The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

Starring: Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Red Buttons, Carol Lynley, Shelley Winters, Jack Albertson, Roddy McDowall, Stella Stevens, Pamela Sue Martin, Eric Shea, Leslie Nielsen, Fred Sadoff, Arthur O'Connell, Erik L. Nelson, Byron Webster, and Ernie F. Orsatti.

Directed by: Ronald Neame and Irwin Allen.

Story: 

Based on a novel by Paul Gallico, the story centers on a luxurious ocean liner (the SS Poseidon) that is capsized by a tidal wave, resulting in the desperate journey of a group of survivors as they make their way up to the bottom of the ship's hull before the entire vessel sinks completely.

Characters: 

*Rev. Frank Scott (Gene Hackman): A priest with a lack of faith, but has enough guts to lead this group.

*Det. Lt. Mike Rogo (Ernest Borgnine): A negative-minded Detective with an ex-prostitute for a wife.

*James Martin (Red Buttons): A bachelor who's very health-conscious.

*Nonnie Parry (Carol Lynley): The ship's singer.

*Belle Rosen (Shelley Winters): A fat woman who whines a little too much. Married to Manny.

*Manny Rosen (Jack Albertson): Belle's husband.

*Acres (Roddy McDowall): One of the Poseidon's stewards who assists Rev. Scott in navigating through the capsized ship.

*Linda Rogo (Stella Stevens): Mike's wife who's just as loud and tough as he is.

*Susan Shelby (Pamela Sue Martin): A teenage girl traveling with her younger brother Robin to meet their parents.

*Robin Shelby (Eric Shea): Susan's younger brother who asks a lot of questions and is very curious.

Overall: 

"The Poseidon Adventure" is straight off the assembly line of mega hit 70s disaster power dramas, joining "Earthquake", the "Airport" films, and "The Towering Inferno". On New Year's Day, the infamous SS Poseidon is conducting its final voyage from New York City to Athens before it is brought in for scraps. The voyage is interrupted when a huge tsunami from an underwater earthquake (mind you, this isn't possible as far as actual science is concerned, considering how small tidal waves are in open waters, it's more kosher to say that the ship was capsized by a rogue wave). Passengers and crew members trapped inside clash as Gene Hackman's rebellious preacher leads them across a risky journey, from the ball room where the New Year's party takes place and all the way up to the ship's hull which now rests on top above the water.

The film packs an all-star cast which includes five previous Academy Award Winners - Shelly Winters, Gene Hackman, Jack Albertson, Red Buttons, and Ernest Borgnine. It moves with a steady and immaculate pace that is unlike any action/disaster film you can find in theaters in this day and age. There isn't much music in this film, it's used very sparingly and only when needed, something that the 2006 remake did the complete opposite of (just like every other film made in the 2000s, go figure). The conflicts between our characters here is the film's main tune and, wow, what a soundtrack.

Irwin Allen, the man behind the 70s disaster genre, co-directed this blockbuster hit with Ronald Neame, giving birth to a huge box office success which made it the second highest grossing film of 1972, right behind "The Godfather", and a whole onslaught of Award winners (Best Original Song for "The Morning After", Best Visual Effects, Best Supporting Actress for Ms. Winters, and Best Actor for Gene Hackman).

Rating: *****