Review of Gray Lady Down (1978) by Joe B — 09 Jul 2008
It seems a Japanese TV channel, available here in Shanghai is showing a season of films celebrating Charlton Hestons fantastic career in the movies. Unfortunately, the movie 'Counterpoint' was not listed on FLIXSTER (very poor show), and so I will write about both 'Counterpoint' and 'Gray Lady Down' here.
Counterpoint tells the story of a hardnosed orchestra conductor, who is captured by the Germans, and told his ochestra will be kept alive as long as they are ready to perform a concert for their captors. Heston disagrees on principle, but it forced to rethink after he is told the deal is only valid if HE conducts. The movie is a fine example of how two characters can face each other respectfully, and yet be so at odds with each others views. We are desperately lacking films like this these days, and even more so, desperately missing someone with the charisma of Heston.
4 STARS.
Gray Lady Down, on the other hand, seems all too familiar. With countless 'stuck under the sea' situation movies to choose from, it is only Heston which makes this film remotely interesting. The 70s were a great time for disaster films, and Heston was in most of them.... but here it seems like just a rehash. But one I am grateful for having seen, all the same.
TWO STARS.
This review of Gray Lady Down (1978) was written by Joe B on 09 Jul 2008.
Gray Lady Down has generally received mixed reviews.
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