Almost 100 years ago Titanic struck that iceberg tonight

Hi P/ I have zero fault with any of the Titanic movies. I just listed them in order of my faves and why. I agree, Camerons version got more interested. I liked it when I saw it at the Theater-and I think i did so twice--then paying $8.50 each time ;-))

The Sturges story I thought was very well written (also, one of my Aunts last name was Sturges). One of my favorite lines was from Barbara Stanwyck when she said to Clifton Webb as she was about to leave her room: "He's not your son". As im a big fan of all the main actors in this movie-especially of Basehart and Wagner, I couldnt ever place this movie in any other slot except first of my favorites. A Night To Remember-came in 2nd only because Basehart was not in it. Had he been in it? the best I could do is call it an even tie with Titanic.

I too had many a chuckle when watching the 1943 German version. Their propaganda was way over the top.

The Cameron version I liked through and through, but the older ones are still better as far as actors and such go-which is just an opinion ;-)) Each of these movies has great qualitites on their own as well as an interesting behind the scenes story to go with them. The German one's "story" was that its Director mysteriously "dissappeared" shortly after completing the movie. Apparently he somehow ticked off the Gestapo-which is something id try not doing had I been there during their reign of terror.

 

If im not mistaken? I THINK a part of that movie was found and is or was preserved. I cant rememeber where I heard that? but it must have been the last time I saw it played on TCM and Robert Osbourne said some things about it.

 

I have seen it and thought it was a well made doc on that subject. In fact, wasnt it one of the extras on the Titanic DvD (1953) version? I KNOW I have it on DvD somewhere? just cant remember which one.

As an aside, I never saw that Titanic mini-series so ill probably order it from Netflix sometime.

 

One minor correction. There are no known complete prints of that movie in existance but, there are surviving reels of it. TCM found someone who found a reel or two back about 5 or so years ago. It was restored or is in the process of being preserved? I cant remember which but, TCMs host Robert Osbourne, I THINK was the one who talked about it either before or after Titanic (1953) was played on TCM about 5 years ago. I remember it because they had an evening of movies dealing with the Titanic, and the Basehart, Webb, Stanwyck, Wagner version, was the first of the line-up played.

 

Interesting, do you have any links Carl? Haven't been able to turn up anything myself asides from a few fakes. =/

Speaking of exploit...

Sinking Titanic Slide Is So Fun It's Been Banned | Oddity Central - Collecting Oddities

 

Sorry Carl,

What was found a few years back, 2005, was a newsreel showing footage of the RMS Carpathia unloading survivors when she docked.

Also, since "Saved from the Titanic" is/was only 10 minutes long, and a reel of film hold about 11-12 minutes of footage, if they found one reel, they found the whole movie.

While "Saved from the Titanic" is considered a "lost" movie, many Titanic enthusiasts still hope a reel will eventually turn up.

 

Speaking of a 10 minute film, in the special features section of the 1943 German Movie, there is a really cool White Star Line promotional film with the RMS Olympic in it. Also, there is a 1912 Newsreel included. I'm sure you could probably find them on YouTube, but it's nice to have them on DVD.

 

It's funny, we know so much about Titanic, while the explosion and sinking of the Sultana in the Mississippi as the American Civil War ended with over a thousand fatalities, most recently freed Union POW's, who either burned to death or drowned all within sight of land. There have been what a half dozen Titanic films and not one about Sultana?

 

no rich people on the Sultana?

 

Not only were there no "rich" people on the Sultana, it was overloaded to make other people rich in the transport of Union soldiers. Nobody was taking care of any "standards", or safety concepts at that moment. It was crowd on as many as possible ($ per head) and move them up-river as fast as possible for personal monetary gain.

Sorry boys, you are just "cargo".

 

I agree with Spartanroller, no celebrities or rich folk aboard. Other than that, it would make an excellent "disaster" film.

A vessel meant to legally carry 376 passengers carrying anywhere from 1,900-2,400, two lifeboats and 76 lifevests, Union POWs from Andersonville, rumored illegal dealings between the vessel's captain and Union officers, a shoddy boiler repair, possible sabotage by a confederate sympathizer and saboteur, an explosion and fire combined with ice cold water that results in the death of over 1,000 persons.

yeah, it would make a great disaster epic. Shame that Hollywood is more concerned about reboots instead of original material.

 

There didn't have to be any conspiracy or sabotage, the owners had tied down the boiler "safe valves" so they could keep the pressure up to snuff to "fight upstream" with the overload. That was a template for the explosion which occurred. Too much weight, too much steam pressure, going upstream with too low a free board. The Sultana was doomed from the start with those conditions.

I think there was a portion of one of the Mark Twain stories which sort of encompassed the horror of a "boiler" explosion. A man is trapped under a flaming piece of wreckage with no way out, and he beseeches his friend to shoot him in the head rather than let him burn to death or drown. Was that friend a "murderer", or a friend?

 

is there even a good book of the story? - as in a semi-fictional novel? all i could find was a song...

 

Even if part of it is saved and restored, that would be so marvelous.....thanks for the info.

 

This might help.

Goto:

Sultana Steamboat)

And watch all the clips.

 

Thanks Clint - saw that - just wondered why it doesn't appear to have been made into a story - even Cussler hasn't apparently messed with it.

 

Historical fiction on the Sultana, sure, and yes Chuck Norris is THAT Chuck Norris...
The Justice Riders - Google Books

Although, personally, I prefer non-fiction.

 

Well, technically he has, see here: Battle of Memphis

but he just can't get funding...

 

I wish I did. Im going on memory from something I saw on TCM as a special night of remembrance type thing--which was about 5-6 years ago I believe.

 

Hi Takao, you might be correct on that newsreel footage. The only thing I am sure of is that the movie Ulithi is talking about had been talked about by Osbourne, but Its been too long for me to remember with ant degreee of certain accuracy. Thank you for this info though ;-))

I forgot to mention that one reelers usually have from about 8 minutes up to about 18, of film on them depending on what the films actual length or subject might be. A good case in point are all of the The Three Stooges Short Subjects. Those run from between 12 to 18 minutes unedited. Another great example are the Joe McDoakes (George O'Hanlon-who was the voice or Mr. Jetson in the Jetsons cartoons) Short Subjects. Ive seen those from 6 to about 10 minutes in length ;-))