A Night to Remember (Digitally Re-mastered Centenary Edition) [DVD] [1958]

I may as well begin with what seems to be an appropriate and inevitable disclaimer: I've never seen James Cameron's 1997 treatment of the Titanic disaster, and came to this film (and its subject) through Walter Lord's book of the same name, itself a triumph of journalistic authorship and reportage. Thriller novelist Eric Ambler's screenplay is one of the most faithful adaptations of any book into a film, and a brilliant cast of actors under the direction of Roy Ward Baker make this one of the underrated and forgotten masterpieces of postwar British cinema. The film fairly rips along, courtesy of that same combination of deft writing, superb acting and direction, as well as some creditably authentic period setting: the Titanic set is beautifully crafted, complete with the complexities and subtleties of the 1912 class system that seems to have been within memory and expressible other than by cheap stereotyping in 1958. The story itself is told in a stoic, understated, rather English way that relies upon historical record rather than retrospective invention, and the results are tense, engaging, often very moving, occasionally quite funny, and entirely convincing. Laurence Naismith (Captain Smith), Michael Goodliffe (Thomas Andrews), Honor Blackman (Mrs. Lucas) and, apparently, Sean Connery (steerage passenger) are among the famous faces who turn up before the inevitable occurs, but the star performance comes from Kenneth More as Charles Lightoller, the officer in charge of lifeboat evacuation. Many of the film's real gems take place away from the boat decks and the main action. Andrews' conversation with first-class passenger Robert Lucas ("I expect you and I will be in the same boat later!") is one example of the film's wry and dry comedic undercurrent. This relief is provided more often than not by the Chief Baker Charles Joughin, a remarkable character who rather cruelly comes across as a bit of a joke in this film, even when the real man gave up his lifeboat seat to a lady passenger and became one of fewer than 50 people to actually go down with the ship and survive the freezing sea. More poignant is the dilemma facing wives and daughters facing the prospect of abandoning their husbands to the doomed liner. Andrews' last conversation with a young lady who refuses to abandon her fiance, and Lucas' final kiss and goodbye with his wife and children, take place among scenes of subdued panic and hysteria that build up towards the ugly chaos of the sinking itself. I won't give away any more of the film, other than to say it's one of my all-time favourites and that it must be one of the greatest examples of More Is Less Cinema - modest production values offset by dedication and delivery from everyone involved. Incidentally, I read some of the reviews for other Titanic films and dramas out of curiosity (check those out, too - some of the Amazon customer reviews for Cameron and Fellowes' versions are as worthwhile in entertainment value as this film), and the complaints of underwritten and overacted fictitious soap operas DO NOT APPLY here. This is a classic and a treasure of British cinema, and well worth a viewing 57 years later.

EXCELLENT! I was impressed by this film, better in every aspect (except CGIs) than 1997 version. In my opinion this is THE film to see about this tragedy. Below, more of my impressions, with some limited SPOILERS. The film follows the real story as described in short but powerful book "A night to remember", published in 1955 by Walter Lord. Before publishing it, author researched the subject for 20 years and the director decided to follow the original text as closely as possible - the result is immediately visible on the screen, from the first minute. The film shows almost exclusively real passengers and crew members - fictitious characters are very few and don't play a major role. There is no love stories or other stories - there is only THE story. Description of events is centered around Charles Lightoller, second officer of "Titanic" and the most senior member of crew to survive. Kenneth More played him as perfectly as in his other great screen appearances ("Admirable Crichton", "Reach for the sky", "Sink the Bismarck!"). However he doesn't dominate the screen - other characters have plenty to do and say. A very precious thing is that the film doesn't include the black legend concerning the first officer, William Murdoch. On another hand the infamous role played by the captain and the officers of s/s "Californian", a ship which during all the tragedy was stopped only ten miles from "Titanic" - but didn't react to distress signals... Numerous scenes describe the class divisions and their consequences during this terrible night but the film is not dominated by this topic, focusing on general tragedy instead. The greatly cosmopolitan character of third class passengers, immigrants going one way to USA in search of better life, is strongly accented in the film. Other than Irish, Italian, Jewish and German immigrants there is also a bunch of people from my own noble tribe - Poles, who true to themselves first think that water in their cabin is a mismanagement and go complain to the crew...))) As already noticed by other reviewers there is only one major difference between the film and the reality - we do not see "Titanic" breaking just before sinking. That is however only a minor thing and the sinking scene is actually, for my taste, BETTER than in Cameron's 1997 behemoth... IMPORTANT TECHNICAL DETAIL - although not precised on amazon page, the DVD has indeed English subtitles, a very precious thing for all the non-native speakers like me. I was IMPRESSED by this film and I will absolutely keep the DVd preciously in my collection, for another viewing. ENJOY!

I really enjoyed this movie and preferred it to the much better known Titanic. It does not have the totally unnecessary love story and instead concentrates on the story of the sinking.

I saw this film a long time ago and it was this film that got me very interested with the titanic, I would really recommend this film.

As a child I was enthralled by this film one wet Sunday afternoon and it was great to see it again with improved definition. In my opinion it's the best dramatic account of the sinking. Better than the - still impressive - 1997 film with its fictional DiCaprio/Winslet love story, which I've always felt was a rather silly and unnecessary distraction.

Very good movie. Features a very young David McCallum and young Honor Blackman.

This has been and will remain my favourite and most respectful depiction of an awful journey that ended in tragedy for so many. I had it on DVD but I was told that a lot of care had been taken in the transfer to blu and that the upgrade was worth it. That is the truth as well, it is is a joy to see such a worthy film treated with complete respect and then given an hour of special features as well, including a making of and production notes and behind the scenes gallery. This unlike the Titanic disaster helmed by James Cameron is understated and I hope displays far more heroism and reality than his overdone disasterpiece, with Kenneth More underplaying his role so perfectly alongside a well judged cast doing the same, and you get nuanced, sympathetic and realistic moments that allow you to imagine without hyperbole just what it may have been like for all of those poor people without resorting to overblown theatrical tricks.

As an ex-Merchant Navy 2nd Officer I give this film higher than average marks for realism and plausibility. I could imagine myself on that ship. No silly romantics, just what seemed a realistic account of the sinking including the possible, and probable confusions over communications. I could nit-pick a bit about distress flares looking like fireworks and the second mate having the single stripe of a third mate but both of these things may have changed by the time I was at sea. I think it is a good account of what it was probably like. The foolishness of the label, "unsinkable", is highlighted. I doubt that it will be used again for any ship. Credible accounts from those who were there adds enormously to the atmosphere and the realism. I was a little surprised at first that it was in black and white but I think that this actually added to the atmosphere and the images were crystal clear. The film also showed the gross inadequacy of lifeboat provision, as required by maritime authorities, in those days. These days this has been revised upwards, probably because on the needless loss of life on the Titanic. Now all British ships are required to accommodate everyone on board in lifeboats on each side of the ship. Usually when a ship sinks the lifeboats on one side quickly become unusable because of the list (sideways lean) that is almost inevitable with a sinking ship. The heroic captain and crew must have known that there would not be nearly enough available boats and that they would drown with all the remaining, lower class, passengers.

I have seen this movie before, however this version is a lot better quality,still sends shivers down my spine having being a merchant seaman myself.

A classic. I finally own it. Saw when young Any one who saw it will never forget this film Yes colour version movie “ Titanic” known By most. But this film Still the one to own. Lizard

I love this DVD!

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Film of s wonderful: I’ve seen many times before purchase. Disc arrived on time and as described. Very happy with purchase.