Posted on 04/14/2011 11:02:42 AM PDT by 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."
John Jacob Astor, Benjamin Guggenheim and Macy's owner Isador Strauss were going to publicly oppose the Fed.
I don't think its true but at the time it had legs.
In the US, the best-known tune to which "Nearer, My God, to Thee" has been set is "Bethany" (Mason), composed in 1856 by the American conposer Lowell Mason, whose most famous composition is the Christmas carol "Joy to the World" (1836). However, the hymn has been set to tunes by other conposers as well, including John Dykes ("Holy, Holy, Holy"; "Eternal Father, Strong to Save"), and Arthur Sullivan ("Onward, Christian Soldiers"). Sullivan is perhaps better known for the operas he created with his partner, William S. Gilbert.
The wife and I (along with some friends) also took the tour while in Branson a year and a half ago.
My boarding pass was for a “scoundrel and scallywag” that did nothing but play cards and got drunk in the first class smoking lounge. Of course being “first class” he was one of the few men that survived.
The wife’s boarding pass was of a maid for a first class passenger. And as you might expect, the “Matron” survived but her “maid” didn’t.
But the wife and I got our picture taken in front of the grand staircase.
You’re welcome.
Oh WOW! that sounds great and not too far from my home! I’ve always wanted to really see what the Titanic looked like inside.
Lord deservedly was fired, and his deck officers who witnessed the rockets and did nothing should have had their certificates revoked.
They say the tour takes an hour - we spent at least two, and hurried through a few exhibits. Allow plenty of time!
Indeed.
Oh WOW!!!! All those history and museum classes I took and I never even heard of this!!! Added to the list of things I need to see!
Ever so often, TCM shows the German version of the story TITANIC, good Germans vs panic stricken English and Americans. It is not a bad movie, with just a little Nazi propaganda in it.
There was a TV version, TITANIC, SOS, with David Warner.
Then Cameron’s TITANIC again with David Warner.
Then another TV version with George C Scott.
THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN.
Another TV mini series about an Irishman (said to represent Joe Kennedy, His son is shot running for President), whose friend Harry Zeff goes down in the Titanic.
And a soap drama with Barbara Stanwick in which her husband and son (by another man) goes down withthe Titanic.
And who can remember RAISE THE TITANIC!
The variations never get old. The ending is still the same.
Dance band on the Titanic
Sing "Nearer, my God, to Thee"
The iceberg's on the starboard bow
Won't you dance with me
Mama stood cryin' at the dockside
Sayin' "Please son, don't take this trip"
I said "Mama, sweet Mama, don't you worry none"
"Even God couldn't sink this ship"
Well, the whistle blew and they turned the screws
It turned the water into foam
Destination sweet salvation
Goodbye home sweet home
I'm in the dance band on the Titanic
Sing "Nearer, my God, to Thee"
The iceberg's on the starboard bow
Won't you dance with me
There was a trombone and a saxophone
The bass and drums were cookin' up the bandstand
And I was strummin' in the middle with this dude on the fiddle
And we were three days out from land
And now the foghorn's jammed and moanin'
Hear it groanin' through the misty night
I heard the lookout shout down "There's icebergs around"
"But still everything's all right"
Oh, the dance band on the Titanic
Sing "Nearer, my God, to Thee"
The iceberg's on the starboard bow
Won't you dance with me
They were burnin' all the flares for candles
In the banquet they were throwin' in first class
And we were blowin' waltzes in the barroom
When the universe went CRASH!
"There's no way that this could happen"
I could hear the old captain curse
He ordered lifeboats away, that's when I heard the chaplain say
"Women and children and chaplains first"
Well, they soon used up all of the lifeboats
But there were a lot of us left on board
I heard the drummer sayin' "Boys, just keep playin'"
"Now we're doin' this gig for the Lord"
I heard the dance band on the Titanic
Sing "Nearer, my God, to Thee"
The iceberg's on the starboard bow
Won't you dance with me
There's a wild-eyed boy in the radio shack
He's the last remaining guest
He was tappin' in a Morse code frenzy
Tappin' "Please God, S.O.S."
Jesus Christ can walk on the water
But a music man will drown
They say that Nero fiddled while Rome burned up
Well, I was strummin' as the ship go down
I'm in the dance band on the Titanic
Sing "Nearer, my God, to Thee"
The iceberg's on the starboard bow
Won't you dance with me
Dance band on the Titanic
Sing "Nearer, my God, to Thee"
The iceberg's on the starboard bow
Won't you dance with me
Dance band on the Titanic
Sing "Nearer, my God, to Thee"
The iceberg's on the starboard bow
Won't you dance with me
RIP Harry Chapin!
And what did you (all) think of the ending sequence in Cameron's film?
****And what did you (all) think of the ending sequence in Cameron’s film? ****
You mean where the old gal drops the jewel into the ocean, her only proof? Poor form! I thought she was going to jump into the water to be with Jack but instead crawled into her bunk and died.
Assuming you are referring to the scene where Leonardo DiCaprio leaves the movie, and not the one where the jewel gets dumped, I loved it! Laugh every time.
Actually I was referring to the dreamlike sequence after Rose drops the diamond and heads to (eternal?) rest. I'm a strong Night to Remember partisan in this debate but that one portion from Cameron's effort does appeal to me.
Sure, it's a blatant tug at the ol' heartstrings but, in some ways, it's somewhat like the ending of Wonderful Life where Capra uses a similar technique to neatly tie things up. All the cast members make a return appearance in both cases and all is well with the world. :-)
A Night to Remember is One of my favorite films. And one of the very few that is truly historically accurate as one can make.
I always cry when they play the hymn and the ship goes down.
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