Nov. 15 – Water, fat ladies swimming, Christmas tree ladders and more water --
it's all here in the three-hour TV movie remake of the classic '70s disaster film
'Poseidon Adventure.' In this updated version, there are a few new twists, including a
terrorist sabotage angle.
Stars Steve Guttenberg, C. Thomas Howell and Alex Kingston recently chatted with the
press, including AOL Television editor Sean Doorly, about giant human mixers, working in
all that water and getting a job at 7-Eleven.
Were you a fan of the original?
Guttenberg: It's always fun to see a soap opera about all kinds of different human
beings trapped in some sort of box. Whether it's 'Stalag 17,' or the old 'Poseidon,' or
this 'Poseidon,' or 'Towering Inferno.' Anything that you're putting people into a
situation where they have to have their wits to get out of is always exciting to watch. As
an audience member, when I heard about this project I thought this is going to be an
exciting movie to watch.
What was it like working on an upside-down set?
Guttenberg: It was a fantastic set. We shot down in South Africa. The design of the
set incorporated hallways and entire parts of the ship that were upside down. There was a
machine built which was sort of like a large carnival ride, which could actually turn
entire rooms completely 360.
Howell: It was like a giant bingo spinner where they were turning people. They
would start this hydraulic room and they'd put these people in it, who were stunt people,
thank God, and they'd go ahead and literally spin the room upside down and everything
would go tumbling and falling. It was like a giant human mixer.
Did you experience vertigo?
Howell: The main ballroom was so large. I found it fascinating to look up at the
ceiling and all of a sudden see everything bolted down like the chairs and the tables. I
thought that was cool, but I didn't really get a sense of vertigo. There were times when I
felt claustrophobic in the hallways.
Guttenberg: Many times, we were up to our waist and our chest in water and in one
big take, the water was way above our heads. Once you get into that imaginary world,
[where] someone could drown, it does become a little shaky. But vertigo, the only time I
got 'Vertigo' was when I rented it. (Laughs)
How important do you think adding the element of terrorism to this
version was?
Guttenberg: Story wise you need an incident within the first act and in the first
movie, it was the tidal wave. You need something to destroy the ship so you can create a
story. It seemed like a modern element to have a terrorist.
Kingston: I actually asked one of the producers about that, and he said that in the
original movie a tidal wave couldn't do that to a ship unless the ship had a hole and the
balance was off-kilter. In order for it to actually to be credible, they knew that they
would have to have the ship damaged prior to the storm or a big wave.
What was the most challenging part of this production?
Guttenberg: The most challenging part was really committing to the imaginary
circumstances and trying to create true behavior in something that is a one in a million
chance. You have to use a lot of your acting muscle and chops to really make this
imaginary experience believable.
Kingston: The most challenging thing was to try and be convincing in the role I was
playing. I've never played an MI-6 agent before. Having been on 'ER' and talking in
medical language, I was very comfortable with that and then all of a sudden I'm playing a
professional who had a very different language structure and vocabulary.
Howell: It never got horrible, but there were some uncomfortable moments. In
particular, when we were working in this shark-infested ocean and we had to jump off a
hull that they had built off the beach. We felt safe because there were no sharks around
only to discover a school of jellyfish had moved into the landing area where we had to go.
We shut down for two hours so the locals could sweep out the jellyfish.
C. Thomas Howell, your dad was a stunt man. Did you get inspired to try any of the
stunts yourself?
Howell: Having seen my dad come home in horrible positions with broken legs and
broken arms, I don't necessarily aspire to do that. There was a time when I thought it was
a great thing and there are still times now where that experience definitely gives me an
advantage in a scene with stunt fights. My father was in the original 'Poseidon Adventure'
as a stunt man at the helm. He was one of the guys first hit by the tidal wave.
Have you ever found yourself in a chaotic situation and how did you
deal with it?
Howell: I rode the earthquake in 1994 in Los Angeles and a lot of damage happened
to the house. It wasn't as dramatic as a boat being turned upside down. You know, in the
moment, when everything's happening, you're trying to get your bearings and figure out
what's going on. I couldn't imagine being put in a life or death situation in like…
the 'Poseidon Adventure.' If it were me personally, I'd do a lot of running around in a
circle screaming.
Do you have any upcoming projects?
Guttenberg: Other than my job at 7-Eleven, I have a show called 'Meet the Santas,'
which is a show from Hallmark. Last year we did 'Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus.' It is
coming on in December and then I'm doing a few episodes of 'Veronica Mars.'
Kingston: I did three independent [movies] last year. I don't know when any of them
are coming out; they are all either being edited or seeking distribution right now. One is
'Alpha Dog,' which is Nick Cassavetes' new movie. Another one was called 'Sweet Land' by a
great director named Ali Selim. And the third one is 'Crashing' and I forgot the
director's name! (Laughs).
Howell: I worked with him. I was up for that and didn't get it. (Laughs). I
recently finished a film with Michael Madsen and Denis Hopper called 'Hoboken Hollow.' I
just did a comedy called 'Cold Ones.' And I was fortunate enough to have done an episode
of 'ER' last month. It couldn't have been more comforting set and I never had more fun.
Other than that, I'm going to go get a job with Steve at 7-Eleven.