A Night to Remember was my favourite film growing up as I was fascinated with the sinking of the Titanic. I've seen this film many many times and it holds up very well. Kenneth More brings a warmth to the role as Second Officer Lightoller. The screenplay is kind to Lightoller giving him a lot more to do to justify More as the leading actor. There's a host of great supporting actors such as Laurence Naismith as Captain Smith, Michael Goodliffe as Thomas Andrews, David McCallum as Harold Bride and Honor Blackman as Mrs. Lucas. The story focuses on a large cross section of passengers and crew with each having some scenes to help depict the unfolding drama.
I particularly love the score, although there are few scenes with music but when it is present it's very powerful. The production standards are very good considering this was made in the 1950s, although there are some continuity errors. A lot of the big errors are near the beginning when the producers decided to use archive footage but not of the Titanic, I believe no such footage exists of the Titanic itself. A Night to Remember captures the tragedy well, James Cameron was clearly inspired by this film and borrows some key scenes in his 1997 Oscar winning epic Titanic. I know a lot of fans prefer A Night to Remember to Cameron's Titanic but for me his version is superior, although they are both the best films about the sinking of the 'unsinkable' Titanic.
I particularly love the score, although there are few scenes with music but when it is present it's very powerful. The production standards are very good considering this was made in the 1950s, although there are some continuity errors. A lot of the big errors are near the beginning when the producers decided to use archive footage but not of the Titanic, I believe no such footage exists of the Titanic itself. A Night to Remember captures the tragedy well, James Cameron was clearly inspired by this film and borrows some key scenes in his 1997 Oscar winning epic Titanic. I know a lot of fans prefer A Night to Remember to Cameron's Titanic but for me his version is superior, although they are both the best films about the sinking of the 'unsinkable' Titanic.