Avoiding the romantic entanglements of James Cameron’s Titanic (1997), Roy Ward Baker’s 1958 British-made docudrama A Night to Remember focuses on the riveting event that took place in the North Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912. Screenwriter Eric Ambler based his screenplay on Walter Lord’s meticulously researched book of the same title. It should be noted, certain facts—most notably the ship breaking in two—were not available to Lord, and might be seen as a slight flaw in the story. Even so, A Night to Remember captures the grim reality of a tragedy that has captured the word’s imagination for the last century.

Told in near documentary style, A Night to Remember begins with the launch of the Titanic. Since footage of the actual launch doesn’t exist, what’s used here is archival footage from the launch of RMS Queen Elizabeth in September 1938. Nevertheless, the visual of pure excitement certainly gives viewers a good idea of what the atmosphere must have been like. For 2nd officer Herbert Lightoller (Kenneth More), the opportunity to be part of Titanic’s crew is the biggest achievement in his career thus far.

A Night to RememberDivided into First, Second and Steerage Class, Captain Edward Smith (Laurence Naismith) proudly notes that the 2,207 passengers bound for New York have been separated into their own familiar worlds; First Class is pure opulence, each fitting living up to the luxury liner’s reputation of a floating palace. Sir (Patrick Waddington) and Lady Richard (Harriette Johns), feel right at home. Nearby, Titanic engineer and chief designer Thomas Andrews (Michael Goodliffe), is already thinking about improvements he can make to the ship.

In the Second Class deck below, a newly married couple is the picture of joy as they plan a family and a future together. Their story is very similar to the rest of the passengers in Second Class as well as Steerage. They all just want to carve out a place for themselves and their families in the world; happiness is paramount above material gains. For many of them, the Titanic, better appointed then their own homes, is like a dream world, making it very easy for them to put their trust in the ship’s crew even after the Titanic struck an iceberg.

Though we already know how the story ends, director Roy Ward Baker keeps viewers engaged by setting a tone filled with tension and never letting up. We can only watch as the mistakes multiply (from wireless operator Jack Phillips’ (Kenneth Griffith) failure to send iceberg warnings to the bridge to Titanic’s failure to carry enough lifeboats) and tragedy grows closer. The sadness only grows as deck commanders aboard the Californian seem clueless beyond reason, greeting emergency flares with bemused puzzlement, and unconcerned about their wireless operator who long since turned off his set. When the boat appears to be listing to one side, the deck commanders brush it off as a sea mirage.

Back on the Titanic, it’s impossible not to cringe as passengers continue to believe they’re in no real danger until death stares them in the face. Sadly, those in steerage must wait behind lock dividers as 1st and 2nd class passengers are led to lifeboats first. Never focusing on just one family, A Night to Remember wisely keeps audiences riveted to the mass of humanity, no matter their class, making a decision about whether to attempt an escape or go down with the ship.

While the entire story is disturbing, the most startling visuals offered by A Night to Remember occur after the Titanic sinks. People in the surrounding lifeboats can hear fellow passengers calling for help; dying in the freezing water. Unable to help, an uneasy silence overtakes the lifeboats, interrupted only by the occasional sob.

Framed in an aspect ratio of 1.67:1, Criterion’s 1080p transfer is simply marvelous. While there are a few slight scratches, Geoffrey Unsworth’s (Tess, Cabaret) cinematography has never looked better, and the print has never appeared cleaner. Blacks are smooth and inky, while the entire transfer has a filmic appearance.

The lossless linear PCM 1.0 mono track serves the film very well. Dialogue is crisp and clear throughout. While the sound effects won’t blow you away, they definitely display some heft. No hissing, crackles, or pops is in evidence.

English SDH subtitles are available.

 

The following special features are included:

  • Commentary: Originally recorded in 1994, this is the same audio commentary with Don Lynch and Ken Marschall, author and illustrator of “Titanic: An Illustrated History”, which appeared on Criterion’s first DVD release of the film. These guys know their stuff when it comes to the Titanic and its history. Anyone interested in more information concerning the Titanic should give this a listen.
  • Trailer (4 min, 1080p) an original trailer for A Night to Remember.
  • The Making of A Night to Remember  (58 min, 1080i) in this documentary, directed by Ray Johnson, producer William MacQuitty and writer Walter Lord discuss A Night to Remember, its production, and the fate of Titanic
  • . Eva Hart: Survivor (24 min, 1080i) in an interview conducted in 1990 by Ray Johnson, Titanic survivor Eva Hart discusses her experiences. Hart died on February 14, 1996.
  •  En Hatt Att Minnas (33 min, 1080i) produced for Swedish television in 1962, to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, this documentary is based on A Night to Remember and Walter Lord’s book of the same name, and features firsthand memories from three survivors of the tragedy.
  • The Iceberg That Sank the Titanic (49 min, 1080i) this segment of the BBC’s Natural World series explores the nature of the iceberg that sank the Titanic.
  • Booklet an illustrated booklet containing film critic Michael Sragow’s essay “Nearer, My Titanic, to Thee.”