BA_Harrison Top-heavy cruise ship The Poseidon is on its final voyage when it is hit by a freak wave that turns the vessel upside-down. A handful of survivors try to make their way to the 'top' of the topsy-turvy boat before rising waters cause it to sink to the bottom of the ocean.In the battle for best disaster movie of the '70s, top contenders The Towering Inferno and The Poseidon Adventure are fairly evenly matched: both are based on best-selling novels; both have big budgets and excellent special effects; both have an all-star cast; both boast scores by John Williams; both deliver in terms of nail-biting tension and excitement; and both end with an inordinate amount of luck and happenstance for the remaining survivors. So when choosing a favourite out of the two, it all boils down to one thing as far as I am concerned: hotpants!I don't seem to recall there being too many pairs of hotpants in The Towering Inferno (no jokes about characters' trousers on fire please); The Poseidon Adventure, on the other hand, features two pairs, as worn by brunette hottie Pamela Sue Martin and blonde babe Carol Lynley (who pairs her shorts with knee-high leather boots). With both actresses regularly called upon to climb up things (and to get thoroughly soaked), this small detail clinches it for Poseidon.Throw in Stella Stevens in her panties (and Shelley Winters for those who like 'em older and much fuller of figure) and that's men of most tastes catered for. The ladies of the audience aren't so lucky - they get Gene Hackman, Roddy McDowall and Ernest Borgnine - great actors but hardly hunks.9.5/10, rounded up to 10 for IMDb.

mike48128 The "awe" has gone from this film. Shelly Winters in unintentionally funny as she bravely swims underwater. The ending is anticlimactic as we are only shown the stern of the ship near the propellers. (Yes, they do show the smokestacks when it first capsizes.) So did they run out-of-budget for the special effects and miniatures in the finale? It should have been subtitled "Who Dies Next?" Dreadfully out-of-date since 1972. Watch "Titanic " instead and ignore the few "cuss" words and very brief nudity.

daveyd-87240 I am amazed that there haven't been many comments about John William's brilliant score! Just listen to the Main Titles it shows an ominous enemy (the rough sea) is battling against them but somehow it also personifies the courage and resolve of the people on board. A most beautiful introduction which should draw people into the movie like it did me when I first saw it at age 10. These Poseidon remakes couldn't even hold a candle to this wonderful score. All in all a fine cast that did a great job despite the rather pedestrian script they were dealt and who can forget "just panties what else do I need" :) For my part Borgnine, Winters, Hackman and an honorable mention to Leslie Nielsen as The Captain and Fred Sadoff as the "bastard Linarcos" If you want to wax nostalgic then definitely watch this fixture of the 1970's.

StuOz A passenger ship turns over at sea.According to the DVD of this film, Irwin Allen did not direct this movie, but he wanted to direct it, he was always sticking his nose in the sets, and giving out storyboards (sheets of paper with drawings of what each scene should look like) to the British director...who just ignored Irwin.However, Irwin would have his chance to direct the sequel, Beyond The Poseidon Adventure (1979), which I personally think is a wonderful film filled with interesting (and sometimes amusing) people. John Williams did not score the sequel but another less known composer did a reasonable score for "Beyond".So there you have it, you can't just see the first movie, you have to see them both, as they are both great...but stay clear of the 2006 remake just titled: Poseidon.