Review of The Poseidon Adventure (1972) by Stuart K — 02 Sep 2011

From produced Irwin Allen, best known for TV shows like Lost In Space and The Time Tunnel. This is loosly based upon Paul Gallico's 1969 novel, this was a big disaster film, which is still technically brilliant all these years on, and along with The Towering Inferno (1974), you don't get big all-star ensembles like this anymore.

On board the luxury cruise ship S.S. Poseidon, which is heading from New York to Athens, the seas have got rough, and Captain Harrison (Leslie Nielsen) is worried, but Poseidon's owner Mr. Linarcos (Fred Sadoff) insists they keep on going.

During the ships New Years Eve party, there's an undersea earthquake, causing a huge tidal wave, which causes the ship to capsize and everything is upside down. Reverend Frank Scott (Gene Hackman) believes the only way out will be to try and head up towards the bottom of the ship, alot of people don't believe him, but a few including Detective Lieutenant Mike Rogo (Ernest Borgnine), his wife Linda (Stella Stevens), Manny Rosen (Jack Albertson) and his wife Belle (Shelley Winters), James Martin (Red Buttons) and injured waiter Acres (Roddy McDowall) join him on their life or death quest.

It's very suspenseful, although alot of it is over the top, but it is still entertaining and the action sequences are still well done now. Disaster films like this should make a comeback now.