A NIGHT TO REMEMBER is a classic of British cinema: the definitive retelling of the sinking of the Titanic, told as it was and without embellishment. In the more than capable hands of director Roy Ward Baker, this is a taught, tragic and thoroughly compelling disaster movie that beats most of the competition hands down.
One of the reasons that this film works so well is that it's focused throughout on the sinking of the ship. There are no romantic sub-plots to get in the way, no needless conflict between protagonists and antagonists. The iceberg is the only antagonist here. The emphasis is on realism, a careful recreation of the sinking as described in the then-recently released book by Walter Lord.
I especially liked the way that the movie avoids cliché to get the point across. There's little in the way of dramatic music or outright destruction; in fact, everything plays out rather stately, with the minimum of fuss. It may be the British stiff upper lip effect, or the realisation that you don't need to outwardly dramatise such a dramatic story to begin with.
Kenneth More is excellent as the even-handed Lightoller, and he's supported by a familiar cast giving solid turns, even those in minor roles. Particularly good is Michael Goodliffe as the ship's architect, and watch out for a youthful David McCallum too. Altogether this fine movie shows that you don't need CGI spectacle or shoehorned-in love scenes to tell the story; take note, Mr Cameron!
One of the reasons that this film works so well is that it's focused throughout on the sinking of the ship. There are no romantic sub-plots to get in the way, no needless conflict between protagonists and antagonists. The iceberg is the only antagonist here. The emphasis is on realism, a careful recreation of the sinking as described in the then-recently released book by Walter Lord.
I especially liked the way that the movie avoids cliché to get the point across. There's little in the way of dramatic music or outright destruction; in fact, everything plays out rather stately, with the minimum of fuss. It may be the British stiff upper lip effect, or the realisation that you don't need to outwardly dramatise such a dramatic story to begin with.
Kenneth More is excellent as the even-handed Lightoller, and he's supported by a familiar cast giving solid turns, even those in minor roles. Particularly good is Michael Goodliffe as the ship's architect, and watch out for a youthful David McCallum too. Altogether this fine movie shows that you don't need CGI spectacle or shoehorned-in love scenes to tell the story; take note, Mr Cameron!