A Night to Remember

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[re_nortex]

April 15, 2011 will mark the 99th anniversary of the sinking of RMS Titanic. She left Southampton, destined for New York on April 10, 1912. The iceberg was stuck late on the night of April 14, 1912 and was gone by 2:20 the next morning. Only 706 of the 2,223 souls aboard were saved, 1,517 perished.

Even after the passage of nearly a century, controversy still exists about what happened or, more to the point, what should have happened after striking the berg. Likewise, a number of legends (Ismay donning woman's clothing) and myths (NOPOPE) have arisen since that memorable night. Even the last song played by the band generates interest to this day. Was it Nearer My God to Thee or Autumn.

Although much of our movie viewing attention is focused on Atlas Shrugged, the 1958 film A Night to Remember is the definitive depiction of the event, "...straightforward without the addition of fictional subplots."

[re_nortex]

Most of us interested in the history of the Titanic prefer A Night to Remember over James Cameron's more recent work which largely uses the event as a backdrop to a love story as well as an ill-disguised soft advocacy of class warfare.

That said, I do very much like the final, closing scene in the 1997 film.

[knittnmom]

Our family toured the replica while we were in Branson, MO last month. It was quite an awesome experience. Admission tickets are "boarding passes", with the story of one of the original passengers on each. You find out at the end of the tour whether or not your passenger survived. (4 of our 5 survived - my husband's passenger did not.) At the end of the tour, you're asked "how was your voyage?" I decided to stay "in character" and said, "Oh, it was MOST harrowing! My husband and my son perished!" The staff member knew which passenger I was right away.

My grandson (9YO) checked out all the interactive exhibits - sending an SOS, checking the temperature of the water, etc.

[Maceman]

A Night to Remember is the definitive depiction of the event, "...straightforward without the addition of fictional subplots."

I have been a Titanic buff since I was a kid 50 years ago. A Night to Remember is in no way a definitive depiction. Cameron's Titanic is the only movie ever that really gives you a feel for the ship, shows you what it actually looked like, and really shows the horror, panic and heartbreak of the tragedy.

At the end of Titanic, there's really very little you don't know about the ship and the sinking. A Night to Remember doesn't begin to compare.

[DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis]

Yes, I like A Night to Remember. I almost always cry at the end too.

I have never watched the other Titanic movie, but I have heard bad stuff about it. I do like the theme song from it though, especially when my sis plays it on her low F Irish pennywhistle.

[re_nortex]

My grandson (9YO) checked out all the interactive exhibits - sending an SOS, checking the temperature of the water, etc.

I'll possibly be guilty of contributing to the mythology but the fascination with the Titanic was (and still is) to such an extent that I heard the following years ago.

Much like the brand name of "Coca-Cola" became universally recognized, utterance of the word "Titanic" was similarly known all around the world, across all cultural, linguistic and educational boundaries. It was a very big event in the early part of the 20th century, coinciding with the advent of wireless communications and mass media becoming widespread.

[Nea Wood]

That sounds wonderful! Is it a permanent attraction?

[knittnmom]

Seems fairly permanent - it’s been there for at least 5 years.

[DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis]

There are so many interesting stories from the Titanic. US Major Archibald Butt used his gun to keep order and made sure all the women were helped first.
Colonel Astor was a hero too. He helped the last two ladies to escape the boat. The last life boat had already been lowered past the upper deck but he order for the men to stop and took the two ladies to the deck below and put them into the boat through the port-hole.

Another survior told of 17 enginemen who drowned side by side. They got in a circle and prayed in the engine room until the last. All of these men had helped rake the fires from the boilers after the crash. This had delayed the explosion and undoubtedly permitted the ship to remain afloat nearly an hour longer and thus saved hundreds of lives.

These are just a couple accounts. I have tons more in a 1998 copy of a book originally published in 1912, entitled The Sinking of the Titanic and Great Sea Disasters: Thrilling stories of survivors with photographs & sketches.

[Oztrich Boy]

Cameron's Titanic is the only movie ever that really gives you a feel for the ship, shows you what it actually looked like, and really shows the horror, panic and heartbreak of the tragedy.

Fake but Accurate

[re_nortex]

Cameron's Titanic is the only movie ever that really gives you a feel for the ship, shows you what it actually looked like, and really shows the horror, panic and heartbreak of the tragedy.

What mars Cameron's film, IMHO, is the class struggle that underscores the narrative. Yes, if the political "us against them" points made throughout the film are overlooked, 1997's Titanic does have some very redeeming points with its use of technology not available when the 1958 film based on Lord's book was released.

I also admit to getting a kick out of the Lewis Bodine character ("you seein' this boss?"), with his Texas shirt not visible in the image below:

A couple of interesting articles refute that it was all about class.

In Search of Chivalry is from the National Review.

And there are the Casulty Figures showing third class women were 41% more likely to survive than first class men. And third class men were twice as likely to survive as second class men.

Those are the inconvenient truths overlooked by James Cameron.

[Maceman]

Fake but Accurate

Fake, but more accurate than A Night to Remember. (Of course it's fake -- it's freaking MOVIE!)

I didn't have any problem with using the love story to tie the whole thing together in Cameron's film.

And as far as I know, there were very few historical inaccuracies in it (one would be that 1st officer Murdoch didn't really commit suicide, as far as anyone knows.)

For a true Titanic buff, I think the best part of Cameron's film was the way it took the viewer through every part of the ship, with each part painstakingly recreated from photos, blueprints and historical records.

I don't recall that Night to Remember even showed the Grand Staircase.

[mmichaels1970]

I have never watched the other Titanic movie, but I have heard bad stuff about it.

One of my all time favorite movies. Even understanding that the voyage was a backdrop to a fictional love story, to me it is nevertheless a great movie. It's got the love story for the girls, and people getting smashed on propellers, railings and such for people like me. A great ending as well.

I doubt I know any more about the factual events than anybody else. But I do know that Titanic was a great movie. I highly recommend it.

[SoCal Pubbie]

Other than the fact, not generally realized at the time, that the ship split in two, there is very little about the facts of Cameron’s film that are any where near as accurate as A Night To Remember.

Now, at the end of Titanic, there are lots of things you know about the ship and its crew and passengers that DID NOT HAPPEN. From makeup on society women that would have branded them tarts, to shooting passengers and suicides that never occurred, there’s a lot there to unlearn!

[Emperor Palpatine]

"Was it Nearer My God to Thee or Autumn"



Neither, it was a popular waltz titled "Songe d'Autumne".

Actually, the "Titanic" had two musical ensembles. The standard five-piece string band that handled the usual duties and a string trio that played exclusively in the Cafe' Parisienne - each with different repertoires.. All eight of them may or may not have played together the night of the sinking, but no one knows for sure.

"Autumn" was just the name of the modal tune used for several hymns, and there were several settings of "Nearer My God To Thee"....impossible to conceive all eight bandsmen knew them both well enough to wing it on slanting decks.

And what were the two pianists Theo Brailey and Percy Taylor doing?

[re_nortex]

Another survior told of 17 enginemen who drowned side by side. They got in a circle and prayed in the engine room until the last. All of these men had helped rake the fires from the boilers after the crash. This had delayed the explosion and undoubtedly permitted the ship to remain afloat nearly an hour longer and thus saved hundreds of lives.

That's an example of real heroism from 99 years ago. It brings to mind the Fukushima Fifty of today.

[Emperor Palpatine]

Then you better watch it again, it shows the grand staircase several times.

The recreation of the 1st class smoking room in NTR is spot on, too.

[re_nortex]

Other than the fact, not generally realized at the time, that the ship split in two, there is very little about the facts of Cameron’s film that are any where near as accurate as A Night To Remember.

There's already a strong difference of opinion in this thread concerning the two movies. Likewise about the song played as she was sinking.

There's also a great deal of controversy about the role of The SS Californian after Titanic struck the iceberg. Any Lordites among us?

[BenLurkin]

A Night to Remember is a much better film than Titanic.

[Maverick68]

Against my will, I also visited the same attraction.
I am glad my wife forced me to go as it was an INCREDIBLE experience!

[DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis]

My reprint of a 1912 book on the Titanic lists the song as being Autumn or a hymn to the same tune....