This is one of several film versions of the Titanic disaster. While not as meticulous as A Night to Remember, it is superior to Cameron's bloated epic. The film, originally made for television, gives a soap-opera like telling of the lives of those involved in the disaster, focusing on actual persons instead of fictitious ones. While the special effects are not so good, and the use of the Queen Mary as a set is obvious to anyone with a passing familiarity with ships, the script and acting are superb. David Janssen is terrific in one of his last roles as John Jacob Astor. Also excellent is Ian Holm as the ship's owner, Ismay. Holm portrays Ismay as a real man who suffers because of the disaster, not the cartoonish villain other films have made him. Harry Andrews is impressive as Captain Smith, Cloris Leachman definitive as a raucaus Molly Brown (much better than Kathy Bates's flat performance in Titanic), and David Warner is intelligent and understated as Lawrence Beasley. The rest of the women in the cast don't fare quite as well, however. Susan St. James is pretty wooden as Warner's fictional love interest, and Beverly Ross doesn't do much more than sigh and worry as Madeleine Astor.
The score for the film is extremely well-done and is one of the best assets
of the movie.
Don't expect pinpoint accuracy about the details of the disaster, but by all means, if you like a good melodrama and are interested in the Titanic, check this film out.
The score for the film is extremely well-done and is one of the best assets
of the movie.
Don't expect pinpoint accuracy about the details of the disaster, but by all means, if you like a good melodrama and are interested in the Titanic, check this film out.