Why did Linda have to die?
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Etherdave — 10 years ago(June 02, 2015 12:46 AM)
Irwin Allen's principal thesis here is the arbitrariness of death; people are dying because they are imprisoned in a death-trap and it is inevitable; there is no meaning to it, and it is fruitless to look for meaning. As stated earlier, this is the same fate the character suffers in the 1969 novel; Linda Rogo is a headstrong and highly self-motivated person, but she isn't an expert at negotiating inverted catwalks, so off she goes. Ultimately her death is the catalyst for Reverend Scott's ultimate sacrifice, which enables the remaining survivors to gain access to the ship's hull.
The tagline for this film in 1972 was 'WHO WILL SURVIVE?'. Linda's death was meant to be a shock, coming as it did, almost at the point of the survivors' deliverance. I seem to recall a young lad somwhere, who fell off a boat(?) or something, and suffered a similar third-act demise, seemingly to no real point. I think it was a James Cameron film? -
theater_dreamer — 9 years ago(July 03, 2016 01:02 AM)
Also, you never see her face during the ladder scene.
Um, yes, you do. I'm watching the film right now on Cinemax. While Linda is climbing up the ladder, she pauses, and turns back, looking down; Rogo yells up at her "I said don't look down." You can
clearly
see it's Stella Stevens on the ladder. The underwater scene might be a stunt woman. I can't tell for sure. That would make sense, for safety reasons. But the ladder is Stevens, and those legs, and that derriere are all her.
Have you ever seen Stella Stevens nude, or semi-nude? She had an absolutely
ridiculous
body. She was a
Playboy
Playmate, and her rack, tummy and legs, were legendary. Gorgeous lady with a body that made men drool. When
The Poseidon Adventure
was shot, she was 33 years old. She would have been at her peak.
Never for the sake of peace and quiet deny your convictions-Dag Hammarskjold -
mrx-33432 — 10 years ago(September 01, 2015 12:32 AM)
The movie was just on TCM a few minutes ago as part of a Shelly Winters marathon. I definitely want to read the book because this is one of my all-time favorite movies.
I looked up the characters in the book on the net which had one line descriptions of each character. They say that Linda is a washed up Broadway actress. Of course in the movie her back story is a former hooker or stripper. -
nation22563 — 9 years ago(September 17, 2016 07:20 PM)
Linda from the novel had an extremely brutal life. As a child she was turned out by her mother and was pulling tricks in Sandusky, Ohio. She was abused and used and abandoned. Though never an excuse to be cruel to others, it was part of her back story for what shaped her into the woman she became.
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richard.fuller1 — 9 years ago(June 25, 2016 06:06 PM)
When I first saw the movie, I knew nothing about Linda being a bitch. I thought she was just a very beautiful woman who loved ugly old Ernest Borgnine, so when she died, that set off Borgnine who then turned on Scott.
Scott was now having his faith sorely tested as to if he was doing the right thing trying to save these people, hence why Linda died.
Had it been Nonnie, it's unlikely Martin or anyone else would have protested, tho Scott could have been just as devastated, but it had to be Linda to set off Rogo.
I would next read the book and was flabbergasted to read Linda was the bitch. In the novel, as noted by another post, her death was her own fault by her own actions.
When I got the movie on VHS a few years later, my brother and I were now stunned at Linda's behavior toward Belle and so on. Stevens' performance would just make her like a tough earthy woman, not as alienating as she was in the book.
Stevens' did portray Linda much more sympathetic as she showed concern over Belle when she died.
But I still look at Linda's death here for the same reason, tho, like you, my brother didn't understand why Linda had to die.
Rogo's reaction to his wife's death was to further challenge Scott's faith.
FUNNIER STILL, another thread suggests Scott killed himself. My other brother essentially felt the same way; that Scott took the coward's way out rather than make certain they all survived.
I look at it Scott felt it was better for them to focus on saving themselves than trying to figure out how to get him back off that wheel. -
theater_dreamer — 9 years ago(August 09, 2016 08:22 AM)
It's incongruous thinking to postulate that Scott would go to such great effort to convince everybody to follow him up to the galley, and then just off himself when they are just a few feet from reaching the hull, and freedom. There's no way Scott was going to make it back after jumping to grab on to the wheel that cut off the steam. While he wasn't over-the-hill, and didn't have an obvious belly like Rogo, he'd have to be in pretty incredible shape to hang on all that time, turning the wheel, and then find the strength to fling himself back towards the catwalk. The lactic acid buildup in his arms would be pretty incredible by that point.
He didn't kill himself. His last act was both defiant, and heroic. Before he dropped, his only concern was for the rest of the group, imploring Rogo to lead them to safety.
Never for the sake of peace and quiet deny your convictions-Dag Hammarskjold -
rascal67 — 9 years ago(August 28, 2016 11:55 PM)
No point going into denial about the arbitrary nature of her death, or the others that died either. It was designed that way to give the story more credibility due to the situation the characters were placed in and offer emotional impact to the proceedings. It was served as a catalyst for Reverend Scott to sacrifice his own life to help the others out. Rogo started to blame the reverend and he and Scott were constantly at each others throat during the escape attempt. Scott's self-sacrifice would have allowed for the fiery and bullish Rogo to inadvertently see Scott's humanity and selflessness. Rogo wouldn't have been able to begrudge Scott after that and would forgive him.
This is super-duper, superb disaster movie and was skillfully directed and expertly presented. Whenever I get the opportunity to view it, it's always a treat to watch.
Exorcist: Christ's power compels you. Cast out, unclean spirit.
Destinata: -
lm362 — 9 years ago(February 08, 2017 07:26 PM)
Anyone's death is pointless. Death itself is a pointless thing. I do understand how you feel as I wish she had not died also. But in your real life, haven't you had someone in your life who has died and your asked yourself, "Why them? I understand you're upset, but try to use this in your life. You're hurt because a favorite character died. Maybe you will meet someone who is asking "Why them" regarding the death of someone they love. You might be able to help them.
As for Rogo not holding onto her, he might have thought she could handle things herself. Really he is not to blame. It was just a tragic accident or "time and unforeseen occurrence"-Ecclesiastes 9:11
"Do All Things For God's Glory"-1 Corinthians 10:31
I try doing this with my posts -
Woodyanders — 6 years ago(April 03, 2019 11:45 AM)
Because back in the 1970's filmmakers still took risks and weren't afraid to put stuff in movies that was genuinely shocking and unexpected. I find the take-no-prisoners and pull-zero-punches gritty approach to the subject matter to be one of this film's key strengths.
You've seen Guy Standeven in something because the man was in everything. -
amyghost — 6 years ago(April 03, 2019 01:37 PM)
Her death is no more pointless than Roddy McDowall's character's was (Acres, the waiter, who is the one to initially help the group escape the flooding ballroom, since he knows by heart where the best exit ways would be); he's a good guy and his actions are pretty heroic, yet he's the first to be killed off.
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SealedCargo — 6 years ago(October 02, 2019 05:09 AM)
Borg9 killed her because she gave him herpes.
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