Roy Ward Baker / 1958 / UK / 103mins
The unforgettable story of the unsinkable ship, the Titanic, which sunk on its maiden voyage, is committed to celluloid in Roy Ward Baker’s realistic depiction of the disaster. Taken from the book of the same name by Walter Lord, and made with the help of a number of survivors of the sinking, the film is perhaps one of the most realistic depictions of one of the worst cruise ship disasters in history.
Now approaching its centenary, the true story of the sinking of the Titanic has been depicted several times in film, most notably in James Cameron’s Titanic, and also in the lesser-known Raise the Titanic. A Night to Remember, with its accuracies and lack of subplots is one of the most influential and respected films on the topic. And deservedly so, as the film reveals consequences of the sheer arrogance of those who dubbed the ship unsinkable, for not putting enough lifeboats on board, and for attempting to put the higher class passengers above those in steerage. Gritty, emotional and moving, A Night to Remember sparks anger at the needless loss of 1500 lives but also shows that positive change can come from tragedy.