MovieChat Forums > The Last Voyage (1960) Discussion > The Granddaddy of all disaster films!

The Granddaddy of all disaster films!

posted 14 years ago by jairuswtsn
3 replies | jump to latest

The Last Voyage I believe marks the beginning of all the disaster films of the late 60's and early 70's.
Airport, Towering Inferno, Poseidon Adventure, Volcano, Earthquake are just a few of this genre that came along later.

Heroic figures, foolish idiots, brave early victims and those who lose their lives just trying to save their own sorry skin are mostly well represent in this film.
If you are remotely interested in seeing what the Ile de France looked like before the Japanese cut it up to make Toyotas, Datsuns and Hondas... then this one is worth watching. Just keep an open mind and don't look for great dialog, a surprise ending or big budget acting. But this movie was actually filmed on one of the most beautiful and more successful Atlantic ocean liners in history!

[–] donofthedial 12 years ago

No indeed.

The 1930s and 1940s had a grand run of disaster films.

SAN FRANCISCO
THE RAINS CAME
DELUGE
HISTORY IS MADE AT NIGHT
TYPHOON
GREEN DOLPHIN STREET

and more~!

[–] joegerardi-1 10 years ago

Actually, while there were many disaster-type films in the 30's and 40's, the style we come to know as "Disaster Films" today was started by John Wayne and his Batjac film company in 1954's "The High and the Mighty."

Wayne wasn't going to act in it, just produce it with Spencer Tracy in his role: Tracy, hearing that director William Wellman was a tough disciplinarian to work for, bowed out of the project late, and Wayne stepped in.

It was unavailable for many years, but is now out on DVD. It's a wonderful film.

..Joe

[–] liscarkat (16530) 4 years ago

"don't look for great dialog, a surprise ending or big budget acting"

Well, you got one out of three correct. But the lack of a surprise ending has nothing to do with a film's quality.