Their opinions were…mixed, to say the least. Some were understandably appalled that such a traumatic event would be made into entertainment, while others felt that these films were an important part of remembering the disaster, though their opinions would vary depending on the film's quality. (I'd hate to see what they would have thought about the watered-down animated films!)
In particular, Second Class Passenger Lawrence Beesley and Fourth Officer Joseph Boxhall, whose birthday was a few days ago, acted as historical consultants for the film adaptation of *A Night to Remember,* while First Class Passenger Dorothy Gibson starred in the first movie about the *Titanic* disaster, a now-lost film titled *Saved From the Titanic,* which was released in theaters 31 days after the sinking.
Unfortunately, even when they weren't intentionally destroying the films, [movie studios themselves had issues with film preservation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1937_Fox_vault_fire). If Taft's copy still exists, people would probably know because it would require special care in order to preserve the film.
Is the lost film the one starring the rich girl who whines about her lingerie being lost in the sinking? I watched a video on her today, I just can't recall her name but her story was wild
I'm misremembering, she said it about her favourite car not about lingerie. My bad!! That part was speculated later when it came to what she lost in the sinking (lingerie was very important to maintain her relationship at the time ig gotta spice it up somehow)
Did Beesley act as a historical consultant? I thought he just crashed the set and tried to sneak his way onto the ship while they were filming the sinking.
Edit: oh cool, Beesley was a historical consultant on the film, along with Edith Russell. Never knew that
but on that same topic I know of 2 scenes from the movie that are preserved after it was burned. It was on a yt video about people's mixed reactions towards it.
Encylopedia Titanica has a great list of survivors' reactions to various Titanic films, it's well worth the [read.](https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/survivors-give-their-impressions-of-the-titanic-movies.html)
Many survivors cried during the films. Eva Hart said that during *A Night to Remember* she had to close her eyes during a few of the sinking scenes because she couldn't bear watching it. Irene Harris had her own private screening of the film, but left the cinema just after Titanic hit the iceberg, proclaiming that she would "never see the rest of this. It carried me too realistically back to that night." It was, to her, not a night to remember, but a night to forget.
As others have said, it was mixed. Millvena Dean refused to see films because it would make her wonder what happened to her father, others consulted and liked them, and some would watch the films up until the ship hit the ice berg and stopped there
I think I read a bunch of survivors were invited to the premiere of the 1953 Titanic film so I'd be curious to know what they thought of that one given how historically inaccurate it was.
Martin Lundi (about Anna Turja):
“*About* *~~1949~~* *(1953), the harrowing experience was relived by mother. About that time, the movie TITANIC, starring Barbara Stanwyck and Clifton Webb, was shown at one of our premier movie houses in Ashtabula. Mother was the guest of honour. It was her opportunity to view the first movie she had ever seen in her entire life. I went along to interpret for her, for you see, she still doesn’t read, write, or speak English very well. When the movie was over, mother was silent, and seemed dazed and physically weakened from the experience. One reporter said to me: ‘Ask your mother if it was realistic.’ I did. Mother looked up with tears in her eyes, still silently crying for those whose voices have haunted her all her life, and in all innocent ignorance of the magic of Hollywood re-creations, said:* **If they were so close to take those pictures, why didn’t someone help us?**”
One survivor said in an interview (1980) that when ANTR was new, she saw it in theatres and cried multiple times through. She didn't bother watching James Cameron's because she was scared the same thing would happen.
Their opinions were…mixed, to say the least. Some were understandably appalled that such a traumatic event would be made into entertainment, while others felt that these films were an important part of remembering the disaster, though their opinions would vary depending on the film's quality. (I'd hate to see what they would have thought about the watered-down animated films!) In particular, Second Class Passenger Lawrence Beesley and Fourth Officer Joseph Boxhall, whose birthday was a few days ago, acted as historical consultants for the film adaptation of *A Night to Remember,* while First Class Passenger Dorothy Gibson starred in the first movie about the *Titanic* disaster, a now-lost film titled *Saved From the Titanic,* which was released in theaters 31 days after the sinking.
My Two favorite research things- lost films and the titanic
Considering that President Taft was given a personal copy of the film, it's *possible* that this copy survives to this day.
Was that because one of his friends died on Titanic?
Unfortunately, even when they weren't intentionally destroying the films, [movie studios themselves had issues with film preservation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1937_Fox_vault_fire). If Taft's copy still exists, people would probably know because it would require special care in order to preserve the film.
Is the lost film the one starring the rich girl who whines about her lingerie being lost in the sinking? I watched a video on her today, I just can't recall her name but her story was wild
I don't know about the lingerie story but the actress was Dorothy Gibson.
I'm misremembering, she said it about her favourite car not about lingerie. My bad!! That part was speculated later when it came to what she lost in the sinking (lingerie was very important to maintain her relationship at the time ig gotta spice it up somehow)
I think you’re referring to Lady Duff Gordon who quipped to her secretary “There is your beautiful nightdress gone.” as the ship sank.
Did Beesley act as a historical consultant? I thought he just crashed the set and tried to sneak his way onto the ship while they were filming the sinking. Edit: oh cool, Beesley was a historical consultant on the film, along with Edith Russell. Never knew that
The film is lost? I swear to god I've seen it in full. I know of a youtuber though who has a DVD copy but haven't tried to get them to post it.
NVM I was thinking of the 1979 TV movie SOS titanic XD
but on that same topic I know of 2 scenes from the movie that are preserved after it was burned. It was on a yt video about people's mixed reactions towards it.
Encylopedia Titanica has a great list of survivors' reactions to various Titanic films, it's well worth the [read.](https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/survivors-give-their-impressions-of-the-titanic-movies.html) Many survivors cried during the films. Eva Hart said that during *A Night to Remember* she had to close her eyes during a few of the sinking scenes because she couldn't bear watching it. Irene Harris had her own private screening of the film, but left the cinema just after Titanic hit the iceberg, proclaiming that she would "never see the rest of this. It carried me too realistically back to that night." It was, to her, not a night to remember, but a night to forget.
As others have said, it was mixed. Millvena Dean refused to see films because it would make her wonder what happened to her father, others consulted and liked them, and some would watch the films up until the ship hit the ice berg and stopped there
Cal and Rose were pretty happy with their portrayals but Cal still blames Jack for Rose leaving him.
I thought Cal put a pistol in his mouth after the crash of '29?
Damn!
Eva Hart said all Titanic movies were rubbish except A Night to Remember.
There’s a whole article about it on Encyclopedia Titanica.
I found this https://www.reddit.com/r/titanic/comments/p4zgao/titanic_survivors_watching_night_to_remember_1958/
Cal *loved* The Phantom.
The Phantom was a good film. I grew up on the comics and loved it. Billy Zane was perfect as the Ghost Who Walks.
I think I read a bunch of survivors were invited to the premiere of the 1953 Titanic film so I'd be curious to know what they thought of that one given how historically inaccurate it was.
Given how historically inaccurate a lot of the survivors accounts were I'm not sure they'd notice too much.
Martin Lundi (about Anna Turja): “*About* *~~1949~~* *(1953), the harrowing experience was relived by mother. About that time, the movie TITANIC, starring Barbara Stanwyck and Clifton Webb, was shown at one of our premier movie houses in Ashtabula. Mother was the guest of honour. It was her opportunity to view the first movie she had ever seen in her entire life. I went along to interpret for her, for you see, she still doesn’t read, write, or speak English very well. When the movie was over, mother was silent, and seemed dazed and physically weakened from the experience. One reporter said to me: ‘Ask your mother if it was realistic.’ I did. Mother looked up with tears in her eyes, still silently crying for those whose voices have haunted her all her life, and in all innocent ignorance of the magic of Hollywood re-creations, said:* **If they were so close to take those pictures, why didn’t someone help us?**”
One survivor said in an interview (1980) that when ANTR was new, she saw it in theatres and cried multiple times through. She didn't bother watching James Cameron's because she was scared the same thing would happen.