Customer Reviews

A Night to Remember (The Criterion Collection)

5 star:		(64)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A far more definitive, if slightly less emotional re-telling of the sinking
of the Titanic than the huge James Cameron version.

Obviously the special effects are several generations behind those in
the new film, and there's very little character development.

The film, focuses instead on an almost documentary like overview.
But that approach feels both more telling and more real.

Also, some of the most dramatic and tragic parts of the real story '

(mild spoiler ahead)

like the presence of a boat a mere 10 miles away that simply didn't
understand what was happening to their neighbor at sea ' are included
here and not in the recent version. It has really stuck with me.

Directed by Roy Baker, A NIGHT TO REMEMBER has the standard quality we are accustomed to expect from a Rank production. Great actors for every characters, a screenplay without weakness or surprise and professional cinematography. It's the perfect DVD for a rainy saturday night. But I doubt that you will see this movie again and again with an everlasting pleasure.

The british point of view over the Titanic catastroph has the charm of the Victorian glorious past of this nation. Slightly ridiculous but so admirable. The mood of this movie can be felt in this sentence of one of the british passenger : " My wife would be so disappointed if she heard that my conduct wasn't the conduct of a gentleman at the moment of my death ". We sincerely hope that the poor woman has been able to have the confirmation of the perfect attitude of his husband in front of the Atlantic's frozen rains.

Naturally, everything was filmed in studio, so the Atlantic Ocean is very Lake Tahoe-like and doesn't seem so mean after all. Same remark for the deadly iceberg that we have the chance to admire during 3,056 seconds. No, the sole interest of A NIGHT TO REMEMBER is the study, from a british point of view, of the ideal attitude to adopt in front of an upcoming death.

A didactic Titanic DVD.

As one who has had an active interest in all matters maritime for many years, I must say that this movie is perhaps one of the most under rated of all time.

Historically based on the Walter Lord book,the movie follows the book with jaw dropping accuracy. In hindsight, however, it does depict the captain of the "Californian" in a light which has now been proved incorrect. Captain Lord was finally exonerated about 20 years ago, in fact there was no evidence that the ship on the horizon was in fact the "Californian" The only other technical fault was the non- breaking up of the ship as she sank, we now know for sure this is in fact what happened, no vessel of such size could possibly remain intact with such a huge unsupported section out of the water.

In sharp contrast, James Camerons 'Titanic' has more holes in it than the ship itself. (other reviewers have covered this sufficiently)

This movie captures all the drama, pathos, tragedy and irony of the event.....without the 'Jack & Rose' story. The most chilling moment is the extraordinary shot of Bruce Ismay, Chairman of 'White Star'Line, with the vessel's stern precariously elevated in the background.It is one of the most poignant and dramatic moments in motion picture history.

The actions of the officers onboard reflect the strict tradititions of the Merchant Marine...(and I should know) And as for Captain Rostron on the 'Carpathia', he simply did what is expected of any ship's captain when faced with a vessel in distress.

Finally, the transfer to DVD is good but not brilliant. For the price of the 'Criterion Collection' it could have been better. Minor criticisms for an otherwise masterpiece of a movie.

Finally, on April 14, 2012, many of us will reach for a 'Titanic' movie to recall the events of 100 years ago. I'll run this one.....then "Titanic" just to see Ms Stanwyks gowns, and Clifton Webbs' noble largesse. As for the Cameron movie......I won't even bother.

THe films main problem is that it decides to break conventions in the worst way by having no sense of direction or charaterlization. THe film is an un unforgivingly bad film that hapens to leavge the view compleltly unintrested in an compelling story. The story telling for the time is also medicore given what david lean was able to accomplish years eailer. There is nothing of intrests in this film . Any one who liked is a complet moron and dosent have a bit of taste. THis goes to all people who wrote reviews for this film. you all have no taste or understandingas to what a good film is. I wirte reviews for the long youth film society.