The Movie 'The Poseidon Adventure' - The Fighting Reverend! The Heroic Figure of the Late Gene Hackman
This past February, Gene Hackman was found dead in his home. I heard he had retired from acting in 2004, but hearing this news about him after such a long time left me feeling quite sad.
If you had to name Hackman's greatest role, it would surely be Detective 'Popeye' Doyle in 'The French Connection.' However, for me, Reverend Scott in 'The Poseidon Adventure' is just as memorable.
On New Year's Eve, the massive luxury liner Poseidon is hit by a giant wave and capsizes. The ship is turned completely upside down. The passengers, who were enjoying the countdown in the ballroom, are plunged into the depths of terror in an instant.
The ship's purser insists that because the ship is watertight, they should stay in the ballroom and wait for rescue. In contrast, Reverend Scott argues that they should move as close to the bottom of the ship (which is now the top) as possible. Only nine passengers and crew follow Scott, climbing to the upper deck using a Christmas tree, and shortly after, the ballroom is swallowed by a sudden flood caused by an explosion.
Even after that, the group of ten heading toward the bottom of the ship faces various hardships. One by one, they lose their lives. Just as they are about to reach the bottom, a blast of hot steam blocks their path.
'You cannot just rely on God. People must strive to carve out their own path. God will reach out to those who do so.'
That is what Reverend Scott believes. However, faced with lives being lost one after another like this,
'God, what more do you want? If you still want more, I offer you my life.'
With those words, he leaps onto the steam-heated valve, closes it with his bare hands, and then, exhausted, falls into the flames.
Thanks to him, the remaining six reach the bottom of the ship and are saved by the rescue team.
I am sure there are differing opinions on this way of thinking about God. But when I think about whether I could face such difficulties to save myself and my companions, I find Reverend Scott to be truly heroic.
Last night, I rewatched this movie for the first time in nearly 40 years, and I was deeply moved by Gene Hackman's heroic performance.