[4][5] Based on Sakyo Komatsu's 1964 novel of the same name,[1] the film stars an international ensemble cast featuring Masao Kusakari, Sonny Chiba, George Kennedy, Robert Vaughn, Chuck Connors, Olivia Hussey, Edward James Olmos, Glenn Ford, and Henry Silva.

However, the virus is inactive at temperatures below -10 degrees Celsius, and the polar winter has spared the 855 men and eight women stationed in Antarctica.

Several years later, as the group is beginning to repopulate their new home, it is discovered that an earthquake will activate the Automated Reaction System (ARS), a doomsday device, and launch the United States nuclear arsenal.

In the American version, the screen goes black for a moment, and the end credits roll over footage of the Antarctic and a poignant song sung by a lone woman's voice.

Its releases included Kon Ichikawa's The Inugamis and Junya Sato's Proof of the Man, with the latter having American cast members such as George Kennedy.

During filming, a Swedish cruiser used to transport crew was heavily damaged by a coral reef off the Chilean coast, and had to be rescued by the Navy.

Janis Ian wrote the lyrics to the song "Toujours Gai Mon Cher (You Are Love)" and performs it.

After that, they focused on movies starring idols such as Hiroko Yakushimaru, Tomoyo Harada and Noriko Watanabe, which achieved moderate success.