a gripping and powerful a it be and abandon ship . be a survival story that hard to view from the comfort of an armchair or theater seat . the viewer can identify so completely with the daunt task face the ship officer ( tyrone power ) when make life and death decision with regard to how many people can use the lifeboat when a sunken ship leave them adrift at sea . true and there be a few stereotype among the raft passenger and but the drama become real and forceful due to the strong performance from an excellent cast . mai zetterling be fine a a nurse with a romantic relationship to executive officer power and stephen boyd and lloyd nolan be fine a other ship officer catch up in unusual circumstance surround their survival at sea . not for the squeamish and it have echo of hitchcock lifeboat ( but without the humor ) . tyrone power be at a stage in his career when he want more serious role rather than stay forever fix in the mind of movie goer a a swashbuckling star . here he certainly have his chance to prove his act skill and he do a splendid job in a grim role and one of his last part before his premature death from a heart attack at age 45 .