Seven Days from Now (1957) User Reviews

not for the feint of heart

[blanche-2 · 8/10 · 29 September 2005]

Abandon Ship/Seven Waves Away is a very powerful and difficult film to watch, made a little more palatable by the presence of one of film's great matinée idols, Tyrone Power. I'm sorry one of the posters didn't find him sexy. That man oozed sex from every pore of his body - just ask anyone who came within two feet of him, including his costar in this film, Mai Zetterling. Their torrid affair is discussed in vivid, oh so vivid detail in her autobiography - a whole 18-page chapter.

Sex aside, this film comes off as a great deal grittier than Lifeboat. For me, Tallulah Bankhead was so dazzling in Lifeboat, much of the focus was on her, which somehow dissipated a lot of the tragedy. The two films are similar, though, on some plot points. However, due to Bankhead, there was some humor in Lifeboat. Abandon Ship/Seven Waves Away has none.

The film will keep you glued to your seat, but it is not easy to take, as it is unrelenting in its message and harrowing scenes. You will suffer along with each person who is sacrificed so that others may live.

It's great to see Tyrone Power in a meatier role, and I do believe his career would have taken some exciting turns, both on stage and screen, had he lived past the age of 44. His face was a total curse (to him only) and got in the way of serious acting pursuits for years. His performance in Abandon Ship is excellent and stands as one of his best. There are other films where he had a tendency to tighten up, but this wasn't one of them. It's a shame about him - like so many men of that era, he always had a cigarette in his hand; in Power's case, it was suspected he had heart trouble, but he was in denial about it and didn't want it verified. So we're stuck with what work of his we have, and a lot of it is pretty darn good.

** According to Mai Zetterling's book, All Those Tomorrows, the cast sat in a boat floating in a large indoor tank at Shepperton Studios. There were wind and wave machines and a watershoot pouring cold water on the cast. A starting pistol had to be used to start action as there was no way to hear the director. In the end, the whole film was dubbed because no one could hear. Zetterling had a nearly three-year affair with Power, which gets a chapter in her book.

Gripping, well acted survival story...

[Doylenf · 7/10 · 26 August 2006]

As gripping and powerful as it is, ABANDON SHIP! is a survival story that's hard to view from the comfort of an armchair or theater seat. The viewer can identify so completely with the daunting task facing the ship's officer (TYRONE POWER) when making life and death decisions with regard to how many people can use the lifeboat when a sunken ship leaves them adrift at sea.

True, there are a few stereotypes among the raft's passengers, but the drama becomes real and forceful due to the strong performances from an excellent cast. MAI ZETTERLING is fine as a nurse with a romantic relationship to Executive Officer Power and STEPHEN BOYD and LLOYD NOLAN are fine as other ship officers caught up in unusual circumstances surrounding their survival at sea.

Not for the squeamish, it has echoes of Hitchcock's LIFEBOAT (but without the humor).

Tyrone Power was at a stage in his career when he wanted more serious roles rather than stay forever fixed in the minds of movie-goers as a swashbuckling star. Here he certainly had his chance to prove his acting skills and he does a splendid job in a grim role, one of his last parts before his premature death from a heart attack at age 45.

Law Of The Jungle On The Sea

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 9 December 2007]

Seven Waves Away is the story of ship's officer played by Tyrone Power who to save the people in his charge after a shipwreck has to cast several of them adrift so the bulk can be saved. The only thing that 100% of those who view this harrowing tale is they pray that such a responsibility never falls on them.

I'm not sure it was peace or war time that this story is supposed to have taken place. The ship is an ocean liner on a round the world cruise. But what happens is that it strikes a loose mine floating out in the south Atlantic, 1500 miles from the coast of Africa. I can't believe that people would be taking cruises in the middle of a war nor would any pleasure ships be sailing.

As Tyrone Power describes it, the mine didn't just strike the ship in one spot. It went under the ship and bounced along the bottom and when it exploded, it cut the ship right in half. It was down faster than the Lusitania when it was torpedoed. Less than 10 minutes, no lifeboats launched, no distress signal sent.

The boat they're on is the captain's ship to shore craft. It accommodates nine and twenty seven are in Power's charge as the senior ship's officer. Who's to live and who's to die?

Mai Zetterling is on the boat, she's Power's girl friend, a fact noted with some resentment by others, but she's a nurse. Lloyd Nolan is another officer who sacrifices himself after telling Power what his duty is.

Best performance in the film is that of Moira Lister who's a society woman and a swimmer. She's just full of cutting remarks about the 'brave captain'.

The film lists Ted Richmond as producer, but a silent partner in the venture was Tyrone Power. His performance as the ship's officer with a double Job like burden is excellent. He was well past his youthful days as a romantic idol and it's sad to think he would be dead next year because any number of parts would have opened up for him. This one in fact should have netted him an Oscar nomination.

Seven Waves Away is a film not for the faint hearted.

A movie that makes you search your soul...

[lora64 · 10/10 · 28 September 2006]

This was my first viewing of the film and in my humble opinion Ty Power was terrific as a dramatic actor. It really opened my eyes to his capabilities. He had what it takes to project the reality across to us, the viewers. Although I wouldn't want to be in his situation, of deciding on the fate of survivors in a lifeboat, still I felt his decisions were the best that could be done in such an extreme and dire situation. I'm sure no one would want to be in his shoes at that time.

Each actor contributed in their minor roles, - nice to see Stephen Boyd in an earlier role - Lloyd Nolan seen rather briefly, and Mai Zetterling as the nurse who was supportive throughout.

Who can say what each and everyone would be willing to decide on if confronted with the inevitable decision of life and death, or basic survival as in this case. It's certainly something to think about in quiet moments.

I found this film riveting throughout as the dialogue progressed and decisions were made, rightly or wrongly, on people's lives.

It's a remarkably realistic revelation of human nature at its best and worse. A "must see" for those interested in drama, and particularly in Ty Power's development as a serious performer. Well recommended.

Which will the Captain choose? You or me?

[film-critic · 10/10 · 24 November 2007]

From the opening scenes, director Richard Sale makes you aware that this is not going to be a "pretty" film. With the small shot of a simple sea mine floating in the water transforming into a classic 1950s explosion with horrific screams of passengers, Sale again reminds you that this is not going to be a typical Hollywood disaster film. As a reviewer, I must remind those reading that this is not a pretty picture – do not expect your typical film where the heroine always makes good decisions and those that are made do not impact the lives of others. "Seven Waves Away" was a flawless film. It is one of those rare, extremely rare gems that has gone out of print, probably forgotten by most, but when found will provide the most gut-wrenching 97 minutes of cinematic viewing. The plot is simple – a luxury liner is destroyed by a random mine, those surviving are cramped into a lifeboat only equipped to handle 12, 14 at the most, but the dilemma, there are 27 surviving passengers. Weight, rations, sanity, and control are all factors that our leader, Tyrone Powers, must struggle with to save as many lives as possible. With no land for the next 1200 miles, Powers must remain in control, even with death knocking at every door.

"Seven Waves Away" now ranks among one of my favorite films of all times. Why? Director Richard Sale does a phenomenal job directing a strong cast in such a small space. He creates a sense of claustrophobia that is unprecedented in the film industry. This film is the chapter missing from the over-budgeted disaster film "Titanic", which happily everyone shows up safe near the end. This is the human element of disaster, the choices that are made, and the difficulty of survival. This couldn't have happened without those playing their respective roles. Tyrone Powers was more than impressive as the designated master-in-command of this little boat full of scared people. When we first met him, as he assisted in others floating away from the wreckage, we can see that he is going to be a force in this film, and it isn't until he is pushed that we see the full potential of his character. He pushed himself away from any swashbuckling stereotypes that he was better known for, allowed water to be pushed into his face, and gave us a rugged performance that hasn't been seen for a very long time. It was due to Powers' portrayal that the others fell into their own characters as well. Others have argued that each character seemed cliché and at times racist, but to me, they all worked and fell into their roles respectively. The only one I had trouble believing was Mai Zetterling's portrayal of Powers' love interest and nurse. She was cardboard with lines, but worked with the others around her. She was tolerable because the actual story was powerfully near to perfection.

With the characters in place, a strong lead that obviously could control the darkening waters, all we needed to ensure was that there was a strong enough story to accompany these deserved moments. Thankfully, there was. "Seven Waves Away" was one of the tightest scripts that I have witnessed in a very long time. The camera shots were tight, the special effects were 50s style, but perfection in every direction, and the bleak tones were what kept me on the edge of my seat each minute of this film. There is something about a film, especially one made in the 50s that shows unfortunate people just floating out to their death. There is also something about the power of a film that isn't afraid to be honest to itself. "Seven Waves Away" was honest; the horrid nature of Powers saying "women and children don't mean anything anymore" had my heart racing. He was powerful, yet torn all at the same time. He carried a burden none of us would probably be willing to do, and oddly, he was hurt for it. The ending of this film is really what pulled it together for me. The excitement of the crew turned to a wicked shade of turnip at the first signs of possible safety. The honesty of this film is what struck the chord with me. It was powerful and real all at the same time. There wasn't time for cheap CGI or pathetic special effects, this was a human driven film, and it worked because they were all characters we either believed in or have once known. Which would you have been if you were in this boat – one of the strong or one of the weak? This is a conversation that I could have with anyone after viewing this film, and it is conversation that launches this film into my immediate favorites.

Overall, I don't think my words gave this film credit at all. It was, again, one of those rare films that should never go out of print, but remain a staple in our cinematic community. Tyrone Powers is superb, and Richard Sale gives us a story nearly worthy enough of Hitchcock. I still get goose bumps as I think about Powers making the final decision on those that are considered "dead weight". This film carried a heavy theme and wasn't afraid to show it to the world. It is a real film about honest events and the truth behind humanity, it speaks further truth now, and would make for a great re-interpretation if not Hollywood-ized too much. I cannot suggest this film enough. If ever you find yourself with a bit more money in the wallet, this film is the perfect investment for your collection. A beauty from beginning to end.

Grade: ***** out of *****

Strong, very strong

[sychonic · 14 May 2001]

Some movies ask questions you'd rather not hear, and come up with answers you'd rather not believe are true. This is one of them. People put in an impossible situation, where rising to the best people can be isn't exactly what you think it should be. And of course, people being plain old selfish and short sighted. Perhaps the most interesting point in the movie, spoiler here, is contemplating what they've done--throwing the weak and the sick overboard to assure that most will survive. After the fact, they look for someone to blame, happy that they're alive, yet not wanting to take responsibility for the deeds that were required for them to live.

This is one of those movies that really requires attention--there are some silly stereotypes, like the hard bitten party girl, old before her time with a foppish husband; the stuffy bloated egotistical general, etc. grist from the mill of fifties writers. But Tyrone Power puts in one of his best performances, known more for swashbuckling, he really shows he has some strong acting. He was always a bit underappreciated in his time.

This is a dark movie, best viewed at night, so it will haunt you--not because it's a horror, but because it's true. What people do to survive is always a concept worth exploring, but despite the lack of any gruesome modern effects, or blood or really anything of the sort, this movie is deeply unsettling. When faced with killing the weak, the helpless, the old, the sick, the hurt, in order to live, what would any of us do?

Tyrone Powers holds this movie together

[kfo9494 · 7/10 · 20 August 2016]

Even though I thought this film lacked qualities about the true event, I do acknowledge that Tyrone Powers was an actor with an abundant of talent. His ability to capture the viewer and hold the suspense is the reason that this movie is so well enjoyed by many.

The movie's, one and only, set is a small boat on the ocean. This happens as we are told a ship hits an old sea-mine and breaks the keel. Thus, making the ship sinks in minutes with few people surviving. We are not privy to see how the ship sank nor how the characters get into the water as the film begins after the sinking. The first bit of dialog starts as characters are already clinging to floating wreckage.

The rest of the movie all happens in the ocean. Here, Alec Holmes (Powers), will be in charge of a small boat that has way too many people aboard. Holmes makes the decision that some have to go-- and this brings us to the plot of the story.

The entire movie hinges on Power's ability to hold the audience's attention for nearly 90 minutes. Tyrone Powers accomplishes this task by giving a powerful performance. The only drawback of the movie are some of the small scenes that were overplayed for dramatic effect. It happens right at the beginning as two survivors cope with the sinking and lost of love ones. Another is when the radio operator tells that he never sent out a SOS message - and then near the end when one person wants to drown but is saved by others. Otherwise an enjoyable film to watch.

Under-appreciated Classic

[mark_r_harris · 10/10 · 10 June 2002]

Once seen, never forgotten. Very few films have ever moved into Hitchcock's territory and beaten him, but Seven Waves Away / Abandon Ship is one: ultimately it's a much superior film to Hitchcock's similar Lifeboat. Seven Waves Away was made with impressive conviction and passion by writer-director Richard Sale, who was very active in the 1950s but didn't get another opportunity to direct a feature after this one, despite living 36 more years (what's up with that?). Working with production designer Wilfred Shingleton and art director Raymond Simm and filming almost entirely in a large tank (except perhaps for a few long shots), Sale created an unforgettably immediate atmosphere for a completely harrowing and uncompromising tale of survival at sea under the worst imaginable physical and ethical circumstances.

The cast performed admirably under very trying circumstances (imagine being wet all day, every day); in fact, the miseries of the filming process influenced the acting in a quasi-documentary manner that benefits the picture enormously. Even seen on television, Seven Waves Away is an intensely experiential movie; I can only imagine what it felt like on the large screen.

This was practically Tyrone Power's last hurrah; in his early forties when the movie was filmed, he died of a heart attack on a project shortly thereafter (as his actor-father Tyrone Power Sr. had before him). Power acts with tremendous force and tension as the "captain" here; the dramatic arc of the story is contained entirely within his decision-making process, and for a first-time viewer his key decision (which I will not reveal) will always register as startling because it runs so counter-intuitively to our received sense of ethics. But that is part of what gives Seven Waves Away its wallop.

This giant had wet feet.

[shneur · 6/10 · 25 September 2005]

I don't feel that I MUST praise this film just because it's fifty years old and stars Tyrone Power. I just didn't think it was very good. Yes, Power is the leader who "has greatness thrust upon him" and rises to the occasion of making terribly difficult moral decisions for himself and others. But as that struggle is in fact the very essence of the story, which otherwise takes place entirely in a small boat in the middle of the ocean, I think we're entitled to some real drama in its unfolding, however the writers and director might choose to communicate it. Watching Tyrone Power just grit his teeth and forge ahead may have been very sexy to a certain audience, but it was highly unsatisfactory at least to this viewer. The highlight of the film was the supporting cast's performance: several ancillary characters were developed far more than that of the protagonist.

Tyrone Power and the Sea

[theowinthrop · 10/10 · 20 September 2005]

In 1946 Tyrone Power managed to start convincing his friend and producer, Darryl Zanuck, to occasionally let him flex his muscles as a straight, serious actor. Zanuck reluctantly agreed, so that Power did THE RAZOR'S EDGE and (more important) NIGHTMARE ALLEY. In the former he struggled to show a man who sought and found spiritual piece in the years following World War I, while his friends went mad in the materialistic hopelessness of Europe and America. In the latter he showed he could play a really nasty, opportunistic heel. But neither film was a blockbuster for Power (THE RAZOR'S EDGE did help push the career of his co-star Clifton Webb). NIGHTMARE ALLEY was a critical success, but a flop at the box office. Zanuck returned Power to his old heroic films, aged a little because he was growing older. As a partial sop his characters had less pleasant sides - his character in PRINCE OF FOXES is a willing tool of Cesare Borgia (Orson Welles) for the first half of the movie. But Power remained the good guy hero.

In the 1950s (after his contract with Fox was completed) Power made more varied films, that showcased the good actor he had become. In particular his tragic biography THE EDDIE DUCHIN STORY, his interesting western RAWHIDE, his shifty defendant in WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION, his physically damaged (and emotionally wounded) hero in THE SUN ALSO RISES, and this film, ABANDON SHIP/SEVEN WAVES AWAY. The story is reset in modern times. It is the story of the sinking, in 1841, of the William Brown - the same shipwreck that is the subject of Henry Hathaway's movie SOULS AT SEA (1937) that starred Gary Cooper, George Raft, and Henry Wilcoxen. Basically the situation is this: you are in the sole floating lifeboat from a ship that has sunk. There are fifty people clinging to it or inside it. But the frail boat can only be assured of floating with twenty or so passengers in it. So, as the surviving officer in the boat you have to decide who shall live and who shall die. Cooper had to make that choice in SOULS AT SEA, and faces trial for murder as a result. Power does the same thing here too - with similar results.

But the handling of the William Brown tragedy in SOULS AT SEA was the conclusion of that film: The situation and it's resolution took all of ten minutes of the total movie. In ABANDON SHIP, Power is in this dreadful moral dilemma for the entire film. The Captain (Lloyd Nolan) dies early on. Power has to pick and choose among all these few survivors as to who should be kept and who is expendable (based on age, physical condition, value to society). He is unable to rely on anyone else - a fact that is brought to his attention not only by the actions of a critical Stephen Boyd at one point, but by the way Mai Zetterling and James Hayter distance themselves from him when the lifeboat is finally picked up. All powerful in his unwanted element while everyone's lives depended on him, he is all alone when the dangers for the survivors pass away.

ABANDON SHIP is a hard film to sit through as it is so bleak - it is the bleakest movie that Powell ever made (even THE EDDIE DUCHIN STORY had an element of hope in it because Eddie's son Peter was there to carry on the family's name and reputation). But it is an example of good acting all around with a thoughtful script. And it demonstrates that Tyrone Power was a mighty dramatic performer when he was given the right material.

What would YOU do?

[JasparLamarCrabb · 6/10 · 9 May 2009]

After a ship hits a mine and sinks, officer Tyrone Power is forced to take command of a lifeboat and decide who gets to live and who gets left behind. His decision to lighten the lifeboat and save those he can is, of course, met with full on rejection by the other survivors. Though featuring a large cast, this is not an all-star disaster movie. It's much more of a nail-biter than anything else. Director Richard Sale's tightly wound film proposes a real moral dilemma (what would YOU do?). Power is perfect for this role...he's very stoic and very commanding and the supporting cast, including Bergman star Mai Zetterling is terrific. Lloyd Nolan is excellent as a fellow officer and Stephen Boyd, in an early role, is very good as one of Power's subordinates who realizes that obedience to authority is not that easy. Moira Lister plays a catty party girl (perhaps a tip of the hat to Bankhead in Hitchock's LIFEBOAT?). An odd, exciting film.

Excellent

[AlexanderAnubis · 8/10 · 31 March 2016]

CONTAINS SPOILERS

No long vistas of sloping decks under starlit skies or of a sinking ship with rows of frightened people lining the rails. The film opens with a close up of a derelict WWII mine sloshing about in the sea while the sound of a large liner's engines gets louder and louder. A very brief swirl of explosion, fire and smoke set to a score of people screaming as a voice intones "Abandon Ship!" This is followed by a short sequence of some effective images - particularly a baby doll floating face up - with a narrator telling us the rest of the background we need to know for this unusual, unsettling drama about survival to begin.

The story is simply this: a lifeboat is too overcrowded to survive a coming storm and the senior officer must decide unilaterally who to jettison overboard so the rest can have a chance to live. A simple problem with a simple solution - sort of.

Based on events following the loss of the William Brown which departed Liverpool, England on March 13, 1841 for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with 65 passengers and 17 crew, and sank about 250 miles off Newfoundland after colliding with an iceberg on the night of April 19. (The Titanic sank about 300 miles off Newfoundland after colliding with an iceberg on the night of April 15 - 71 years later.)

The film upgrades the ship to a large luxury liner in the mid-20th century and places it in the Pacific or South Atlantic Ocean as opposed to an emigrant vessel in the North Atlantic in the mid-19th century. It also takes many dramatic liberties with details and invents some over-dramatized subplots yet retains the larger events and moral dilemma essentially intact. The time line of the real events is naturally compressed in the film for clarity, but very well paced.

In the actual sinking, two crew members made the decisions about who to sacrifice: the First Mate, Francis Rhodes and a crewman named Alexander William Holmes. Again for clarity, the film sensibly distills these into one character called Alexander Holmes (Tyrone Power) and makes him the senior officer. It also creates a plausible, (but not perfect), scenario for how one person in a crowded lifeboat could alone compel others to throw some overboard. Not that easy a plot device to construct without arming him with a machine gun - the script only allows its 'Alexander Holmes' a pistol which is initially unloaded and a flare gun.

The real Holmes, Rhodes and other survivors eventually reached Philadelphia; Rhodes fled and was never found. Holmes was tried between April 13-23, 1842 in Philadelphia for manslaughter, found guilty and sentenced to a fine of $20.00 and six months in prison. The defense offered an argument of self-preservation, which had some merit hence the relatively light sentence and the jury's recommendation for leniency.

The film ends with the survivors being rescued by a passing ship. At the finale the narrator returns, (nicely book-ending the story), explains that the real Holmes was tried, found guilty, sentenced to only six months due to the unusual circumstances and then asks the viewer to decide for themselves. This isn't Bergman or Campion or Kubrick but even so some serious thought went into this production.

Another IMDb reviewer is very hard on this film, finding the plot absurd and unrealistic. Indeed it does appear fantastic, yet the historical accuracy is unusual for a movie in general and exceptional for 1957 US/UK co-production from Columbia Pictures. Before the invention of radio, ('wireless telegraphy'), in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, survivors of a disabled or sunken ship were pretty much on their own and had no way to call for help - the times when ships could literally "disappear without a trace." (Of course, at the time the movie takes place radio was well established - the script eliminates this inconsistency quite nicely.) The type of case the film is based on wasn't exactly unique: an excellent examination of the issues surrounding survival after shipwreck is "Cannibalism and the Common Law," A.W. Brian Simpson, University of Chicago Press, 1984. The book focuses on Regina v. Dudley & Stephens, the 1884 trial of two seamen for killing and eating the cabin-boy following the loss of the yacht Mignonette.

Technically the film is very well done. The black and white photography is excellent and must have been difficult with so much water everywhere. The script has enough grit and rough edges to give it some real substance. Very good, solid performances by Tyrone Power, Mai Zetterling, Moira Lister, Lloyd Nolan and the rest of the cast. (Perhaps 'heroic' performances is more accurate given how often everyone on screen is soaked either from being immersed shoulders deep or from having spray blown onto them.) Often compared to Hitchcock's Lifeboat, which, I think, is a bit of apples & oranges as the claustrophobic locations are similar but the core plots distinct. Lifeboat is the earlier film and, not surprisingly, even though he had to make it up as he went along Hitchcock captured the claustrophobic feeling somewhat better. But director Richard Sale does a very good job as well and I would guess he probably had Lifeboat memorized before production started on Abandon Ship.

David Langton, Gordon Jackson and Laurence Naismith have small parts: Langton and Jackson would work together again as the characters Richard Belamy and Angus Hudson, respectively, in the outstanding BBC series Upstairs, Downstairs of the early 1970s. Naismith plays the briefly surviving captain and the following year would play the Titanic's captain EJ Smith in A Night to Remember - not a lucky actor when given the command of a celluloid ship.

Not flawless and perhaps a bit dated, but still a rather powerful, disturbing film. If this sort of story appeals, I recommend it very highly.

XYZ

Good example of over the top drama before cgi

[eddonnell · 6/10 · 26 March 2016]

stereo-typical characters and plot, such as honorable injured people, shady passengers, "old school" moralist, a lot of dialog, that waste more water and food energy than actual people would and have done in similar real life situations. and the predictable drama of being in a lifeboat in the open ocean. But, the actuality of the choices made, and grandstanding by all the characters make this a yak fest. and Tyron powers over the top bullying to assert authority is pretty foolish, not much he could do if they refused him, as he just didn't have the mojo to personally back up his decisions, and when it comes to survival, there is no one in charge of others fate, as such real life tales have shown. Has all the typical parts of such a movie, an OK movie, but nothing great.

Well-made but thoroughly unpleasant--think twice before you watch this!

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 11 March 2007]

The film begins with an explosion that quickly sinks an ocean liner. Apparently an old WWI or WWII floating mine struck the vessel and very few people have survived. One group of survivors consists of 27 people inside as well as clinging to a dingy only meant to hold 9! Because it is totally overloaded, the passengers need to take shifts in the water--wearing life jackets and holding on to ropes. Despite this arrangement, there simply isn't enough food or water and once the weather changes the boat will no doubt capsize since it is so low in the water. Because of this, eventually the man in charge (Tyrone Power) is forced to start abandoning the weaker survivors--reasoning that SOME might survive that way. But because the parts of the weak are fleshed out in the story, it is very hard to see them cast adrift one by one--it's tough to watch and very frightful. While this does make this a good movie in some ways due to its addressing a serious moral dilemma, it's horrid to watch and not at all pleasant. It really takes an unusual person to want to see this film.

Technically, this is a decent film though the explosion at the beginning of the film was super-cheesy and cheap looking. Despite good writing, direction and acting, though, this movie is NOT for most people, as it's very gritty and super-depressing throughout. Because of this I am advising any potential viewers to think twice about seeing it--even though the film is in some ways quite amazing.

For a more enjoyable but certainly less realistic view of the subject, try watching Hitchcock's film, LIFEBOAT. It's very stagy and more trivial than SEVEN WAVES AWAY but at least it's not as depressing.

A sane alternative to "Titanic"

[kev-22 · 23 January 1999]

I haven't seen this film in many years, but I have never forgotten it. It proves you can make a harrowing high-seas adventure with life-and-death philosophical overtones on a tiny budget in a tiny set without going overboard (pun intended) like the bloated "Titanic." In some ways, I prefer this gritty, direct film more than Alfred Hitchcock's very similar "Lifeboat." This film has fewer glamorous eccentricities and gets down to the painful, shocking task of sacrificing lives. Tyrone Power might seem miscast as the captain, but this is not a glamor-boy role and as I recall he handles it quite well. If you're in the mood for hard-hitting, serious drama, this is the picture for you.

Most Provocative Sea Adventure Ever Made

[vitaleralphlouis · 10/10 · 9 September 2006]

Abandon Ship is my #1 choice of any movie to divide any group of people into argument; a story of true history and unprecedented command decision by a captain, in this case the captain of a lifeboat loaded up with far too many people and isolated 2000 miles from land.

The decisions made by the captain were harsh but not cruel, always with the intended purpose of effectively saving lives, but going against commonly accepted morality.

It's almost impossible to write a longer review of this picture. Many films claim to be mesmerizing; few are. This one fits the description. No matter what your viewpoint, it'll engross you to the core. Seek this one out ASAP.

A lifeboat with 27 on board which is 18 too many. What to do?

[clanciai · 10/10 · 26 July 2018]

A luxury cruiser hits a drifting mine in a most unlucky manner - the mine doesn't explode at once but goes off right under the keel and instantly sinks ther cruiser in seven minutes with more than 1100 passengers - only 37 survive, and alone in the South Atlantic without any S.O.S. having been sent, there will be casualties among them as well, especially when the wind starts blowing and the seas start roaring with thunder and lightning and torrential rains.

The problem is there is only one boat, and those 27 that found it and cling to it are too many, since it was made for nine.

Fortunately there is Tyrone Power to take the lead, assisted by Mai Zetterling as a nurse and the stalwart Moira Lister, who both support him, even when all the others turn their back on him. There are quarrels and fights, there are hysterics and terrible pains from wounds and damages, but the real crisis set in when Tyrone Power as responsible for all their lives has to decide which to sort out when it becomes evident that they will all go down if there is not some culling.

The dilemma is terrible and turns the ordeal into a nightmare, especially when the storm sets in. This is not a pleasant film but rather extremely unpleasant, but it is a terrific drama which really puts your conscience to the test. Who could possibly make right decisions in such a situation? As it is, Tyrone Power lives up the responsibility while all the others wash their hands. Which is better?

As a story and drama realized on the screen it's a strong experience which will last in your mind. It is made very real and is a real conscience test for anyone who is willing to go through with it. All acting parts are superb.

Not as good as "Lifeboat"

[bobbobwhite · 7/10 · 11 February 2005]

This copycat film was not nearly as compelling as the late '40's film Lifeboat, the best post WWII lifeboat film. Both shared similar story lines, but Lifeboat had better actors and more interesting story twists.

See Lifeboat instead. Much better cast and more subtle and effective acting than with the over-the-top, chew-the-scenery overacting from Tyrone Power. Lifeboat also had a good and sympathetic-til-the-end, rescued German sailer subplot that was effective in pulling our heartstrings until we saw that often things are not what they appear to be. They are often worse.

See It Once, Never Forget It

[russellalancampbell · 10/10 · 5 May 2019]

I saw "Seven Waves Away" as a child and it burned into my consciousness. I have since watched it on quite a few times and it is as gripping each time as the first. The cast and acting is first class and the action, although it is limited almost solely to an 18 foot boat, is as realistic as it gets. Tyrone Power is brilliant as the captain who is faced with the desperate situation with an invidious decision to make. It is good that he was given a chance to show the world he could really act in this and a couple of other films late in his career. Bouquets also to Moira Lister, Mai Zetterling and Lloyd Nolan but all the cast added something of value to the drama. This film might be very favorably compared to Hitchcock's "Lifeboat" with its similarity of situation and character revelation. Unforgettable conclusion.

... And the worst is yet to come!

[Coventry · 7/10 · 4 April 2024]

What does misery loves? Company! Large company! Twenty-six people in a lifeboat that is only meant for nine people type of large company. The voice-over at the beginning of the film stoically announces how more than 1.200 people died in the explosion of an ocean cruise liner (after it hit a sea-mine), and only 37 people survived. 26 of them desperately hold on to a small lifeboat. It's ironic how a massive amount of people died in the explosion, but the small group of survivors is still too large to actually survive the aftermath. Because the cliche is true, the lucky ones died first.

"Seven Waves Away" (or "Abandon Ship", which is a terrible title since nobody ever wanted to abandon the ship) is a compelling adventure/drama, but also very difficult to watch because it's pure suffering from beginning to end and it depicts the absolute worst side of human behavior. The lifeboat is overcrowded, and the only chance for some people to survive is to get rid off the weaker passengers aboard. Of course, who is entitled to decide about the life or death of others, or even to determine that one person is more redundant than another?

Non-stop suspense, genuine drama, and good acting performances are what makes this a powerful and unforgettable film. It's definitely not something you should watch when already feeling a bit down or depressed, but if you seek an intense mixture between disaster movie and melodrama, "Seven Waves Away" comes highly recommended.

primal

[SnoopyStyle · 9/10 · 24 August 2021]

AKA Abandon Ship! A luxury cruise liner hits a mine and sinks in the shark infested south Atlantic. Survivors gather around an overcrowded lifeboat. Alec Holmes (Tyrone Power) takes command after the captain's death. With dwindling supplies and rescue unlikely, he faces an impossible choice with greater and greater urgency.

They probably filmed most of this in a giant water tank but it looks like it's the open ocean. The boat always looks dangerously close to sinking and the waters get really rough. This is actually a very harrowing tale. The high stress situation is great for pulling out the characters. There is something basic about their predicament. It is primal. The story is very compelling.

Wow

[leslieabelson · 10/10 · 26 August 2020]

I watched this because I am a Stephen Boyd fan.. I had no idea what I would see in a B/W 1957 film. The answer: high drama and excellent performances by all under scored by philosophical challenges with which we humans must cope. I have been watching old movies for several months now bc of the 2019 pandemic. My conclusion is we need to start making movies as we did in "ye olden days" before CGI and superheroes. Good drama is about humanity.. We need to get these types of films back.

The ultimate failure of humanity ---- in this film and in the actual event

[tracywinters-44332 · 1/10 · 1 July 2016]

I don't care if it's true that passengers in the lifeboat from the sunken ship 'William Brown' in this supposed 'true-story' film were thrown overboard so that some of the other passengers may live. If that's how it happened in real life, then the perpetrators got it DEAD WRONG.

They missed the whole point of humanity, and so did the lame 'captain' in this movie, being weakly portrayed here by Tyrone Power. Ironically, this may be his best role since he's directed to be a martyr instead of a smiling hero. Then again, ANYBODY can appear to be a 'good actor' if they just frown the whole time.

Nope..... sorry folks. It was an abomination of human spirit that made people sacrifice the lives of others so that 'at least a few others' could live. They got it WRONG, and so did you if you think you have the right to decide who's going to live and who's going to die. Check your brains..... if you have any.

Very good

[zpzjones · 1 September 2004]

I liked this much in the way of Hitchcock's better known Lifeboat. Great character study of Tyrone Power in one of his last roles. Movie was shot in a large tank it seems as echos are heard. The only problem I have and I don't know if it's a goof or continuity problem is the fate of the first three characters and the dog on the floating wooden raft at the beginning of the movie. After Alec Holmes(Power)leaves them what happens to them? Otherwise a good flick. I like to point out that three Upstairs Downstairs alumni appear in this movie: Gordon Jackson, David Langton & Clive Morton. Power is great in a character twisting role as the first understanding acting captain and then as the more manaical Ahab like character who sacrifices peoples lives.

Command

[boblipton · 9/10 · 23 August 2021]

An old mine hits a cruise ship and the ship goes down. The captain is dead, and Tyrone Power assumes command of a lifeboat sized and provisioned for nine, 1500 miles from land. The surviving radioman reports no SOS was issued. There are 26 people in the boat.

It's a study in psychology, far from Power's usual handsome, swashbuckling roles, as Powers takes command and comes to believe he must let many of the people under his command die, indeed, kill them, so that as many can survive as possible. Is he right, mad, or both? At a hundred minutes, there isn't much time for character exposition, but a strong cast, including Mai Zetterling, Lloyd Nolan, Moira Lister, and Finlay Currie get a few moments to make their impact felt. Writer-director Richard Sale focuses on Power, increasingly isolated in a dirty uniform, his eyes deep sunk, and looking far older than his 43 years.