[Bret L]

Abandon Ship! (1957)

by N.B. Forrest.


"I saw this movie (based on a true story) for the second time last night, and was reminded just what a gem it is. It starred handsome Tyrone Power (the last White man ever to sport the name “Tyrone”, incidentally). He played Alec Holmes, executive officer of the ocean liner Crescent Star - and played him surprisingly well, considering that Power’s usual relationship to the craft of believable acting was like that of Golda Meir’s to really hot pussy. The ship strikes an old mine right at the beginning of the movie and heads for Davy Jones’ Locker, leaving Holmes and a number of other survivors in the generously-besharked South Atlantic drink. They pile into and cling to the captain’s small shore boat with soaked cat desperation. The captain himself is mortally wounded; he hands over command to Holmes, then gives up the ghost. So there they a 1500 miles from the African coast, in an untenably crammed boat, with only one gallon of drinkable water and a few crackers for 27 mouths - and with the demoralizing knowledge that the mine blast destroyed the radio before an S.O.S. could be broadcast. Holmes immediately realizes that they’re in a position that makes the survival of the entire group impossible. His terrible dilemma: take the easy-on-the-conscience route and “nobly” wait for the slow death of all, or save some by taking the hard course dictated by cold logic.

After much anguish on the part of the kind & decent Holmes - and the
brave example of self-sacrifice by tough, badly-wounded crewman Frank
Kelly (very well played by Lloyd Nolan) - he chooses the latter. He
orders the other seriously hurt to be jettisoned (including both
parents of a young boy, in a heart-rending scene). Then it’s the turn
of those who are merely too old - or in the case of an 18 year old
kid, too small & weak - to pull their weight. Naturally, as the
tension & fear mount, there are plenty in the boat who are vehemently
opposed to Holmes’ decision, making it necessary to persuade them to
comply with his orders with the aid of a smokepole. There’s an
attempted mutiny by one, resulting in Holmes being stabbed in the
chest.

Following a tremendous storm that they survive by the skin of their
teeth thanks only to Holmes’ ruthless choices, many in the boat who
had opposed him thank him effusively and tell him he did the right
thing. Then, in accordance with his no-exceptions rule, the weakened
Holmes hurls himself into the ocean like Kelly did, only to be fished
back out by the newly grateful.

Then the rescue ship appears on the horizon - and watch ‘em fart in
their haste to switch back to their former position. When one of the
crewmen offers to help him up the rope ladder, Holmes grimly replies:
“I can make it myself”.

This fine movie highlights the absolute loneliness of command and,
above all, the superiority of cold, hard, survival-of-the-fittest
action to morally-comfy-but-suicidal squeamishness when confronted
with a life-or-death crisis - just like the one Big Kike has us in
this very minute.

Lots of top-notch performances in this one. Watch, enjoy and learn…"

[Shhhh! I'm Listening to Reason!]

On Sep 28, 11:57*am, Bret L wrote:

He played Alec Holmes, executive officer of the ocean liner Crescent Star - and played him surprisingly well, considering that Power’s usual relationship to the craft of believable acting was like that of Golda Meir’s to really hot pussy.

Yes, Bratzi, you are one classy and intelligent individual. LOL!

[Bret L]

On Sep 28, 12:45 pm, "Shhhh! I'm Listening to Reason!"
wrote:
On Sep 28, 11:57 am, Bret L wrote:

He played Alec Holmes, executive officer of the ocean liner Crescent Star - and played him surprisingly well, considering that Power’s usual relationship to the craft of believable acting was like that of Golda Meir’s to really hot pussy.

Yes, Bratzi, you are one classy and intelligent individual. LOL!

I forgot to add my obligatory disclaimer at the front of this.

"Opinions and inferences here may or may not be those of Poster."

BTW, you missed the K-bomb in the last paragraph. You're slacking
off.

[Shhhh! I'm Listening to Reason!]

On Sep 28, 11:12 pm, Bret L wrote:

BTW, you missed the K-bomb in the last paragraph. You're slacking
off.

If one were to pick off every stupid piece of tripe you posted, one
would be busily at work for all of eternity.

If I bother to even open one of your posts it's just to see how far I
have to go before encountering incredible ignorance and stupidity.
That's why I seldom get much further than the first sentence.

[Boon[_2_]]

On Sep 28, 11:57*pm, "Shhhh! I'm Listening to Reason!"
wrote:
On Sep 28, 11:12 pm, Bret L wrote:

*BTW, you missed the K-bomb in the last paragraph. You're slacking
off.

If one were to pick off every stupid piece of tripe you posted, one
would be busily at work for all of eternity.

If I bother to even open one of your posts it's just to see how far I
have to go before encountering incredible ignorance and stupidity.
That's why I seldom get much further than the first sentence.

Bratzi and Scott need to think about this:

Their political opinions are so stupid and worthless that they have to
go to an AUDIO newsgroup to have those opinions heard. Again, both of
these clowns would get eaten alive on most political discussion groups.

[Shhhh! I'm Listening to Reason!]

On Sep 29, 5:20*pm, Boon wrote:
On Sep 28, 11:57*pm, "Shhhh! I'm Listening to Reason!"

wrote:
On Sep 28, 11:12 pm, Bret L wrote:

*BTW, you missed the K-bomb in the last paragraph. You're slacking
off.

If one were to pick off every stupid piece of tripe you posted, one
would be busily at work for all of eternity.

If I bother to even open one of your posts it's just to see how far I
have to go before encountering incredible ignorance and stupidity.
That's why I seldom get much further than the first sentence.

Bratzi and Scott need to think about this:

Their political opinions are so stupid and worthless that they have to
go to an AUDIO newsgroup to have those opinions heard. Again, both of
these clowns would get eaten alive on most political discussion groups.

I tried to get 2pid to post his stupid military views on a military
newsgroup.

His response was on the order of "You're not a major! You haven't
proved your useless Internet resume!"

LoL. Why should he change now?

[Bret L]

On Sep 29, 5:20*pm, Boon wrote:
On Sep 28, 11:57*pm, "Shhhh! I'm Listening to Reason!"

wrote:
On Sep 28, 11:12 pm, Bret L wrote:

*BTW, you missed the K-bomb in the last paragraph. You're slacking
off.

If one were to pick off every stupid piece of tripe you posted, one
would be busily at work for all of eternity.

If I bother to even open one of your posts it's just to see how far I
have to go before encountering incredible ignorance and stupidity.
That's why I seldom get much further than the first sentence.

Bratzi and Scott need to think about this:

Their political opinions are so stupid and worthless that they have to
go to an AUDIO newsgroup to have those opinions heard. Again, both of
these clowns would get eaten alive on most political discussion groups.

Back when we discussed audio that wasn't a problem. I did fine on
political groups.