The Poseidon Adventure (1972) DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect Director: Ronald Neame, Screenplay: Stirling Silliphant, Wendell Mayes; Rated PG Starring: Gene Hackman (Rev. Frank), Ernest Borgnine (Rogo), Red Buttons (James), Carol Lynley (Nonnie), Shelley Winters (Belle), Roddy McDowall (Acres), Stella Stevens (Linda), Jack Albertson (Manny), Pamela Sue Martin (Susan), Arthur O'Connell, Eric Shea, Leslie Nielsen, Fred Sadoff Plot Summary: A cruise ship is hit by a huge rogue wave and capsizes, still afloat, yet upside down. A small group of cruise passengers, led by a determined, plain-spoken preacher, work their way through the badly damaged ship, en route to the inverted hull, where (thanks to a very informed ten-year-old boy) the hull is only one inch thick. The dead and burnt litter their path, and we sense that not everyone will survive their perilous journey.
After the ship is capsized, many of the survivors are present in the ship's dining room. The question is, what to do next. The fiery Reverend Scott assesses the damage and forms a plan to head up, toward the ship's hull, where he feels a rescue attempt is most likely. The ship's purser, tells the passengers that they must wait for help. Using a massive fake Christmas Tree, Scott and a small group of survivors climb to the overhead galley door. Suddenly there is an explosion and water starts rushing in on those that stayed behind. There's a mad scramble to climb the three, but too much weight sends it crashing down as the dining room fills with sea water, killing everyone below. Something subtle you might have missed: should i be worried...? A tiny boat on that big ocean, so this could happen, right? The novel by Paul Gallico was based on a gigantic wave that hit the RMS Queen Mary while he was aboard her on vacation in 1937. When the wave it, it sent people and furniture crashing to the other side of the vessel. Years later, another wave event hit the Queen Mary during World War II when she was loaded with American troops. Supposedly the ship was a mere five inches from capsizing. It was once thought that "rogue waves" occurred only once every 10,000 years. However, a 2004 study of satellite radar images show they can occur hundreds of times every decade. So, the answer to the original question is: It can happen, but the chances are very rare. Especially with the updated safety features on today's ocean liners. Memorable Quotes: "We're cut off from the rest of the world. They can't get to us. Maybe we can get to them. You've said enough, now get out of the way." - Rev. Frank Scott "Ya had a lotta guts, lady... a lotta guts" - Mike Rogo "We did ask you to fight for us but damn it, don't fight against us! Leave us alone! How many more sacrifices? How much more blood?" - Rev. Frank Scott, to God
I am not quite sure why I am so entertained by the calamity and perils that define this film's genre. Yet, I really do love ship wrecks, airplane mishaps and tidal waves. This was the film that started that all for me. It's an incredible, action-filled effort, and one of the best of its ilk. This type of movie was practically owned by a TV and film producer named Irwin "Master of Disaster" Allen. Before disaster films, he did a lot of work on films that were fantasy based and needed a lot of special effects. His TV series were favorites of mine, too, including Lost in Space (1965-1968) and Land of the Giants (1968-1970) - all stuffed to the brim with thrilling action and ghastly creatures. In 1972, Mr. Allen gave us this unforgettable film. Though not Hollywood's first 1970's movie about a disaster (it was preceded by 1970's Airport), Poseidon Adventure started a series of films about every form of cataclysm imaginable. In fact, the 1970's is known as the "Golden Age of Disaster (films)". My additional favorites include two Charlton Heston flicks in Earthquake (1974) and Airport 1975 (1975), and The Towering Inferno (1974) featuring Paul Newman, Faye Dunnaway and Steve McQueen. What is it about this film that sets it apart from the others? The answer is simple: Investment in the people in the story. The attention to character development helps the audience feels like they are actually aboard the perilous ocean liner, taking every step, enduring every obstacle - we grow to love them and root for their survival. When a brave passenger falls along the way, we are shattered. This is the product of great direction and even greater performances.
I developed a real appreciation for three of the lead actors: Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine and Shelly Winters. Hackman would go on to become household name in some of the greatest films ever, and he shines as the fiery pastor with his own, controversial brand of God-helps-those-who-help-themselves religion. Borgnine is a face I have seen as a character actor in countless movies, always portraying the tough guy or bully. Here he's incredible as the hot-tempered Rogo, always bitching, but at his core a good guy. And Shelly Winters. Wow. Her portrayal of Mrs. Rosen, an overweight Jewish grandmother, should have garnered her the Oscar for which she was nominated. She's darling, kind, wise... and then, out of nowhere, she saves the freakin' day. What a performance! Perhaps my critique of disaster films to follow is tainted by seeing this masterpiece first. The rest seem to focus on too many stars/storylines, and lavish, overdone spectacles. Oh well, sue me. What I can guarantee is that THIS film will entertain you on many levels. When it's over, you will be exhausted. το τέλος On to No. 98... LaughEnergy: A Canine's Epoch
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Defining Moment:
sitting on your butts is not going to
save you
Dad's Review:
Another
aspect of the film is that it is set on a rather small scale.
Sure the ocean liner is huge and full of hundreds of passengers,
yet this film pointedly centers on one small group. Our focus is
intimate and personal. It's not a massive quake or a meteor
heading towards Earth, but rather a small band of frightened
sojourners trying to save themselves.