has collapsed into isolated pockets, where radiation threats and scarcity shape daily life. The era emphasizes the struggle to maintain humanity and forge a new community amid ruin.

Location

Aunt's hillside house, Ocean beach, Mount Everest Base Camp, Empire State Building elevator, Oak Ridge city, bank vault, hospital

The story centers on an isolated hillside house owned by Roseanne’s aunt, which becomes the survivors’ refuge. The surrounding landscape shifts from rugged hillside to a desolate coastline, emphasizing the harsh environment after the catastrophe. Key locations—high in the hills, a perilous coast, and distant cities—serve as testing grounds for the group’s endurance and trust.

🏔️ Isolated hillside 🧭 Post-apocalyptic setting 🏝️ Coastal frontier

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:21

Main Characters – Five (1951)

Meet the key characters of Five (1951), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Roseanne Rogers (Susan Douglas)

Roseanne moves from numbness to active agency, navigating trauma and bearing the burden of hope for the group. She balances vulnerability with determination, tending to the newborn and sustaining the group’s morale amid danger.

💗 Resilient 🤝 Caring 🧭 Resourceful

Michael (William Phipps)

A practical builder who becomes the group’s steady anchor. He protects Roseanne, stays pragmatic about survival, and tries to manage the farm and resources while contending with distrust from outsiders.

🛠️ Practical 🛡️ Protective 🧱 Pragmatic

Eric (James Anderson)

A volatile newcomer whose racism and craving for control threaten the group’s harmony. He provokes conflict, tests loyalties, and embodies the danger of leadership pursued through intimidation.

⚔️ Aggressive 🧭 Distrustful 🧯 Self-serving

Charles (Charles Lampkin)

A thoughtful and affable caretaker who stands for kindness and communal unity. He resists Eric’s aggression, supports Barnstaple, and ultimately becomes a casualty of the group’s internal strife.

🤝 Compassionate 🧭 Principled 🧡 Loyal

Mr. Barnstaple (Earl Lee)

An elderly bank clerk who initially clings to denial but gradually accepts the new reality. His presence highlights denial’s toll and the human tendency toward fatalism in catastrophe.

🧓 Elderly 🪶 Dignified 🫂 Dependable

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:21

Major Themes – Five (1951)

Explore the central themes of Five (1951), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🌅 Survival

Survival drives every decision, from securing food and shelter to protecting the group from external threats. The survivors must adapt to radiation, scarcity, and mistrust, making hard moral choices. Small acts of care and collaboration amid hardship highlight the persistence of humanity.

🤝 Conflict & Racism

Eric’s arrival exposes deep-seated prejudice and fractures the fragile cohesion of the group. Charles’s principled demeanor clashes with Eric’s bigotry, fueling tension and violence. The story uses these dynamics to explore how fear can erode trust and cooperation.

👶 Motherhood & Hope

Roseanne’s pregnancy and the birth of her son anchor a fragile thread of hope in a world of ruin. The baby’s subsequent death marks a devastating turn, yet the couple continues to cultivate the land, symbolizing resilience and the stubborn pull of life forward.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:21

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Five Summary

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Five Summary

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Five Timeline

More About Five

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More About Five