The Poseidon Adventure

The luxury ocean liner SS Poseidon is struck by a massive 90-foot tidal wave triggered by an underwater earthquake near the island of Crete. The wave hits the ship directly on its side, causing it to completely flip upside down. Producer Irwin Allen popularized this disaster-at-sea trope in 1970s cinema.

Gene Hackman plays the rebellious Reverend Frank Scott, who takes a leadership role in guiding a small group of survivors upward through the inverted ship. He is joined by an ensemble cast featuring Ernest Borgnine, Shelley Winters, and Carol Lynley. Hackman's intense performance anchors the film's emotional and physical struggles.

Yes, the 1972 disaster film won two Academy Awards out of its eight nominations. It took home the Oscar for Best Original Song for 'The Morning After,' sung by Maureen McGovern. It also won the award for Best Visual Effects for its elaborate sinking and flooded engine room sequences.

The complex inverted sets were built on massive soundstages at 20th Century Fox studios. Because the sets were designed to be heavily tilted and flipped, cameras and heavy props had to be rigorously secured. A massive water tank was also constructed on the lot to film the suspenseful flooded corridor scenes.