opening credits shots of the ship in the water

I agree. It's a very foreboding intimidating opening. Chilling, even. I agree the music adds a lot to it.

Recall watching this many times as a kid, on TV I guess. I remember watching it with dad and talking about the logistics of their pathway through the bowels of the ship. It's a fond memory, and probably one reason I have such an attachment to the film. Watching it tonight I realized it's probably been 10-15 years since I last saw it.

It's very well written, too. The pacing and the tension/balance, and the regular reversals are all textbook. This was made in 72 two years before Chinatown, eight years before Syd Field's book. They just had a real knack for story back then.


Thanks