The most exhausting movie of Gene Hackman’s career: “It is still number one”
It’s no secret that some film sets are tumultuous – cursed, even. Look at Werner Herzog’s infamous production of Fitzcarraldo, which led to severe injuries, on-set rivalries, amputation, two small plane crashes, illness, and even the deaths of several extras. Then there’s Apocalypse Now, which also saw countless issues, including the death of a workman, illnesses, and even a typhoon. It seems as though some movies, perhaps too ambitious in their scope, can only cause difficulties for the cast and crew. Is any film ever worth it?
When actors sign up to become stars, they know what they’re getting themselves into—emotionally taxing roles, clashing with co-stars, and sometimes even finding themselves in rather compromising positions. But what about stunts that push them far beyond their comfort zone? For Gene Hackman, taking the lead in the 1972 disaster epic The Poseidon Adventure, directed by Ronald Neame, meant enduring far more gruelling work than he likely bargained for.
The actor, who had already cut his teeth in various television shows and movies, having earned two Oscar nominations for Bonnie & Clyde and I Never Sang For My Father, played Reverend Frank Scott. His character attempts to guide a small group of people after the cruiseliner, who are travelling on flips on its side. Other actors who starred in the film included Red Buttons, Stella Stevens, Roddy McDowell, Shelley Winters, Ernest Borgnine, and Carol Lynley, making it a rather stacked cast.
Thanks to its ensemble of stars, impressive direction and special effects, The Poseidon Adventure won two Oscars and earned significant praise. Hackman’s performance was acclaimed, as usual, but he found the experience of shooting the movie incredibly tough. Disaster movies typically involve lots of action, requiring actors to do things like submerging themselves in water, running long distances in uncertain climates, and putting themselves in real danger.
Pamela Sue Martin recalled her experience of shooting the film in a feature published by The Telegraph, explaining, “It was arduous even for an 18-year-old. I can’t imagine what it was like for the older members. We did swimming and climbing and running through fire. It was pretty real; it wasn’t special effects. We were really uncomfortable, wet and dirty.” This sentiment was echoed by Hackman, who also put himself through the wringer for the sake of cinema. “It is still number one as the most physically exhausting movie I have ever done,” the actor said, who was 42 at the time of filming.
He added: “By the time filming was completed, we were the dirtiest, sorest muscled, most bedraggled cast in movie history.”
The intense conditions that the cast had to suffer through even caused an injury in Hackman’s knee that he’d sustained 30 years before to flare up, leading him to have it drained several times while filming. The movie saw the cast do everything from navigating giant pools of water to standing by huge, loud explosions, and naturally, being in such dangerous and tiring conditions really did a number on a lot of the actors.
The movie is one of the most acclaimed disaster movies of all time, however, and it further cemented Hackman’s place in Hollywood as a star.
