L'aventure du Poséidon

The aging liner Poseidon, on her final journey, is struck by a tidal wave that knocks her upside down. A small group of passengers realise that if they want to survive they must journey up into the bowels of the ship hoping for rescue from above. The idea is well conceived and the excellent cast turn in good performances despite getting little help from the somewhat corny script. With above average special effects for the time and excellent sets that convincingly realise the upside down half-flooded ship and its bewildering maze of passageways, the movie manages to be compelling and exciting viewing.

Despite some questions about the plausability of the physics behind the disaster, I greatly enjoyed this film thanks mostly to the fine ensemble cast headed by the great Gene Hackman. I actually bought into the illusion that this diverse group of people was living this unreal harrowing experience. I remember my theater instructor said this film makes a statement about which people deserve to survive and thereby reproduce. Without being politically incorrect here, he said to analyze the different criteria we use to classify people and see which of these criteria can be applied to the survivors. Even without any social analysis, this is a fine disaster film, 8/10.

The Poseidon Adventure keeps you on your toes from start to finish. If you can get over the dated visual effects you're in for one great adventure. There is a stellar cast to carry this film. Gene Hackman is a standout and has some great supporting performances from Ernest Borgnine and the other cast. A unique adventure that sees a few survivors try and navigate an upside down ship for survival. You feel the intensity and nerves as they fight for their survival.

'The Poseidon Adventure' is a supremely entertaining flick from the days when blockbusters were amongst the best movies out there. Rather than the worst. Sure, it's corny and it's histrionics can seem overly familiar, but it still packs a punch. This is due to the fact that it's played completely straight. Well, relatively straight in the case of the Borgnine/ Stevens double-act. And it achieves real dramatic resonance from it's allegorical plot line. It pretty much created the template for the 'disaster' film. Favourite bits: Red Buttons' funky little walk up on deck. The way Pamela Sue Martin and her date boogie down when they hit the dance floor. Pamela Sue Martin's legs. Ditto Carol Lynley. Lynley's hippy brother. Roddy McDowall's accent and dialogue (consisting mostly of "yes, sir" and "I think so, sir"). Ernest Borgnine learning that kids can be useful as well as merely irritating. Hackman's "Please, God - not THIS woman" schtick and death scene. All of Stella Stevens' wardrobe.

I have seen many disaster films in my day but The Poseidon Adventure is truly a film that will leave you on the edge of your seat because each moment after the being hit by a tidal wave is unpredictable. The survivors have to find a way out of the ship and a preacher (Gene Hackman) has to lead them out that becomes dangerous and often scary situations they face. Each cast member played their parts with emotion that becomes dramatic at times. All in all I thought this was better then the Titanic. I know they did a remake of this film in 2005 but as I always say, stick with the classic.

This film has all the elements of a great disaster film: beautiful women in sexy gowns, a motley crew of definable characters, conflict between those fighting to survive, and very, VERY bad dialogue. They made this the hard way. No CGI. For Anyone who has seen his excellent early TV work, it is hard to believe that Stirling Silliphant wrote the terrible script. Paul Gallico gave him an excellent framework but the dialogue is pretty bad. This adds to the fun. I cannot imagine anyone over the age of ten never having seen this. Once you do you will use the line, "Just panties, what else do I need?" the rest of your LIFE. (What makes that scene even more hilarious is that Stella Stevens is obviously wearing a push up wonder bra.)

You got to start off with the cast on this movie. It's incredible, everyone in here is in excellent form. They're so good, you don't even think about stereotypes in disaster movies. Of course people have made fun of this type of films, but even the more sarcastic ones have to admit, that this movie is damn good! The movie is about a boat on a cruise and of course something bad will happen. And although the visual effects here aren't as good as in the remake (my comment on that under the remake IMDb page), but that doesn't affect the suspense. If you've watched the remake, you'll appreciate this movie much more. Extra-ordinary drama packed in a thriller disaster movie. What else do you need?