Victor Garber and Thomas Andrews

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T. Eric Brown

Member
Am I the only person who thinks that Victor Garber was fantastic in that role? Some people knock it because they think that they were trying to portray Andrews as overly heroic. I disagree. How much of his scenes in the movie are based on real fact? The only scene I know for sure is true is the scene with him in the first class smoking room, staring into space (I personally believe he was suffering from shock). I don't know much about him but I hear he was a great person. Any thoughts?
 
Encyclopedia Titanica

Encyclopedia Titanica

Philip Hind
Staff member
Member
He gave a wonderfully sympathetic portrayal amidst an ocean of mediocrity... who knows if it was accurate?
 
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Matthew Newman

Member
From what I've read about Thomas Andrews, Victor Garber played it right. Nobody really knows for sure, but just from things said about the real mans' character makes me believe that it would be pretty close to accurate. It was reported by, i believe, surviving members of the crew that Mr. Andrews was very active on the boat deck assisting women and children into the boats and assisting with lifejackets up until about the very end at about which time, I forget the chap's name, but a survivor stated that he had seen Andrews in the smoking room staring off into space. The whole Rose/Andrews thing was fake of course. That part I didn't really like. But I'm glad they did it just to give the character more screentime! But in my opinion, they did a great job in casting the role and I think he played the role to the best of anyone's knowledge, as accurately as possible. Have a great evening.
Happy


Matt.
 
Kyrila Scully

Kyrila Scully

Member
I loved Victor Garber's portrayal of Thomas Andrews. I was excited when I found out he was going to play Andrews because I've been following his career since Godspell. I felt like he was the ONLY actor to "get it right" (compared to the other "real" people portrayed in the film.)

Kyrila
 
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David F. Smith

Member
Back when the movie was released, James Cameron did an interview with the THS magazine. He mentioned that he thought Victor was the perfect Thomas Andrews, the look and kindness, he even had the correct color eyes!
 
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Hilda Jaschke

Member
"Titanic" was my first time seeing Victor Garber in any role.But I immediately fell for him! He was and is a excellent choice for that role!
I know that VG has had a very wonderful Career on stage. he has done some interesting roles.
Right now I am quite lucky because I can catch him every week on "ALIAS" which IMO,he is the best part of the show! He is simply amazing!
A very diffrent role from Mr.Andrews!
But this role suits him wonderfully!
Not to mention,it is a very sexy,"killer" role for him!LOL!(You have to watch to know what I mean)
 
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Lily Peters

Member
I always had a soft spot for Mr. Andrews in real life; he was one of my favorite characters in James Cameron's film. I loved Victor Garber's portrayal of him, especially when he gives Rose the lifebelt. It's so touching how at the very end he stops the clock as the ship goes down...

~Lily~
 
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Robert T. Paige

Member
How would you rate Victor Garber as Andrews in "Titanic" (1997) -vs-Michael Goodliffe as Andrews in "A Night to Remember" (1958)?
 
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Wesley Burton

Member
Hard to say. ANTR was the first Titanic film I saw. Andrews was my favourite character in that film, and every Titanic film where he has made an appearance.

This is a very hard decision, they were both very good. Yet the character came off differently in both films.
 
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Robert T. Paige

Member
Wesley Burton-

Your comments and observations about the same as mine as far as a comparison between Garber and Goodliffe. I was interested in what others might have thought about the two.

The first Titanic film I saw was the 1953 "Titanic" with Clifton, Webb, et. al. Neither Andrews nor Ismay appeared in that film.

Also, in reference to how "the character came off differently in both films", Lightoller comes off as much the hero in the 1953 "Titanic" and 1958 "ANTR", but seems to come off a bit less than that in the 1997 "Titanic" ? Or is this just my observation ?

Captain Smith seems to come off more as I would have imagined him in the 1997 "Titanic." Brian Aherne was a bit too young for the part in the 1953 "Titanic" -IMHO. In ANTR, the actor seems more convincing as long as he keeps his hat on. He seems to lose a bit of the character when he takes it off.Maybe Smith could have been a bit bald though. :)
 
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Vitezslav Ivicic

Member
I think he has been really wonderfull too! Real fact is also that scene when he said to the stewardess that she should take a lifejacket and go on a boat deck. And Andrews said to Rose about Titanic's sinking in a first class hall - Andrews said it so to Dorothy Gibson. That's told me Randy Bigham.
 
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T. Eric Brown

Member
That's interesting Vitezlav, thanks! I do recall the report of him in the smoking room as the ship went down: He was apparently sitting down and staring out a porthole with his lifejacket sitting in the chair beside him. With regards to Ms Robinson, I didn't know such a minor take would be true fact. Thanks again!
 
Jason D. Tiller

Jason D. Tiller

Staff member
Moderator
Member
quote:

He was apparently sitting down and staring out a porthole
Click to expand...

And your source for that is...?

That contradicts the information I've read and which is well known. Reportedly, he was last seen staring into space at the painting of Plymouth Harbour above the fireplace in the first class smoking room. It states that in his biography.​
 
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Mark Webster

Member
This is what Iv heard too. I believe the painting was called something like,

"Journey to the new world"

or something like that, I will check. It sounded similar if not the same, and it was referred to as almost ironic in the passage.
I do believe Victor Garber is the best actor iv seen for Thomas Andrews. We can only speculate as to how real to the true person Garber played the part, but I cant imagine Thomas Andrews being much different concidering the actions he took that night, and how they blended so well with the sympathetic kindness Garber creates.
Goodlife is also very good, especially in the last few scenes where you see how distressed Andrews has become, i felt this was perfect acting, but Garber I feel plays Andrews the closest, but who knows?
On the same note, and its already been mentioned, who do you think is the best Captain Smith. I actually really liked the actor in the 'Titanic' film with Catherine Zeta Jones. I cant remember his name.
 
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