Movies and Novels
Since the Titanic disaster, hundreds of books treating every possible aspect of the disaster have been written, and several films – the latest in 1997 by James Cameron – have been made about the Titanic.
The first film was already produced in 1912: the silent movie "Saved from the Titanic," starring Dorothy Gibson who was a survivor of the disaster. More than 30 years later, the next Titanic film was produced which was a typical wartime nazi propaganda: The hero of the hour in this 1943 film was the only German on board – this character was, of course, purely fictional. In 1953, Twentieth Century Fox followed with the film "Titanic" (originally titled "Nearer My God to Thee"). In 1958, the movie "A Night to Remember," which was based on the book of the same name by Walter Lord, was highly successful (see below). In 1960, the musical "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" was produced which told the story of the gallant Denver millionairess. In 1964, it was also turned into a movie. In 1979, the semisuccessful TV-drama "S.O.S. Titanic" was produced, and in 1980, the fictional film "Raise the Titanic" (based on a novel by Clive Cussler) followed, which was, however, a flop. Finally, in 1997, a Broadway musical was produced (which did not get, however, good reviews), and – James Cameron released his movie "Titanic," which was highly successful (see below).
To sum up, James Cameron's movie is just one film in a series of films about the Titanic which have been produced during the last 87 years. Above, I have just listed the most famous ones – there are more than 30 films about that topic. What is more, hundreds, or even thousands of books – both fictional and non-fictional – have been written. There are even computer games based on the disaster. In short, everyone tries to join in the success of the movie.
Now I would just like to present you the two most successful, and, at the same time, most accurate films of the disaster, as well as three selected novels which chose the foundering of the Titanic as a background.
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Films
- "A Night to Remember"
- James Cameron's "Titanic"
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Novels
- Beryl Bainbridge: "Every Man for Himself"
- William Seil: "Sherlock Holmes and the Titanic Tragedy"
- Jim Walker: "Murder on the Titanic"
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Comparison
- The Love Stories
- The Mothers
- Tours through the Ship
- Dying Strangers
- Secret Missions
- Intrigues
- Escaping from the Titanic
- Historical Inaccuracies and Doubtful Events
- Final Remarks
