S.O.S. Titanic (1979) (TV)

Director:

William Hale

Writer:

James Costigan (writer)

Release Date:

23 September 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The Titanic disaster is depicted, primarily as seen through the eyes of one couple in each of the three classes on board.

Plot Keywords:

Titanic | Ship Wreck | 1910s | Ocean Liner

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy.

Cast

David Janssen	...	John Jacob Astor
Cloris Leachman	...	Margaret 'Molly' Brown
Susan Saint James	...	Leigh Goodwin
David Warner	...	Laurence Beasley
Ian Holm	...	Joseph Bruce Ismay
Helen Mirren	...	Stewardess Mary Sloan
Harry Andrews	...	Capt. Edward John Smith
Beverly Ross	...	Madeline Astor
David Battley	...	Chief Boot Cleaner S. Stebbing
Ed Bishop	...	Henry Harris
Tony Caunter	...	Chief Officer Henry Wilde
Nicholas Davies	...	Lift Attendant Alfie King
Matthew Guinness	...	Father Thomas Byles
Jerry Houser	...	Daniel Marvin
Victor Langley	...	Band Leader Wallace Hartley

Runtime:

180 min (including commercials) | USA:102 min (DVD version)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) | Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12

Filming Locations:

RMS Queen Mary - 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, California, USA

Company:

EMI Films

Trivia:

David Warner also appeared in Time Bandits (1981) (which features a scene aboard the Titanic) and Titanic (1997).

Goofs:

Factual errors: John Jacob Astor and wife Madeleine are shown conversing with Bruce and Julia Ismay at the Titanic's Grand Staircase while the Titanic is still docked in Southampton England. The Astors did not board the ship until it reach Cherbourg France.

Movie Connections:

Version of Titanic (1997)

Soundtrack:

Rock of Ages

SOS Titanic

There are two versions of this film. One is much better than the other and runs for another 30 minutes and can now be viewed in its entirety on You Tube.

This is a made for TV film and as such, the budget is limited, but not entirely noticeable. Yes, some scenes are clearly shot on the Queen Mary, but the film is engrossing so you don't really take much notice.

SOS Titanic is also quite different from all of the other versions in that: (1) it starts with the ending and tells the story in a flashback format. And (2), it is the first Titanic film to feature all three passenger classes in some detail. And it also has the distinction of being the fist Titanic film to be filmed in colour.

There is some mis-casting. David Janson's Astor gives it his best shot, but does not quite pull it off, and Cloris Leachman is the worst Molly Brown I have seen. Some more real life characters are featured in this film, the Lift Boy and the 'Boot' boys. Even stewardess Violet Jessop is included, but incorrectly portrayed as an elderly stewardess when in fact Violet was in her mid 20s. J Bruce Ismay is portrayed far more accurately in this film and it is through his eyes that we flashback to the events.

There is no real plot line as such, and this film plays more like a documentary although does not quite manage to pull it off like 'A Night To Remember' did. There are a few small sub-plots, but this film is based on the book by 2nd class passenger and Titanic survivor Lawrence Beeseley. There is a short scene between him and his fictional female companion where they are shown on the middle decks discussing "them up there" and "those down there", which really emphasises the class distinction to good effect.

Although not actually seen, the near collision at Southampton IS mentioned in the dialogue, something all the other films always leave out. There is also a good scene showing the Tenders.

The soundtrack is excellent and the music is extremely atmospheric. You really feel like you are there. And with the a great many more scenes showing children, it really does have an effect on you, especially the opening sequence which is superb.

OK, Titanic's life boats did NOT have to wade their way through a field of ice to reach the Carpathia, and the crew on the Carpathia actually had everything prepared before the Titanic's boats reached her and not a mad rush as they arrive. But I think this can be forgiven and taken as a bit of poetic license. What is unforgivable is the glaring mistake about the date. They show it as Sunday April 12th, when as we all know it was Sunday April 14th.

But the costumes and sets are spot on and we see a lot more of this ship than in other films: The Turkish Baths, The Stewardess' rooms,The Gymnasium to name just a few.

All in all, a good film.

The sinking sequence is not the best of the bunch, and nothing will surpass Cameron's version in that area, but this film is not about special effects. The ship sinks intact in SOS Titanic but this was the accepted version in 1979.