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The Poseidon Adventure [1972]


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A Classic - One of the Best Disaster Films of All Time
Review date: 2008-01-11 Rating: 10 out of 10

Simply because of the sheer grandeur with which this film was made by mega producer Irwin Allen, you have to overlook the cliches and stereotypes that fill the cast. Shelley Winters shines as Mrs Rosen, and even received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for her performance. The basic plot - as if it needs to be told - involves a group of people trying to survive the terrible disaster which occurs aboard the S.S Poseidon when the ship is struck by a gigantic wave on New Year's Eve and turns completely upside down. The upside down set-pieces are exquisite, and still remain very realistic and convincing - as do the actions of, and the interactions between the survivors - by today's standards. If you enjoy disaster films then you'll love it. Fans of Shelley Winters, Gene Hackman or Ernest Borgnine will also enjoy it. If you've seen the remake Poseidon, then you might want to check out the original to see how its done. Five stars!

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Reviews


Classic!
Review date: 2006-08-04 Rating: 8 out of 10

The original. It shows that it was made in the 70s, but it is still a damn fine disaster movie.

I have to admit, I kinda like disaster movies. Except when they suck like The Day After Tomorrow. This one, however, is a real classic. The characters are well-rounded, the story full of suspense. It didn't matter to me that the special effects look cheap or that aside from Gene Hackman, I didn't really know any of the actors. I was still sucked in, and really enjoyed it. A great entertainment - popcorn movie!

A great special edition DVD, but not such a great adventure film
Review date: 2006-07-05 Rating: 6 out of 10

The original The Poseidon Adventure isn't exactly a film so good that it couldn't stand remaking. The first half hour before the wave hits is like a very badly written episode of The Love Boat, with painfully on the nose dialog ("What kind of priest are you?" "I'm a renegade! The very best kind!") and hideously stereotyped characters. In fact, truth to tell, it's a pretty pedestrian affair even after the ship goes bottom up: strip away its high concept and all you're really left with is a long, slow wade to the grave for some of the characters en route to the cheapest closing sequence ever fobbed off on an audience in a major studio picture. Aside from the odd bit of dialog about the importance of life in the face of death or Gene Hackman's occasional tirades about or against God that hint at someone striving for a big theme, there's not that much of Paul Gallico's original religious allegory left either (if memory serves, in the novel the Reverend Scott had 12 passengers following him on his path to martyrdom). Worse, some of the performances are just excruciating to watch (particularly Red Buttons) while Roddy McDowall's attempt at a Scottish accent is particularly painful. It has its moments, but far fewer than you'd think.

No complaints about Fox's special edition - a surprising commentary from Ronald Neame (who has never made any secret of his dislike for the film in the past), several featurettes, trailers and stills gallery - although it is irritating that Fox have inexplicably cropped the original 1972 making of featurette to 1.85:1 when it was originally fullframe.


A blast from the 1970s
Review date: 2006-05-25 Rating: 8 out of 10

Watching this film again really does bring back the memories of seeing it for the first time in the cinema as a kid.
The 1970s saw a glut of disaster films but the Poseidon Adventure remains one of the best.

The plot sees an ageing liner - the SS Poseidon on her last cruise before being scrapped. Sailing out on this last voyage, on the cheap and with a disregard for safety by her owners, she encounters a tidal wave which capsizes her in spectacular fashion. From that point onwards, it is a desperate struggle for the surviving passengers and crew, to climb upwards through the stricken ship in search of rescue.

Casting and characterisation is generally good (with just some corn at times, hell this was the 1970s...).
Gene Hackman is a rebellious preacher who finds his own particular brand of very passionate faith, severely tested by the unfolding events surrounding the unfortunate SS Poseidon.
The ever dependable Ernest Borgnine is a cynical cop who has to dig deep into his own character as events threaten to overrun both him and his fellow survivors...
Shelley Winters makes her famous underwater swim in this film when she has to save Hackman's character.
You also get to see Leslie Neilson in a straight role as the ship's captain, infuriated by the reckless cost cutting of the owners...

The film used the original SS Queen Mary as the set and the result is a convincing, and at times gritty realism. The film is surprisingly brutal for its time and the band of survivors really does keep dwindling, as they make their desperate trek through the upturned and very dangerous hull of the ship. The upturned hull itself is a brilliantly realised world where all points of reference are changed. Ceilings have become floors and staircases are inverted. Fires, scalding stream, twisted metal, and flooding all add to the chaos and confusion.
The film runs along at a cracking pace and keeps the viewer's interest until the end.

That said, I would like to make my criticism of the fact that the existing Region One dvd is in mono. Why?
I just hope that Twentieth Century Fox are to remedy this on the about to be released special edition dvd this May and give it the 5.1 soundtrack that both the film and viewer so richly deserve.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Gene Hackman
Eric Shea
Ernest Borgnine
Stella Stevens
Roddy McDowall

Creators:
Gene Hackman (Primary Contributor)
Stella Stevens (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
EAN: 5039036026628
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL, Special Edition, Widescreen,
Release date: 2006-05-29
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 112 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1972
Language: English (Original Language)

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