I can imagine that in 1957, people going to see this movie in the theater probably sat there staring at the screen barely blinking and nobody saying a word. It is that intense, even 62 years later. Like the same year's "Twelve Angry Men", this is a film of ethical decision-making, one that while watching may have you rocking with great sobs. It is a story of survival of the fittest, out of necessity, not out of any sort of cruelty. Tyrone Power, nearing the end of his career, gives in my opinion his greatest performance.
Based upon an alleged true story, this is the story of the accidental explosion of a cruise ship heading to Europe from New York due to a floating mine. Tyrone Power is the surviving highest officer of the ship who manages to make it aboard the captain's boat before the captain passes away. The boat only fits nine, with an absolute maximum of twelve, so with twenty on it or hanging on to the side, the debate begins from the very beginning of how power will guide the boat to land. Needless to say, the decision of who will be forced to leave the boat is not an easy one, and when I see storm strikes, it becomes a necessary decision to only a the strongest and leave the ailing to God.
There is a 15-minute segment in this movie that is so intense that if I was in the theater when this first came out I know I would be gripping on to the arms of my chair, possibly drawing blood. The mixture of young and old, weak and strong, living and dying, makes Powers decisions of who will remain on and who will except about a very profound one. in fact, this film raises so many ethical questions that you may be thinking about this for hours after watching it.
The Ensemble is filled with excellent actors, but the standouts are Mai Zetterling as the exploding ship's nurse, Moira Lister as a party girl determined to prove that she's as able as any man aboard, Marie Lohr as an aging opera star who has the wisdom of all of them combined, Lloyd Nolan as an ailing officer whose breakdown stirs Power to make his decision during the storm, and Clive Morton as an imperious Major General who challenges every decision Power makes. while the comparisons to "Lifeboat" and "Titanic" are obvious, this stands out on its own and under the director of it screenwriter, Richard Sale, this ends up being one of the most intense movies about survival ever made and certainly one of the top 10 films of 1957.
Based upon an alleged true story, this is the story of the accidental explosion of a cruise ship heading to Europe from New York due to a floating mine. Tyrone Power is the surviving highest officer of the ship who manages to make it aboard the captain's boat before the captain passes away. The boat only fits nine, with an absolute maximum of twelve, so with twenty on it or hanging on to the side, the debate begins from the very beginning of how power will guide the boat to land. Needless to say, the decision of who will be forced to leave the boat is not an easy one, and when I see storm strikes, it becomes a necessary decision to only a the strongest and leave the ailing to God.
There is a 15-minute segment in this movie that is so intense that if I was in the theater when this first came out I know I would be gripping on to the arms of my chair, possibly drawing blood. The mixture of young and old, weak and strong, living and dying, makes Powers decisions of who will remain on and who will except about a very profound one. in fact, this film raises so many ethical questions that you may be thinking about this for hours after watching it.
The Ensemble is filled with excellent actors, but the standouts are Mai Zetterling as the exploding ship's nurse, Moira Lister as a party girl determined to prove that she's as able as any man aboard, Marie Lohr as an aging opera star who has the wisdom of all of them combined, Lloyd Nolan as an ailing officer whose breakdown stirs Power to make his decision during the storm, and Clive Morton as an imperious Major General who challenges every decision Power makes. while the comparisons to "Lifeboat" and "Titanic" are obvious, this stands out on its own and under the director of it screenwriter, Richard Sale, this ends up being one of the most intense movies about survival ever made and certainly one of the top 10 films of 1957.