While “Jaws” (1975) is considered the first blockbuster because of the sheer amount of money it made, plenty of films before it had buzz, long lines and return engagements. Among them is “The Poseidon Adventure” (1972), in which producer Irwin Allen – known for cheapie TV series like “Lost in Space” – finagles a remarkably non-cheesy spectacle on $5 million.
He wanted actors rather than stars, but made one concession, and what a concession it is: Gene Hackman in the wake of “The French Connection.” “Poseidon’s” plot, according to a bonus feature on the Bluray, mirrors a journey out of hell, as 10 survivors of a flipped-upside-down ocean liner make their way to up to the sky (technically the bottom of the ship).
But I see it as an exercise in trusting the charismatic Hackman, who plays Reverend Scott. He’s a believer, but so uncomfortably unorthodox that he’s been reassigned to Eastern Europe. The titular vessel is crossing the Aegean Sea when an undersea earthquake leads to a massive wave that flips the ship.
“The Poseidon Adventure” (1972)
Director: Ronald Neame
Writers: Stirling Silliphant, Wendell Mayes (screenplay); Paul Gallico (novel)
Stars: Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Shelley Winters
It’s reasonably well done with a miniature. By today’s standards, the action then moves forward slowly, but it should be noted that several nominally more exciting pictures likely were inspired by this one. Several are from the next disaster-movie wave, of the late 1990s: “Alien Resurrection’s” underwater scene, the cross-ship trek in “Deep Rising,” the shaft climb in “Deep Blue Sea,” and of course “Titanic.”
Still, that sequence of the whole ballroom flipping upside down is pretty great, even if it’s a bit cheesy in certain shots. After Scott’s followers climb a giant Christmas tree to the next level “up” (actually down), no later action sequence matches that initial flip. But the set designers do an excellent job of designing upside-down and ruined rooms. The rising water believably stalks our group as they move through flooded and fire-spewing areas.
The sunken inferno
Writer Stirling Silliphant, who would follow with “The Towering Inferno” (1974), does an understated but fine job of making all 10 characters distinct, although occasionally the sketches become laughable, like when Linda (Stella Stevens) unnecessarily announces that she’s going to enter an airshaft ahead of Belle (Shelley Winters) so she doesn’t get stuck behind her fat ass. Hmm, I wonder if Linda will survive till the end.
Two alpha males find their opinions conveniently clashing at every turn. If Scott and Ernest Borgnine’s ex-cop Rogo capped every statement to each other with “… you sonofabitch,” it wouldn’t sound wrong. Again, though, I’d follow Hackman’s Scott. I’m kind of amazed it’s much of a choice for the group.
The characters do little things to prove themselves more capable than we (or they themselves, or others) might’ve thought. Among the cast are “Planet of the Apes’ ” Roddy McDowall; future “Nancy Drew” and “Dynasty” star Pamela Sue Martin; and Carol Lynley, who lip-synchs the song that would win an Oscar. The film also won, more appropriately, for best visual effects.
Leslie Nielsen is also in the movie as the ship’s captain, and as always is the case when we watch his pre-“Airplane!” roles, we’re primed to laugh in a way viewers of the time weren’t. I expect a command for “binoculars” to be followed by “What is it?” “A pair of magnifying lenses, but that’s not important right now.”
The Poseidon doesn’t steer clear of the rogue wave, but the movie does steer clear of an “MST3K” level of goofiness, and I got caught up in the plight of these waterlogged folks and rooted for them to survive. Apparently there is a Biblical reading (“rising to the light”) of the events, but even without that, “The Poseidon Adventure” rises to worth-the-ticket tentpole entertainment.