Titanic (1943)

Third Reich's Nazi propaganda epic about a heroic fictional German officer on board of the RMS Titanic. On its maiden voyage in April 1912, the supposedly unsinkable ship hits an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean and starts to go down.

Directors:

Herbert Selpin, Werner Klingler (uncredited)

Writers:

Herbert Selpin, Walter Zerlett-Olfenius

Stars:

Sybille Schmitz, Hans Nielsen, Kirsten Heiberg

Cast

Cast overview:
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)

Storyline

Building the Titanic has been a huge financial effort, and White Star Line president Ismay wants her maiden voyage to hit the headlines. He urges Captain Smith to make the fastest possible crossing to New York. When iceberg warnings come in, the captain must ask himself if he is willing to risk the safety of his ship just to please Ismay.

---

Plot Keywords:

nazi propaganda | anti capitalism | pro nazi | captain | titanic | 

---

Genres:

Action | Drama | History

---

Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Release Date:

7 February 1950 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Titanic

Filming Locations:

Gdynia, Pomorskie, Poland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tobis Filmkunst

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min 80 min (censored)

Sound Mix:

Mono Mono (Tobis-Klangfilm)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the original script, Sybille Schmitz's character was a Danish aristocrat named "Sigrid Oole." For reasons unknown, Joseph Goebbels ordered Sigrid to be re-written as a Russian countess and the surname changed to "Olinsky" during the shoot.

---

Goofs

Bruce Ismay was never married to a woman named Gloria. He was already married to Florence Schieffelin during the maiden voyage of the Titanic.

---

Quotes

John Jacob Astor: [to his wife] To each his own, Madeleine. For me, more power, for you, more jewelry.
Lady Astor: Jewelry is also an asset.
John Jacob Astor: But not always stable. Even gems are subject to fluctuation. And they can only be accurately judged when they are taken out of their setting. Just like women.

---

Alternate Versions

The Allied approved censored version ran 80 minutes and omitted two scenes; one where the British officers make snide comments about Petersen's presence on board the "Titanic" and, more substantially, the entire epilogue where Officer Petersen condemns Bruce Ismay's actions during the inquiry into the sinking. The final inter-title that blames the disaster on British capitalism was also removed.

---

Connections

Featured in Hitlers Hollywood (2017)

---

Soundtracks

God Save The Queen
(uncredited)
Traditional, often attributed to Thomas Augustine Arne or Henry Carey
(British national anthem)
played at the first dinner

User Reviews

Titanic drama executed with style

This German Titanic of a film is a definite "must" see for anyone interested in the fascinating and tragic story. Almost unbelievable that Germany could produce such lavish and expensive film in the middle of the war. TITANIC is a well executed film with excellent acting skills from the actors involved. Director Herbert Selpin and Werner Klingler made an European classic with this film vehicle. Forced to include some unnecessary propaganda, which the film could do without, this does not overshadow the artistic merits of the film. The special effects are so so, but the filmmakers do make you believe you are on-board a sinking ship. Everybody on the screen pulled off a gripping and believable story in glorious black and white. See it if you have a chance, The European film version of The Titanic story, not to be missed.