Titanic (1943)

Director:

Herbert Selpin

Writers:

Herbert Selpin (writer)
Walter Zerlett-Olfenius (writer)

Release Date:

12 December 1943 (Finland)

Genre:

Action | Drama | History

Plot:

The story of the sinking of the British luxury liner Titanic in 1912.

Plot Keywords:

Titanic | Anti Semitism | Propaganda | Ship Wreck | Sea

Cast

Sybille Schmitz	...	Sigrid Olinsky
Hans Nielsen	...	1st Officer Petersen
Kirsten Heiberg	...	Gloria
Ernst Fritz Fürbringer	...	Sir Bruce Ismay (as E.F. Fürbringer)
Karl Schönböck	...	John Jacob Astor
Charlotte Thiele	...	Lady Astor
Otto Wernicke	...	Captain Edward J. Smith
Franz Schafheitlin	...	Hunderson
Sepp Rist	...	Jan
Claude Farell	...	Manniküre Hedi (as Monika Burg)

Also Known As:

Titanic (Canada: English title) (USA)

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Mono (Tobis-Klangfilm)

Certification:

USA:TV-PG | West Germany:12 (f) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Gdynia, Poland

Company:

Tobis Filmkunst

Trivia:

Director Herbert Selpin was arrested by the Gestapo during this film's production.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The telegrams do not show the actual White Star Line logo.

Quotes:

1st Officer Petersen: [First Officer Peterson addresses President Ismay and Captain Smith about the dangerous course the ship is on] There are warnings about drift ice, and even reports of icebergs.
Captain Edward J. Smith: What measures have you taken?
1st Officer Petersen: I've changed course and reduced our speed.
Sir Bruce Ismay: Why? You'll certainly recognize an iceberg in plenty of time.
1st Officer Petersen: Pardon me, but you're mistaken. Some icebergs are miles long, and 7/8 of them are underwater. There is the danger of colliding with the underwater mass.
Sir Bruce Ismay: Danger? That's ridiculous. The 'Titanic' is unsinkable.
1st Officer Petersen: Proof of that has not yet been provided.
Sir Bruce Ismay: [Getting impatient, he turns to address Capt. Smith] I demand you maintain direct course and full speed, Captain.
Captain Edward J. Smith: That is a great responsibility for me.
1st Officer Petersen: If I may be permitted to comment... such a responsibility is intolerable for any seaman.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Amazon Women on the Moon (1987)

Despite the anti-wealth propaganda this is a good movie

This is Titanic as you've probably never seen it before. One would think it was more a communist propaganda film than a Nazi one, since all of the villains of the piece are the rich while the poor workers are the heroes. Its a film that has a definite point of view, and right or wrong, is certainly one that keeps things interesting to watch.

Centering on the rich owners of the White Star Line and the rich passengers on the ship, this film is in large part about how the greed of the rich led to the destruction of "society". A large portion of the early part of this film has to do with manipulating stock before the Titanic breaks a speed record allowing the owners to get even richer. The plan seems to backfire and as the rich try to pick up the pieces the ship hits an iceberg. There are also several other story lines running through this film, including a healthy dose of romance, so don't think its all business.

While some of the interior model shots of the sinking are obviously models, the scenes of panic and the real human drama makes this a film to watch. Its understandable why the Nazi's banned this film as upsetting, these people are in panic mode. I read somewhere that this film showed the ship breaking in half. Kino's DVD doesn't appear to show that, although the final slide under the waves is really too dark to see.

While not a perfect film its a good one. Certainly its one with enough talking points that you could very well talk about the film on every level for many hours after its finished running. Frankly There is so much to discuss that I'm having a hard time keeping this entry brief.

If you love film, if you love Titanic stories, if you love seeing something different then see this movie.

7 out of 10, but you'll be talking about so much more than most other movies you've seen in years.