We have to say this was a real surprise when it was presented by TCM the other night. Andrew Stone's "The Last Voyage" makes an impressive film that got our attention from the start. Mr. Stone, working with his own screen play, makes a great disaster film about a luxury ocean liner that encounters problems in the middle of the Pacific.

This film looks so real, it's hard to believe it's a filmed account of a real disaster. The old Ile de France was used for the exterior shots and sunk for realism sake. The story is compelling, as well as terrifying. Imagine to find yourself in the middle of an ocean facing death aboard luxurious surroundings!

That is the fate the Hendersons encounter on their way to Japan. Cliff and Laurie are happily married with a small daughter. Everything looks good, but a funereal note is delivered to the captain in the middle of a meal. "Fire in the engine room"! This is only be beginning of the end. We realize this is going to be a horrible experience.

The film feels real. When an explosion occurs, Cliff returns to his cabin only to find Laurie trapped by some steel panels and he can't move her. To make matters worse, he finds his young daughter in a panic holding dearly to her life on a ledge of what used to be her room. The rescue effort of the girl, in a terrifying scene, is one of the most heart wrenching things in the movie. We watch, in horror, at the end, as Laurie is kept alive from drowning,

Excellent acting from all the principals. Robert Stack, Dorothy Malone, George Sanders, Edmond O'Brien, Jack Krushen, Woody Strode and the rest of the cast, makes this a film that delivers a lot of action and keeps us glued to what's happening.

A film to recommend those with a strong heart. A great achievement for the director Andrew Stone.

"The Last Voyage" is a most unusual movie and is very little like other ship disaster movies. Part of it is that unlike "Titanic", "The Poseidon Adventure" or other ship disaster films, there is no build-up....the film simply begins with the disaster that ultimately sinks the ship. Additionally, instead of focusing on a wide variety of passengers, this one focuses solely on one small family.

Soon after a fire breaks out in the engine room, there's an explosion and the Henderson's cabin is hit hard. Their young (and extremely whiny) daughter is nearly killed but is soon rescued (I frankly was hoping she wouldn't be). However, Mrs. Henderson (Dorothy Malone) is hit hard. She's also trapped under debris and her husband (Robert Stack) frantically works to try to free her as well as get help from the mostly indifferent crew. I say indifferent because the Captain (George Sanders) seems so overwhelmed by the disaster that he has trouble reacting and prioritizing. As a result, Mr. Henderson manages to get a lower ranked crew member (Woody Strode) to help...and the man is a godsend. But together, they STILL can't free Mrs. Henderson. So what's next?

I was pretty amazed by the practical special effects. Nearly all the scenes looked very realistic and I was frankly shocked how good most of the film looked for 1960. Additionally, the acting in this mostly action film was excellent. I was particularly impressed by Miss Malone, as it must have been horrid during much of the shoot...having water pouring all over her and MUCH, MUCH more! A rather amazing disaster film....and a film that seems underrated to me.

THE LAST VOYAGE is a little-known but surprisingly excellent American disaster movie from 1960. It feels very much like the producers saw and loved A NIGHT TO REMEMBER and wanted a slice of the same action. This film's gimmick was that they sunk a real ship for greater authenticity, although some superimposed special effects are stil utilised. The film starts the disaster action from the get-go and never lets up until the final scene. It feels very much like a precursor to the disaster cycle of the 1970s and is easily on par with THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE. Robert Stack is the dogged hero trying to rescue his trapped wife and George Sanders the idiot captain who refuses to call for help. My favourite character is hulking crew man Woody Strode, stripped to the waste and helping out at every turn. The film's remarkable suspense scenes and incredibly realistic climax help to lift it into classic status and I look forward to revisiting it in future.