The ‘greatest’ boat rescue in US history

MANILA, Philippines - A heroic action-thriller, Disney’s The Finest Hours is based on the extraordinary true story of the greatest small boat rescue in Coast Guard history in the US. Presented in Digital 3D and IMAX 3D, the film transports audiences to the heart of the action, creating a fully-immersive cinematic experience on an epic scale.

Directed by Craig Gillespie, The Finest Hours stars Chris Pine (the Star Trek films), Casey Affleck (Interstellar), Ben Foster (3:10 to Yuma), Holliday Grainger (Cinderella), John Ortiz (Silver Linings Playbook) and Eric Bana (Lone Survivor).

Produced by Jim Whitaker (Cinderella Man) and Dorothy Aufiero (The Fighter), the screenplay is by Oscar nominee Scott Silver (8 Mile) and Oscar nominees Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson (The Fighter) based on the acclaimed non-fiction book of the same name by Michael Tougias and Casey Sherman. Doug Merrifield (the Pirates of the Caribbean films) serves as executive producer.

On Feb. 18, 1952, a massive nor’easter struck New England, pummeling towns along the Eastern seaboard and wreaking havoc on anything caught in its destructive path, including two 500-foot oil tankers. The SS Pendleton and SS Fort Mercer, bound for Boston, Massachusetts and Portland, Maine, respectively, were both ripped in half, trapping their crews inside. For the senior officer aboard the stern of the Pendleton, first assistant engineer Ray Sybert (Casey), he realizes that it is up to him to take charge of the frightened crew and encourage them to work together to keep the ship afloat for as long as possible.

The US Coast Guard Station in Chatham, Massachusetts was busy helping local fishermen protect their boats from the storm when they received word that the damaged ships were adrift in nearby waters. Warrant Officer Daniel Cluff (Eric), the recently-appointed station chief, immediately dispatches the CG 36500 lifeboat under the command of Captain Bernie Webber (Chris) to search for survivors.

Webber and his crew of three men on board the 36-foot motorized, wooden lifeboat, set off on the perilous mission with bleak prospects at best.

Opening across the Philippines on Jan. 27, The Finest Hours is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.