BEYOND THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE
US, 1979, 114 minutes, Colour.
Michael Caine, Sally Field, Telly Savalas, Peter Boyle, Jack Warden, Shirley Knight, Shirley Jones, Karl Malden, Slim Pickens, Veronica Hamill, Mark Harmon.
Directed by Irwin Allen.
Beyond the Poseidon Adventure is a sequel that cannot be recommended. Most people consider it a very silly film as well as an exploitative one.
The Poseidon Adventure was one of the better action adventure films of the early 1970s, a disaster film with an effective and big cast as well as special effects. (It was remade, to less advantage, in 2005 as Poseidon).
Michael Caine and Telly Savalas are captains of two salvage companies who send boats to get all the goods and wealth from the Poseidon – even while the passengers are still alive struggling to survive.
A fairly starry cast appears in supporting roles – but not enough to give the film sense or class. It was directed by the king of disaster films, producer Irwin Allen. Allen had produced a number of action adventures, writing some, including the ludicrous Story of Mankind as well as films like Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Five Weeks in a Balloon, The Towering Inferno, The Swarm.
1. The popularity of the original film? Disaster material, the epic scale the human interest, themes of survival and heroism? The need for a sequel?
2. The impact of this film in itself? In the light of the original, as a quality sequel? The reworking of the main plot elements the surface characterizations, the melodramatic situations? Motivation, issues? The disaster and crime material popular in the late 70s?
3. Colour photography, Panavision, the sea, the upturned Poseidon, the decor of the upturned ship, the special effects? The score?
4. The opening with Mike and Celeste and their companion? The storm and its vigour? The introduction, the theme of the upturned 'Poseidon' and the flashback of its overturning? The problems of the overturned ship, coastguard, salvage? The motivation of this group going to the ship? The adventure ingredients - 'Boys' Own' style? The pursuit of the jewels in the Purser's office and the money? The change of motivation with the survivors and the rescue, the loss of the wealth - did it matter? The basic values guiding these characters?
5. The immediate contrast with Stefan? As a type, sinister appearance, his henchmen, their arms? Their going with Mike? The murder of the girl, the searching out for their cargo? The machine gun fight? The credibility of such a group looking for the 'Poseidon’? For such fighting within the ship? Audience response to such conventional villains?
6. Mike as leader, his enterprise? His concern especially about his sick companion and their bonds of work together? Working with Celeste and slinging off at her, calling her Monkey? The bond growing between the two? His ingenuity in getting the money and the jewels? The contrast with Celeste and her presence on the boat, her stories, cheeky manner, the mistakes and the accidents, her helping? her work during the rescue? Her care for the sick companion? The diamond at the end and the prospect of a happy ending? The old companion and his illness. his helping with the rescue, audience sentiment for his plight the sequences of his feeling his illness, his decision for death to save the others? Conventional hero, heroine? Sentiment?
7. The presentation of the ship, physical appearance, the ship upside down and the ingenuity in getting out? Explosions. dangers? The ending and the swimming to safety? The fear, the various shocks? The chemicals on board, guns etc.?
8. The adventure ingredients, survival, shooting? The loss of people during the rescue, the deaths? Themes of tear, anger, selfishness, hopes? Accidental deaths?
9. The crass American and his shouting and pushing his weight around, continual growling, challenging? His love for his daughter, hostility towards the boy who rescued her? his ugly remarks? His redemption by the death in the gun battle?
10. The blind man and his wife? Their being prepared to die, their selflessness during the rescue, the danger as he climbed the ladder, the fear, age, the sudden drowning of his wife and his grief?
11. Gina as the pleasant nurse, her story, her helping everyone?
12. Tex and his satire on the big-hearted Texan style, his help, promises of money, his being revealed for his occupation as cook, swimming to safety, the bottle of wine, his death?
13. The sketching in of the characters - sufficient for this kind of entertainment adventure? Audience identification, sentiment? Traditional values incorporated into this kind of popular entertainment?
