T is for Titanic (1953)

T is for Titanic (1953). The film won Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards, and after having watched it, I can appreciate why. It is a very well written story. The film is not rated.

I was curious what I’d see when watching this original film that was made 44 years prior to the famous Titanic from James Cameron that captured young girls hearts all across the world. This black and white film from 1953 begins with an image of an iceberg calving off of a glacier and crashing into the Atlantic Ocean, thus beginning its drift into the path of the maiden and only voyage of the ship the Titanic.

In April of 1912, both wealthy class and working class, about 2200 passengers, are aboard for a journey to America from Southampton, England. Some of the same storyline is later reflected in the storytelling of James Cameron, and other parts in this film are less well known.

In the unfolding of this tragedy, the writers use a fictional family to focus our sympathies on. Richard Ward Sturges (Clifton Webb) rushes to board the ship at the last minute in pursuit of his estranged wife Julia (Barbara Stanwyck) who is leaving Europe for Michigan, Mackinac Island to be exact, with their two children, Annette (Audrey Dalton) and Norman (Harper Carter). Richard is trying to mend their broken relationship when the disaster strikes.

Also onboard is a group of students from Purdue University, including Gifford Rogers (Robert Wagner), who is enchanted by Annette and attempts to win her over during the sailing. Maude Young (Thelma Ritter) is a card shark with a smart mouth, and I wondered if she was the counterpart to Molly Brown played by Kathy Bates in the later version.

We also see the warnings of impending disaster that were directed to Captain E. J. Smith (Brian Aherne), and the unfortunate lack of necessary equipment that may have diverted the accident. The film is said to be true to the navigational data gathered during investigations into the tragic sinking of the Titanic.

With none of the over the top visual effects that the Titanic of 1997 employed, I actually liked this version better. The actors are all first rate, especially Barbara Stanwyck and the young, handsome Robert Wagner. A few fictionalized stories of the other passengers are thrown in, and it is a well-balanced film that was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (but did not receive the award).

It is first and foremost a drama, and a reminder that human error and laxity in safety measures is what really caused the fatal injury to the vessel, and the deaths of so many travelers (approximately 1500 people). Thankfully for those sailing on large ocean going vessels today, the safety standards are high and must be adhered to. It is a sad film, but a fitting tribute to the innocent souls who lost their lives that cold pre-dawn morning in April of 1912.

Titanic (1953) Trailer