S.O.S Titanic

S.O.S Titanic is a pre-certed UK VHS by EMI on April 1981.
==Description==
The sinking of the 'unsinkable' White Star luxury liner Titanic on the night of April 14th 1912 while on her maiden voyage across the Atlantic from Southampton to New York was a disaster which shook the world and which still has immense dramatic impact. This latest screen version of the disaster follows Titanic (1953) and A Night to Remember (1958), but is undoubtedly the most spectacular and gripping of the lot. What makes S.O.S. Titanic (1979) so good is the impressive research (using eye-witness accounts) that went into award-winning writer James Costigan's script, allied with lavish production values and colour cinematography, and a star-laden cast who is never in doubt, Costigan succeeds superbly in creating edge-of-the-seat tension throughout. Adding to the impact are the recreations of the Titanic herself, with locations ranging from London's Waldorf Hotel to the engine room of the Thames Water Authority. Some scenes were filmed on board the Queen Mary, now permanently moored at Long Beach in California. Finally, Production Designer Herbert Westbrook and Art Director Tim Hutchinson brilliantly created a giant model of part of the Titanic at Shepperton Studios where, in the flooded sound-stage, the actual sinking took place. Among the stars, expertly directed by Billy Hale, are David Janssen as the millionaire J.J. Astor, and Ian Holm as the tortured J. Bruce Ismay, Managing Director of the White Star Line. David Warner plays English schoolmaster Laurence Beesley - who survived the disaster to write a book about his experiences - while Cloris Leachman gives a stand-out performance as the unsinkable Molly Brown. Naturally, the film stands or falls by the actual sinking. Thanks to impressive special effects and a mounting atmosphere of suspense, this comes as a marvellous climax to a thoroughly enjoyable drama. S.O.S. Titanic is a fascinating and gripping account of the doomed maiden voyage, a journey begun by 2,206 passengers and crew - and survived by a mere 703. ALAN FRANK
==Main cast==
*David Janssen as John Jacob Astor IV
*Beverly Ross as Madeleine Astor
*Cloris Leachman as Margaret "Molly" Brown
*Susan Saint James as Leigh Goodwin
*David Warner as Lawrence Beesley (who also appears in the 1997 version, Titanic)
*Geoffrey Whitehead as Thomas Andrews
*Ian Holm as J. Bruce Ismay
*Helen Mirren as Stewardess May Sloan
*Harry Andrews as Captain Edward J. Smith
*Robert Pugh as James Farrell (Irish Traveller in steerage)
*Jerry Houser as Daniel Marvin
*Deborah Fallender as Mary Marvin
*Shevaun Briars as Katie Gilnagh
*Catherine Byrne as Bridget Bradley
*Nick Brimble as Olaus Abelseth
*Norman Rossington as Master-at-arms Thomas King
*Ed Bishop as Henry B. Harris
*Christopher Strauli as Harold Cottam
*John Moffatt as Benjamin Guggenheim
*Aubrey Morris as the steward
*Nancy Nevinson as Ida Straus
*Gordon Whiting as Isidor Straus
*Peter Bourke as Harold Bride
*Kate Howard as the Countess of Rothes
*Madge Ryan as stewardess
*Philip Stone as the captain of RMS Carpathia
Category:VHS
Category:UK VHS Releases
Category:1981 VHS Releases
Category:Disaster Videos by EMI
Category:BBFC PG