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The Spectacle Blog
I join Aaron in paying tribute to Ernest Borgnine, dead over the weekend at 95. I add this: I think one of the most underrated acting jobs in history was the job he did as the cop, Rogo, in The Poseidon Adventure. Say what you will about the movie as a whole (I think it was superb, most film snobs think it was ridiculous), the acting of Borgnine, Gene Hackman, and Shelley Winters was first-rate. Adtually, while Winters got most of the plaudits when it came out, I always thought her role was one of the easier ones. Borgnine had to be more “on the edge,” more nuanced, deeper, because he had to walk the line between likeable and dislikeable, a lovable blowhard, a tough guy with a heart of gold, a tremendously flawed semi-hero. I thought he pulled it all off terrifically well. The first two minutes of this clip, involving his wife Linda right as the movie’s climax approaches, is acting at its best: believable, fully in character, raw.
Most people don’t realize it, but The Poseidon Adventure was deliberately designed with a Biblical allegory as subtext. (I could cite, ahh, well, chapter and verse, so to speak, to show what I mean, but it would take too long and is mostly beside the point of this blog post.) Hackman’s renegade preacher, of course, was the Christ figure. And, notice the name of Borgnine’s character: Rogo. Ignore the Latin root, which means “to ask.” As a homonym, it’s closest kin is “rock.” Borgnine is the story’s rock, its cephas — its Peter. And that’s exactly the role Borgnine plays — like Peter, often pulling in the wrong direction, often misunderstanding, often getting in the way, but still chosen to be the gatekeeper to ultimate redemption.
Of course, one of the criticisms of The Poseidon Adventure was that it was so full of clichés, and this Biblical allegory approach is of course one of the most common clichés around. Still, let’s forget the movie criticism, but just focus on how well Borgnine carried it off. It was an extraordinary performance, in an extraordinary career. R.I.P. And in joy.
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More Blog Posts by Quin Hillyer
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/07/09/re-ernest-borgnine
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EJ| 7.9.12 @ 12:17PM
I like many things about him, but have enjoyed him as Mermaid Man on SpongeBob. It gave me an opportunity to explain what a great actor and American treasure he was.
Reggie Love| 7.9.12 @ 12:37PM
One of the more versatile actors really. Kind of similar to Robert Mitchum in that he could play the villian or a hero.
Crassus| 7.9.12 @ 1:32PM
Take her home, Christie.
RIP, Mr. Borgnine.
Butch| 7.9.12 @ 2:43PM
Quin, you and I are probably the only two on the sight who liked Poseidon; I thought it was the best disaster movie ever. What a cast! And I like you thought of Borgnine in this movie when I first heard of his death. A great actor in all of his roles.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 7.9.12 @ 5:38PM
I enjoyed "The Poseidon Adventure" at the movies when it came out, and later on TV many times. Ernest Borgnine was indeed one of the major characters who helped shape the story.
I do find it curious, though, as I think I read here once where someone who actually read Paul Gallico's book remarked that in print, it was Hackman's group that failed to survive, and the others were all rescued at the other end of the ship.
C. Vernon Crisler | 7.9.12 @ 7:56PM
I liked it, but I don't get any biblical allegory out of it. What "theology" it had just sounded to me like progressive-liberal theology, Hackman playing the "God helps those who help themselves" progressive minister.
Stories move along through conflict, overcoming odds, etc. Borgnine played the role of the "conflict" character, the one who creates tension for Hackman's character. (Recall Scully's role vis-a-vis Mulder in the X-Files.) If it had just been a man versus ship conflict, or man versus hostile environment story, it would have been pretty dull.
Borgnine played his part beautifully, and the interplay between Hackman and Borgnine is what makes the movie worth watching. RIP....
Occam's Tool| 7.9.12 @ 3:06PM
Yes, I am immensely pleased with his Mermaid Man, as I was in all of his performances, even the ones that made MST3K or its sequel, Riff-Trax (for truly wonderful bad acting, catch him in "Laser Mission," a movie with no clearly defined mission, nor lasers. He also was a great cabbie in "Escape From New York." Truly a great actor, in crap as well as quality.
Occam's Tool| 7.9.12 @ 3:06PM
That parenthesis should close, after "lasers.")
Bob Grant| 7.9.12 @ 6:54PM
One of the good guys of Hollywood. And the list is getting shorter with each passing generation. He will be missed.
RIP
CJW| 7.9.12 @ 10:30PM
Borgnine said in an interview that after he played the jail guard who beat up and killed Sinatra in "From Here to Eternity" he always had guys in NY and NJ wanting to fight him for how he treated Frank.
Bob Belvedere | 7.10.12 @ 8:06AM
Well put, Quin.
I would also commend Mr. Borgnine's performance in Jesus Of Nazareth as the Roman Centurion.
He's in two key scenes: (1) where he asks Jesus to cure his sick servant [his explanation of faith will bring a tear to the eye] and (2) at the Crucifixion where his silent look up at Jesus speaks volumes and his compassion for Mary hits just the right tone.
A good man who shall be missed.
Quin Hillyer| 7.10.12 @ 10:24AM
Wow, Bob, I need to see that performance as centurion. It sounds terrific. I can see it in my mind's eye, though. Borgnine REALLY could act; his emotions seemed real -- probably because the best actors are those who already have the right emotions inside anyway, and just need to call on their best, true nature, rather than faking something they never actually feel. Borgnine was terrific.
J.C.Eaton| 7.10.12 @ 10:50AM
Tom Selleck"s Magnum, P.I. was voted greatest TV detective show of all time.And my favorite episode was Ernie Borgnine's"The White Avenger" or some such name. He played an aging, down on his luck wrestler who had come to the islands to find the son he per force abandoned years before. He was magnificent, especially in his last two minutes on camera. He 'earned" every accolade that came his way. RIP
Occam's Tool| 7.11.12 @ 2:13PM
And Ernie was a decent Conservative who served his country in the Navy for real. RIP, Mr. Borgnine.