MovieChat Forums > The Poseidon Adventure (1972) Discussion > Useless people

Useless people

posted 9 years ago by Beeracuda
11 replies | jump to latest

First let me say that I've always liked this movie since the first time I saw it in the theater in 1972.

Having said that, I can't help noticing the number of useless people in this film, particularly Nonnie. Here is a list of things she's can't do:

- Can't leave her dead brother.
- Can't climb a Christmas tree.
- Can't pull herself up a ramp.
- Can't climb a ladder.
- Can't go on after thinking about her dead brother again.
- Can't swim.

It was rather annoying watching her give up at each and every obstacle.

Then you have Mrs Rosen. Yes she was a hero near the end. But for much of the movie, in her mind anyway, she was always too fat to do anything. One scene in particular annoyed me - when she had to go up that ramp to the next floor. Ok, I understand that she may have needed help. But instead of trying to climb while being pulled, she sat on her butt while they dragged her up with the fire hose. I would think most people would have at least made some effort to save themselves in that situation, no matter how disadvantaged they may be.

[–] Stevicus-2 9 years ago

I think a lot of viewers of this movie were frustrated with Nonnie, although I don't think it means she's useless. She was obviously scared, and some people freeze up and literally don't know what to do when they face situations they're not prepared for.

[–] cuechick 9 years ago

I think often in older films (and sometimes current ones) women's character are written as "damsels in distress" who become hysterical in times of peril. I just watched the 1937 film Lost Horizon in which the only woman on the doomed flight suddenly becomes so hysterical she almost jumps out of the plane. Really?

Even though both of these film were written by men, I don't think it is sexism as much as a cultural ideal of the times. i.e.: Women are the weaker sex, emotionally fragile and prone to hysteria... it has been a very slow progression to the strong, zombi killing, crime fighting, gun carrying, tomb raiding, cattle prod wielding (Fargo reference), ghost busting heroines of today.

Still these are both great films and also time capsules of the times they were made in. Just something to keep in mind in our ever changing world.

[–] Beeracuda 9 years ago

That's actually an excellent point you make in regards to the "damsel in distress" aspect. You're right in that it was much more common back in the day when making films. Not only is the movie 43 years old, but it was written and directed by an even older generation, who grew up with movies from the 30s and 40s.

Looking at it from today's perspective, it does kind of make it more interesting and somewhat of a time capsule. Much like when you watch older movies and see so many characters smoking cigarettes, especially in indoor places where they have long since been banned.

I do, however, think that they might have overdone Nonnie's character in making her the damsel in distress.

[–] cuechick 9 years ago

I do, however, think that they might have overdone Nonnie's character in making her the damsel in distress.

Totally agree with you on that. It did make it ironic that she was one of the few of the group to survive.

[–] Beeracuda 9 years ago

It did make it ironic that she was one of the few of the group to survive.

Indeed! Not to mention, the one with the strongest will to live, Reverend Scott, was the last one to die.

[–] ricky_may-47537 9 years ago

Even more ironic, considering the two people who fall in love in the film (Nonnie and Martin) actually hated each other in real life (off screen anyway). I still dont see how Nonnie thought staying behind while the others went to the engine room would result in them being rescued perhaps (the room would more than likely have flooded long before then).

[–] InherentlyYours 9 years ago

Because this one of his few films to add characterization, instead of just style. We are supposed to sympathize with Nonnie, but consider if it was the character or the actress. (why did Lynley/Martin "hate" each other in real life?)

But it's necessarily 'damsels in distress'; women are generally physically weaker then men, especially the petite women in this film , Charlies' Angels doesn't count

[–] fchilds 8 years ago

I wouldn't say they "hated" each other....the character of James Martin wasn't written to be an older man. Gene Wilder was originally in talks to play the role. When that fell through, Irwin Allen cast his old friend Red Buttons. Carol Lynley was twenty something years younger and she just found it odd that they were supposed to play off each other and this offended Red Buttons. More of a misunderstanding than a hatred.

[–] mizhub 8 years ago

Carol Lynley herself described Nonnie (sorry, no link or anything. Just an article I read) as being 'born neurotic'.

[–] KingTrump 8 years ago

I use to find Nonnie annoying, but I grown to love her character. Carol did a fantastic job. What would the movie be like without her?

[–] Synergetic11 8 years ago

Who cares? She's an absolutely gorgeous woman you can't take your eyes off. That's all that matters. Without Carol Lynley and her constant wet T-shirt contest, Stella Stevens and her boobs of destiny, and the supercute 18 year old Pamela Sue Martin, all there to excite and eroticize the male psyche and give it a reason for "heroism," only homos and boring old impotent farts would watch this movie. lol

The heroic tend to become more "sexy" and therefore erotic through acts of heroism. It's even almost the same word with really only the "t" being a difference and the "h" being almost unpronounced and irrelevant, h-eroic and ero-t-ic. They go together, folks, like rock'n'roll, sex and drugs, since rebellion also has its aspects of heroism.