The Poseidon Adventure
is a fine example of its substance reflecting in the style. It could be seen as a religious allegory I guess, the Rosen's were Jewish not Christian, or just that life will throw out many unusual challenges.
For these few survivors, even finding the light doesn't mean it will always be sunny, just that dealing with whatever is thrown at them later on in life, will be dealt with in a more empowering manner.
Norman! What did you put in my tea?

I doubt it. Most of his stories are more like amped up fairy stories.
My password is password

Allen was instinctual here to reject the first script then. He understood character was first and foremost of importance to make the film connect. It paid off.
Norman! What did you put in my tea?

Yes and the credit for improving the characters apparently belongs to Stirling Silliphant. Allen first had Wendell Mayes do a script that was closer to the novel, but he rejected that script and brought in Silliphant who basically started from scratch (though Mayes still got screen credit). Silliphant took most of the cruel edges off characters like Scott, Rogo, Linda and Martin and made them people we could root for even with their flaws.

It sounds like the film made some improvements to the characters.
Every death of the majors is meaningful in someway and while tragic, they are not cruelly presented like I feel
The Towering Inferno
appeared to revel in.
Norman! What did you put in my tea?

If you enjoy the film a lot, the book would be a let-down. So many of the characters in their original version are just unlikable. There are a number of other characters who didn't make it to the film as well (Susan and Robin's parents for instance).

I have the book somewhere but haven't read.
The film offered an excellent array of characters and the conflict of personality was exceptional. That is why the film worked so well as it did. I regard it as the best of the disaster flicks I have seen.
Norman! What did you put in my tea?

You mad, Goober?
MAGA! FAFO! Schrodinger's Cat walks into a bar, and doesn't. Dumbocraps: evil people who celebrate murder.

You're free to interpret whatever you like. I offered my take. Substance-free saracasm doesn't really help your POV, whatever it is.

Yeah right!
MAGA! FAFO! Schrodinger's Cat walks into a bar, and doesn't. Dumbocraps: evil people who celebrate murder.

The Christian allegory is clearly unique to the film because the book is a giant exercise in religion bashing (specifically all variants of western Christian belief) from start to finish. In the book Scott is basically a fraud who has led them all astray. For Silliphat to take it the other direction is what makes the film a classic while re-reading the book today it comes off as a giant torture-fest of dislikable characters from start to finish.
Even Scott's anger at God before his sacrifice doesn't come off as blasphemous if you think more deeply. It's more akin to Christ's declaration of "My God, why have You forsaken me?" on the Cross before the final redemptive act of death.

Yeah, the Christian allegory aspect adds an extra provocative element to this film. Rogo in particular was clearly patterned after Doubting Thomas while Reverend Scott is obviously a Christ-like savior.
You've seen Guy Standeven in something because the man was in everything.