The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

On New Year's Eve, the luxury cruise ship S.S. Poseidon is capsized by an enormous tidal wave and turned upside down. A small group of passengers led by a pastor (Gene Hackman) decide to climb up to the ship's hull where any likely rescue attempt would happen rather than sit and wait for help. Based on the Paul Gallico novel of the same name, the film retains the plot of the book but changes a lot of the characters and eliminates some of the more unpleasant aspects of the novel (a brutal rape, an unhappy marriage, a darker ending). The film remains one of the better examples of the disaster genre so prevalent in the 1970s. The screenplay by Sterling Silliphant and Wendell Mayes never rises above serviceable but the director Ronald Neame (PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE) keeps the action moving with just enough time given to the characters so that we get to know them before moving on again. With the exception of Hackman, who seems uncomfortable in his role as if sensing he's miscast, the cast fit their parts nicely and a couple of the actors (Stella Stevens, Shelley Winters) manage to exceed what is required of them. It holds up quite well and remains as entertaining as ever. The excellent underscore is by John Williams. With Ernest Borgnine, Roddy McDowall, Carol Lynley, Red Buttons, Leslie Nielsen, Arthur O'Connell, Jack Albertson, Pamela Sue Martin and Eric Shea.