Product Details

• Actors: Various
• Directors: The History Channel
• Format: Color, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: A&E HOME VIDEO
• DVD Release Date: March 13, 2012
• Run Time: 300 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B006ENHG8Q
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,837 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A tragedy that only grows with each telling, the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic resonates on a variety of levels, including as a cautionary illustration of Man's hubris in the face of Nature, as an unforgettably vivid example of class divisions during those frenzied final hours, and through the myriad of personal stories of courage recorded by the survivors. This compilation of three feature-length documentaries provides both the broad strokes and minutia surrounding the incident. The first two documentaries on the disc--both produced several years before James Cameron turned his attentions to the subject--take a Ken Burnsian approach to the material, utilizing a wealth of recovered artifacts and survivor interviews to fill in the blanks surrounding that famous night. The first installment, Death of a Dream, details the elements leading up to the voyage, spanning from the ship's construction in Belfast to the composition of the fatal iceberg. The Legend Lives On, meanwhile, delves into the aftershocks of the event, including the fascinating trial of the remaining crew--and, most notably, the head of the shipping company, J. Bruce Ismay--just days after being brought to safety. Finally, the third feature, Titanic's Achilles Heel, takes a distinctly more modern approach to the material, as a team of scientists use the latest in computer imaging to explore the engineering behind what was once the largest ship in history. When one expert advances a theory that a flaw in the design may have been responsible for the disastrous aftermath of the collision, a team of divers undertake a risky mission to examine the wreck of Titanic's sister ship Britannic for confirmation. Taken as a whole, this engrossing package provides enough detail to intrigue both casual viewers and hard-core historians. The title Titanic: The Complete Story may be an exaggeration, but not by much. --Andrew Wright

Product Description

Product Description

The "unsinkable" Titanic was a dream come true: Four city blocks long and a passenger list worth 250 million dollars. But on her maiden voyage in April 1912, that dream became a nightmare when the giant ship struck an iceberg and sank in the cold North Atlantic. More than 1,500 lives were lost in one of the greatest disasters of the 20th century. Now, the complete sensational history of the premier liner is recounted in TITANIC: THE COMPLETE STORY. Using newsreels, stills, diaries, and exclusive interviews with survivors, TITANIC: THE COMPLETE STORY charts the fateful history of the ship and its passengers as well as providing an overview on the popular culture phenomenon that this tragedy has become.

This set includes 3 feature-length programs:

• DEATH OF A DREAM - The largest ship ever built is christened in Ireland before a cheering crowd of 100,000. Witness the disaster this trek becomes as numerous iceberg warnings go unheeded and the ship sinks in the icy North Atlantic.
• THE LEGEND LIVES ON - Overpacked lifeboats edge away from the crippled liner as futile SOS signals flare into the night - leaving 1,500 passengers to a watery grave. Also, witness the courageous deep sea expedition to unearth Titanic's secrets.
• TITANIC'S ACHILLES HEEL - Elite divers explore the explosive theory that the doomed liner may have had a fatal design flaw - using advanced CGI technology, archive documents and photographs, as well as footage from modern-day HISTORY expeditions.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

86 of 87 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Titanic Documentaries That Have Been Released In Several Other Editions, So Check Individual Titles February 24, 2012

By K. Harris HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWER

Format:DVD

Our fascination with the tragedy of the Titanic has never waned. In April, it is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of this "unsinkable" giant on its maiden voyage. There has, through the years, been so much material presented about the disaster through various media outlets. Enthusiasts and casual historians with an interest in the topic have likely snapped up some of the higher profile pieces related to that fateful night. So I say with the 2012 release of "Titanic: The Complete Story," don't make this a blind buy if you have previously purchased Titanic titles from History Channel or A&E Entertainment. If you have not seen these specials, they are certainly noteworthy--I just want to warn potential buyers about a repackaging overlap.

This set includes:
(5 stars) 1994's "Death of a Dream" and 1994's "The Legend Lives On": These two specials aired in conjunction and are considered companion pieces to one another. Together, they form one of the most comprehensive accounts about the Titanic that you're likely to encounter with a total run time of about 3 1/2 hours. The two documentaries (narrated by Man From UNCLE's David McCallum) utilize survivor interviews (people that are no longer with us in 2012), photos, newsreel footage, and personal written accounts to bring the story to life. From the ship's inception and building in the early years of the century to the discovery of the wreckage in 1985 by Robert Ballard, these films by Melissa Jo Peltier really provide a complete picture of the Titanic story. "Death of a Dream" tells primarily the start of the story up until the sinking with "The Legend Lives On" picking up with much of the aftermath. If you have been dissatisfied with other films or coverage, I suggest you give these a try. Note that they were made in 1994, however, and are not as modern as some of the documentary features produced today.

(4 Stars) 2007's "Titanic's Achilles Heel": By its very nature, this documentary is more speculative and seems more in tune with projects being produced by the History Channel today. Director Kirk Wolfinger's film takes on a theory proposed by naval architect Roger Long after "Deep Sea Detectives" (how do you get that title?) John Chatterton and Richard Kohler discovered new evidence when they inspected the Titanic wreckage in 2005. Long posits that perhaps the sinking was inevitable due to structural flaws within the ship itself. This film employs special effect recreations to make its points as well as archival footage from past and current expeditions. Fascinating, but not nearly as essential as the other two films.

Previous Releases:
"Titanic's Achilles Heel" has been released as a stand-alone DVD.

"Death of a Dream" and "The Legend Live On" were on a previous set with the same title--2002's "Titanic: The Complete Story." That set included 1998's "Beyond Titanic" as opposed to "Titanic's Achilles Heel." If you own this edition, there is no real upgrade with the new set. If you don't, it's no longer available--so now you can get the Peltier films. The two parts were also released in 1998 under the plain title of "Titanic."

Special features (also previously released in prior editions):
Timeline of Critical Events
Biographies of Notable Passengers
Essay on the history filtered through pop culture

I am certainly giving this a recommendation, I just wanted to let you know that you may already own pieces of this set if you collect Titanic material. Primary components have already been on the market in several different incarnations. KGHarris, 2/12.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Titanic Documentary April 5, 2012

By C6

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Vary informative. Many facts that I did and did not know. Can easily be viewed many times for both the information presented and the obvious interest in the Titanic. C6

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Titanic May 14, 2012

By Kat

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Watched with total interest. The documentary gave specifics that I would never question. I felt quite naive. The issue with the compartments flooding were shocking in the belief that the Titanic could sustain herself in such a situation. The documents were so informative about the extravagance of the ship, that one would not believe that this ship could not fail, and by God, it did. I pray for the souls lost on that night. For some warm, happy and full of hope. Then.....Terror.