A Night to Remember

The Civil War Sesquicentennial isn't the only anniversary this week! Today marks the 99th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, easily the most famous maritime disaster in history. A slew of films have been made about the Titanic, from two 1912 silent films to James Cameron's bloated blockbuster, but Roy Ward Baker's subdued, factual A Night to Remember (1958) remains the best by a league.

April 1912. The "unsinkable" White Star ocean liner RMS Titanic sets sail on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, with a complement of 2,200 passengers and crew. Ignoring warnings from the small steamer Californian, Captain Smith (Laurence Naismith) sails the vessel at high speed into an ice flow, causing the ship to strike an iceberg. Assessing the damage, ship's creator Thomas Andrews (Michael Goodliffe) immediately realizes that the ship has only a few hours to live. Stoic Second Officer Charles Lightoller (Kenneth More) takes command of the rescue operations, but a mixture of insufficient lifeboats, horrendously cold weather, the distance (or ignorance) of other ships and gathering panic results in a tragedy.

Working on Walter Lord's non-fiction book, A Night to Remember is admirably accurate while retaining cinematic interest. Other Titanic films invent a gloppy human interest story, but Baker and writer Eric Ambler keep a broader focus on the sinking itself. By keeping a large scope with an ensemble cast - including the crews of the Californian and Carpathia - the complete impact of the tragedy really hits home. Without resorting to cheap theatrics, we're dismayed when Wireless Operator Jack Phillips (Kenneth Griffith) disregards an ice warning and as the Californian obliviously observes the sinking. The scene where Andrews coldly spells out the inevitability of Titanic's demise really hits home: even in a best- case scenario, only half the ship's complement would fit in lifeboats, and the subzero Atlantic made this a death sentence for 1,500 people.

While lacking in melodrama, the film retains a strong human touch. Night shows some wonderfully incongruous reactions to the sinking - stewards being reprimanded for smoking, the first class passengers, the gamblers playing cards to the end. Class distinctions are strictly observed, even in the face of disaster: the first class passengers seem mildly annoyed by the collision, while the steerage passengers are only belatedly allowed on deck. And yet the class structure also provides some of the sinking's noblest moments, as when the elderly Strausses forgo their seats on a lifeboat for younger passengers. The story's usual villains, owner Bruce Ismay (Frank Lawton) and Californian Captain Lord (Russell Napier), are presented in unusually layered fashion. The film views the sinking as a collective tragedy rather than assigning specific blame.

Despite a relatively modest budget, Night's production is truly impressive. Using a mixture of expansive sets and miniatures, Ward crafts some truly spectacular set-pieces, with marvelously-staged scenes of the sinking, especially the chaotic rush to the stern. The Titanic's final lurch is extremely affecting: seeing it from the lifeboats' point-of-view, we feel an incredible mixture of awe and helplessness. The most striking image, however, is a simple one: an abandoned dinner tray sliding around an empty lounge as the ship sinks. Baker cheats here and there, sneaking in some shots from a German Titanic film, but on the whole it's a really impressive production.

Kenneth More (North West Frontier) is perfect casting as the upright Lightoller, an unflappable officer who becomes an ideal hero in the clutch. David McCallum (Billy Budd) plays Wireless Operator Harold Bride, who heroically remains at his post until the ship's final moments. A pretty Honor Blackman (Goldfinger) and John Merivale (King Rat) engage in a sweet romance that never overwhelms the main story. Laurence Naismith (Young Winston) gives Smith the right air of tragic dignity and Tucker MacGuire steals her scenes as Molly Brown. A slew of recognizable faces essay bit parts: Andrew Keir (Lord Jim) as an engineer, Michael Bryant (The Ruling Class) as Officer Moody, Alec McCowen (Frenzy) as one of the Carpathia's officers, Norman Rossington (Lawrence of Arabia) as a testy steward. Sean Connery supposedly has a walk-on but I couldn't spot him.

Deeming A Night to Remember the greatest Titanic film might not seem a great achievement. Disregarding this dubious standard, however, it remains an impressive, powerful film in its own right.