|
By
NICK ZEGARAC
You're on a luxury cruise
when suddenly your vessel capsizes: what do you
do? Director Ronald Neame attempts to explain
seafaring survival tactics with The Poseidon
Adventure (1972); a gripping disaster epic
costarring Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Red
Buttons, Stella Stevens, Shelley Winters, Carol
Lynley, Roddy McDowell and Jack Alpertson. Hackman
is Rev. Frank Scott, a no nonsense cleric on the
verge of being excommunicated for his
free-thinking interpretation of the Holy Bible and
where mankind fits into its grand plan. Scott's
edict of ‘believe in yourself' and ‘look to
yourself for all answers' serves him, and the
survivors of the wreck, well as they make their
way through the upside down bowels of the sinking
leviathan.
Winters and Alpertson are old married couple Belle
and Manny Rosen, en route to visit the grandchild
they've never seen when disaster strikes. They
prove a united front, particularly Belle – who
swims a dangerous route between two submersed
decks to save Rev. Scott and lead remaining
survivors to safety. Borgnine and Stevens are
retired Det. Mike and Linda Rogo. Linda's
checkered past as a hooker is about to be exposed
when the S.S. Poseidon does its roll over in open
waters. Mike is not impressed with the Reverend's
plan of action – climbing up through the hull of
the ship to cut a hole in the bottom to freedom.
But with the ocean rising fast at their heels,
there's little he can do but stubbornly comply
with each request.
Red Buttons is James Martin, a middle-aged
bachelor who takes a romantic interest in band
singer Nonnie Parry (Lynley). Nonnie's brother
Teddy (Stuart Perry) was one of Poseidon's first
casualties, crushed beneath his equipment when the
ship capsized. Reluctantly, Nonnie agrees to go
with James, though her terror throughout the
excursion makes each moment of their journey very
real for the rest of us.
As far as acting goes, the film is relatively
engaging. But with each conquered deck the
casualty list grows, prompting Rogo and Scott to
go at one another's throats. The cast roster also
includes minor but effective supporting turns from
Pamela Sue Martin (pre-Nancy Drew days), Arthur
O'Connell, as the sympathetic ship's chaplain and
stoic Leslie Nielson as its captain.
At last, The Poseidon Adventure comes to DVD in a
vibrant anamorphic transfer. When Fox released
this film to the digital format in 1999 it had a
reasonably sharp image. That image is now enhanced
for widescreen televisions with a very nice
upgrade. Colors are rich, detailed and bold. Fine
details are present even during the darkest
scenes. Contrast levels are dead on. Blacks are
deep and solid. A hint of grain is detected
throughout the presentation, but nothing that will
distract. Age related artifacts are practically
nonexistent. There are no digital anomalies to
speak of. As with their re-release of The Towering
Inferno, The Poseidon Adventure gets a deluxe 2
disc treatment with a shipload of extras. On disc
one is an engaging commentary by Neame and members
of the cast. There's also a superfluous ‘Follow
the Escape' interactive featurette. On disc two we
get 6 featurettes about the cast and crew, the AMC
Backstory television special on the making of the
film, storyboard comparisons, vintage promos and a
stills gallery. Great stuff!
Bottom line: The film has been remade for this
summer's blockbuster season as ‘Poseidon' – but it
remains to be seen whether anything will ever top
the original for genuine chills, thrills and
perilous excitement on the high seas. Wear a life
jacket while viewing. |
