Customer Reviews

Titanic [VHS]

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

The 1996 Hallmark miniseries of TITANIC was unfortunate in that it ended up being largely overshadowed by James Cameron's 1997 big-screen blockbuster (by the time the miniseries was aired in the UK and Australia, James Cameron's version had well and truly exploded onto the scene). This was a pity, as the Hallmark version has many things in it's favour.

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Peter Gallagher head a star-studded international cast, and the adaptation succeeds in blending five different stories into the narrative. Perhaps most importantly this version depicts a real-life passenger called Alice Cleaver (played by Felicity Waterman) who attempted to kidnap the baby of her employers when the boat began to sink (leaving the family to search for the child until all the lifeboats had departed, thus sealing their fate).

At the time of this miniseries, Catherine Zeta-Jones was at the cusp of Hollywood superstardom. She looks ravishing as Isabella Paradine, who rekindles an affair with her first beau Wynn Park (Peter Gallagher). Also in this miniseries, we meet in greater detail John Jacob Astor (Scott Hylands) and his pregnant young second wife Madeline (Janne Mortil). The affair of Astor and Madeline was one of the biggest scandals of the period and it's great to have them as prominent characters in this version. The younger romance is provided by thief Jamie (Mike Doyle) and Danish convert Aase (Sonsee Neu-Ahray).

No version of TITANIC would be complete without the ebullient and "unsinkable" Molly Brown (Marilu Henner plays her with enough spirit and spunk to make Debbie Reynolds proud and Kathy Bates pale). And the villain of the piece is thieving steward Simon Doonan (performed with oily relish by Tim Curry). A flavour of classic Hollywood is provided by George C. Scott as the Captain and Eva Marie Saint as the selfish Hazel Foley.

The romance of Bella (Zeta-Jones) and Wynn (Gallagher) is a captivating and moving one, played with style and elegance, and I consider it far more effective than the romance in the James Cameron spectacle. True, the special effects are lacking in this version but the dramatics and acting more than compensate. A fantastic production and one I revisit often. Originally shown in two parts. With Tamsin Kelsey, Eric Keenleyside, Malcolm Stewart, Roger Rees, Harley Jane Kozak, Kevin Conway, Matt Hill and Barry Pepper.

It seems that not much attention has been paid to this film, perhaps because of its made-for-TV status. It is accurate and follows what is known about the tragedy. Unlike James Cameron's Titanic, for example, where the Californian is not mentioned and minimal reference is made to the rescue effort of the Carpathia, those aspects of the story are played-out here. This movie tells the story as it is historically known with regard to the non-response of the Californian's Captain, Stanley Lord. Also well told is the superb response of the Carpathia's Captain, Arthur Rostron, in making every effort to reach the stricken Titanic before she sank.( An effort which won the real-life Captain Rostron a Congressional Medal of Honor.) The subplots are good, though many are of course fictitious and some a bit melodramatic, with a focus on many people on board, not just two. Acting is first rate. George C. Scott is excellent as Captain Smith. This is not a high-budget special effects feast, but there is plenty to see. If you would like a modernized "A Night to Remember" this movie will suit. Highly watchable and recommended.

The 1996 Hallmark miniseries of TITANIC was unfortunate in that it ended up being largely overshadowed by James Cameron's 1997 big-screen blockbuster (by the time the miniseries was aired in the UK and Australia, James Cameron's version had well and truly exploded onto the scene). This was a pity, as the Hallmark version has many things in it's favour.

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Peter Gallagher head a star-studded international cast, and the adaptation succeeds in blending five different stories into the narrative. Perhaps most importantly this version depicts a real-life passenger called Alice Cleaver (played by Felicity Waterman) who attempted to kidnap the baby of her employers when the boat began to sink (leaving the family to search for the child until all the lifeboats had departed, thus sealing their fate). At the time of this miniseries, Catherine Zeta-Jones was at the cusp of Hollywood superstardom. She looks ravishing as Isabella Paradine, who rekindles an affair with her first beau Wynn Park (Peter Gallagher). Also in this miniseries, we meet in greater detail John Jacob Astor (Scott Hylands) and his pregnant young second wife Madeline (Janne Mortil). The affair of Astor and Madeline was one of the biggest scandals of the period and it's great to have them as prominent characters in this version. The younger romance is provided by thief Jamie (Mike Doyle) and Danish convert Aase (Sonsee Neu-Ahray). No version of TITANIC would be complete without the ebullient and "unsinkable" Molly Brown (Marilu Henner plays her with enough spirit and spunk to make Debbie Reynolds proud and Kathy Bates pale). And the villain of the piece is thieving steward Simon Doonan (performed with oily relish by Tim Curry). A flavour of classic Hollywood is provided by George C. Scott as the Captain and Eva Marie Saint as the selfish Hazel Foley.

The romance of Bella (Zeta-Jones) and Wynn (Gallagher) is a captivating and moving one, played with style and elegance, and I consider it far more effective than the romance in the James Cameron spectacle. True, the special effects are lacking in this version but the dramatics and acting more than compensate. A fantastic production and one I revisit often. Originally shown in two parts. With Tamsin Kelsey, Eric Keenleyside, Malcolm Stewart, Roger Rees, Harley Jane Kozak, Kevin Conway, Matt Hill and Barry Pepper.

I'm a Catherine Zeta-Jones fan and needed this movie to complete my collection. When I saw the movie on television, I cried my eyes out at the ending. Catherine Zeta-Jones gives a strong performance. This was also the role she was "found" in. Steven Speilberg saw her in this movie and then casted her in Mask of Zorro. This must say something. The movie is absolutely beautifully done. It surpasses the 1997 version by far. Peter Gallagher is amazing as her lover, and Tim Curry gives a deliciously evil performance. I would reccommend this movie 100%. This is one of my favorite movies, not just Catherine's, but of all time. If possible, get this movie!!!

This movie was great! I think it is just as good, if not BETTER than the James Cameron version. It moves around more, it covers more ground. The James Cameron version focuses only on the two main characters, this version looks at the stories of several different characters. Also, this movie has actors, not movie stars. Using smaller name actors is always good, becuase I think it keeps the audience intrigued more. It's not like, "Oh, there's Leonardo." Plus, if you are a Catherine Zeta-Jones fan, you HAVE to see this, because this movie was really her big break. My advice is definitely see this movie.

I saw it on tv when it came out in 1996. I was in complete suspense throughout the film, and the ending was a rare treat of happiness and hope admist tragedy. And I was happy to have enjoyed the film. The characters were very in depth an real. You could see relationships forming, which is rare in films. I mean, most movies just feature characters whom colaborate in a series of unrealistic events. But this movie was different, and I think it was the best TV movie ever made. It's only a shame that it cameout when it did, for James Cameron's version outnumbered this one. But overall, it was an excellent film.

while not in the same league as the blockbuster movie, this t.v. version isn't that bad. it is a little slow at first but the second part(the sinking ) is well done and is even filmed in almost real time. not great but not as poor as some think. check it out for yourself, at $6.95 what have you got to lose.

I just watched the CBS miniseries, and I think it outscored the Cameron version on many levels. First of all, for the budget that it was shot for, it certainly accomplished the recreation of the 1912 disaster both realistically and dramatically. Secondly, the film utilized the rich history surrounding the disaster in telling the story. I sometimes felt in the Cameron film that the story could have been set on any ship. Thirdly the acting was superior. As the 'Leo Dicaprio' role, actor Mike Doyle did a far superior and much more emotionally convincing job than what was seen in the Caneron version. Time Curry, Peter Gallagher, Catherine Zeta-Jones, George C. Scott, and Barry Pepper round out this immensely talented and moving cast. I hope they re-air this some time soon on TV.

Titanic [Hallmark/American Zetrope Production]
2004 Released DVD, 180 Minutes.
Originally a made for television 2 part film.
Both parts on are on one DVD. Approx. 90 minutes each.
Stars (a young) Catherine Zeta-Jones, Peter Gallagher, Marilu Henner, George C. Scott, Eva Marie Saint, Mike Doyle, Sonsee Ahray, Felicity Waterman. Directed by Robert Lieberman. The film is Unrated. The DVD insert claims 'rated for all ages', but there is sex scenes and a rape scene. The special effects are very good, though not as elaborate as the James Cameron film version. This film is very well acted and I found the story line more interesting than the 'dwelling on one love story/chick flick' Cameron version. If only the amazing special effects and this films story line were combined as one....

Released a year before the "real" (movie version) of the famed disaster, this mini-series features uneven performances by its cast, particularly those of Eva Marie Saint as a fictional, rather snobbish and bigoted first-class passenger and Marilu Henner in a gosh-darn awful performance as the very real Margaret "Molly" Brown. Only Peter Gallagher and the then-lovely Catherine Zeta-Jones manage to come through with any semblance of dignity or ability to rise above the mediocre, ridiculously fictionalized story, which includes, of all things, a jewel heist led by Tim Curry as a purser and a rape! also committed by Curry which happens right before the ship hits the iceberg, a rather lurid and pointless symbolism. Yeah, we get it - two maidens violated at sea - one made of flesh, the other of steel. Whatever.

The special effects seem almost cartoonish - scenes of the ship racing across the ocean look like something from a Hanna-Barbera cartoon. It should hold interest to ocean liner geeks, if no one else. As overrated as James Cameron's epic was, rent it over this one. Or rent/buy the 1953 and 1958 versions over this turkey.