Titanic 53

[Ernie Luck]

Remember to set your recorders; the Clifton Webb/Barbara Stanwyck Titanic Movie is on UK TV, Channel 4, 13.35 Pm Friday Sept. 7th.

 

[Jonathan Granato]

I have always really like this movie. I don't think it's rubbishy at all. Esp. when the son, Norman, hops out of the boat to die on deck w/his father. Stuff like that really did happen.

 

[Will C. White]

I think for purists it's too much of a melodrama, and doesn't have enough "ship", but I think highly enough of it to have a copy in my collection, and Webb was always underrated as an actor (he was damn good!), and that last scene were the boy keeps the deck like the other men, classic.

 

[Michael Cundiff]

Robert Wagner also did a fine portrayal of a young college student. IMO, the persistent factor of the films ANTR & TITANIC '53, were that the ladies were much more prettier than for example, J. Cameron's TITANIC.

Michael Cundiff
NV, USA

 

[Jonathan Granato]

Another thing I have realized about Titanic '97 (TNT playing this movie endlessly has helped me to revisit certain scenes endlessly) is that females of Rose's age and class did NOT dress and act like wh~~~. Rose wore far too much makeup and her behaviour would have sent her straight to a convent.

 

[Will C. White]

Jonathan-I agree-the cigarette scene in the '97 version (to be realistic) would likely have resulted in Rose meeting the "board of education" and as to the almost subliminal throw-away diologue that she had already slept with her fiance-hokie smokes Batman! To be honest, it does have the best sets and wardrobe, but the script and plot are weak, as is most of the acting (except Kathy Bates-ain't enough of her), and there are some glaring technical failures in production technique. Check the background in the afternoon scene on the deck (the spit scene), those are breakers in the b.g., not no open Atlantic rollers. You'd think for 200 million they could afford retakes when the DP has so much filtration in the lens to make Leo look pretty that he can't see errors in his own frame. WILL

 

[Jonathan Granato]

Oh, I'm hijacking this thread, but I just remembered the scene after the collision where Rose accosts Andrews at the grand staircase and The Sun She Is Shining Through The Skylight! Twice! Also, Rose's hair was always worn down - LADIES's hair in 1912 was worn up unless they were in their dressing gowns in their dressing rooms, in the bath, or in bed - that's it!!

 

[Will C. White]

Just to add insult to injury-Cameron stole the scene you reference from ANTR-two in fact-I believe the line in ANTR was "I trust we may be in the same boat later." The second is when Andrews is last seen, adjusting the clock as our leads pass in the '97 version-believe it was our stalwarts from 3rd Class in ANTR. I know there is the standard stuff; Guggenheim, the Strausses, Mrs. J.J. 'Molly' Brown, but really, just a little original thinking please. As to the hair, yup, still Gibson Girl-hair up. Like I said before, check for the breakers. As to the dome, yup-200 million buys a lot of Duvateen-you want night, drape some of that over your offending unwanted light source! Wish I could get a taste of that kind of production money. I made my last feature (a sea story) for 30 grand! WILL

 

[Ernie Luck]

Back to topic: I don't know if anyone watched the 1953 movie. Not too bad considering it's age - the wailing siren during the sinking sequences drove me bonkers. Presumably Titanic was not equipped with sirens?

In the movie, the sinking was hastened by the boiler explosions. Not factual?

 

[Luke Owens]

No, not factual. However, it was thought to be at the time. Survivor reports show sounds thought to be boilers exploding. It was only after the Titanic's discovery that we found the boilers never exploded.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

>>Presumably Titanic was not equipped with sirens?<<

Correct, she wasn't. The most noise that night came from the safeties lifting to dump the excess steam. This, BTW, was what kept the boilers from exploding in the first place. The only ones in use would have been the ones in the aft most sections...such as Boiler Room Two...to provide steam for the generators. The boilers from both are visible in the wreck and the debris field, and they're intact.

 

[Dave Gittins]

The lovely Kate Phillips was quite a siren!

 

[Ann Whitworth Unemori]

I agree about the siren, whose idea was that? Ruined the scene for me. Plus the fact that for years after, every time I heard the Londonderry Air I thought of the '53 film and Titanic...and that stupid siren.
Let's not forget the scene with Titanic's PORT bow being ripped open in a huge slice. The ship would have gone down in seconds!

 

[Robert T. Paige]

>>Robert Wagner also did a fine portrayal of a young college student. IMO, the persistent factor of the films ANTR & TITANIC '53, were that the ladies were much more prettier than for example, J. Cameron's TITANIC.<<

IMHO, Audrey Dalton was a lot prettier than Kate Winslet....Of course, my opinion may be prejudiced since Robert Wagner and I were about the same age when "Titanic" came out in 1953. LOL.

 

[Robert T. Paige]

Dave:
>>The lovely Kate Phillips was quite a siren!<<

Am I missing something ?...was Kate Phillips in Titanic '53 ?...Can't find a listing for her ?.....