Irwin Allen attempts to recapture the phenomenal success of his The Poseidon Adventure by virtually re-capping the original storyline with a new set of faces. The luxury liner, turned upside down after being smashed by a tidal wave, takes about a few opening seconds of screen time. After that the film becomes a treasure hunt aboard the overturned vessel between salvage tug operators Mike Turner (Michael Caine), Wilbur Hubbard (Karl Malden), and Celeste Whitman (Sally Field) -- who are searching for cool, wet cash -- and Filthy McNasty bad guy Stefan Svevo (Telly Savalas) -- who is looking for a stash of hidden plutonium.