The Titanic and Silent Cinema

THE PROJECTION BOX : EARLY CINEMA : OPTICAL MEDIA : SILENT FILM : PHOTOGRAPHY : MAGIC LANTERN


CONTENTS

Introduction
Acknowledgements
Film People on the Titanic
William H. Harbeck
The Titanic and the Lantern
Titanic News Films
Exhibiting Titanic News Films
Dramas out of a Crisis
Helping the Victims
Conclusion
Appendix: Extant contemporary
films of or about the Titanic
Appendix: the Lusitania and
Early Cinema

NOW AVAILABLE DIRECT FROM THE PROJECTION BOX

THE TITANIC AND SILENT CINEMA Stephen Bottomore

In recent years there has been an increasing interest in the Titanic, thanks especially to the successful feature film by James Cameron. But this is only the latest of many fiction films and documentaries about the disaster, and the Titanic has had a long relationship with the moving image.

When the Titanic sank in April 1912 the cinema was a young but already thriving industry. It is not surprising therefore, that this greatest of all maritime tragedies should find its way onto the world's screens. Within days of the sinking, newsreels comprising actual film of the great ship and newly-shot footage of the aftermath were cobbled together, and even lantern slides were shown. But so little genuine film of the liner existed that several producers and exhibitors were tempted to release fakes, leading to many vociferous complaints.

The disaster also had a personal impact on the movie business, as several film people were on board, all of whom perished. One survivor of the wreck was popular starlet Dorothy Gibson, and incredibly, within days of landing she was before the cameras re-enacting the tragedy as a film drama, the first of several silent film versions. Such was the exraordinary interest in the sinking that dozens of cinemas put on benefit shows, with entire audiences singing hyms to the victims.

Lavishly illustrated and based on extensive primary research, this book - which tells for the first time the full story of the Titanic and the silent cinema - will appeal to film and media researchers as well as maritime historians.

The Titanic and Silent Cinema
is now available, in a limited numbered edition of 500 copies:

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