MacQuitty, realizing its screen potential, optioned the rights to the novel for about $7,000. To direct, MacQuitty chose a director with a history of directing nautical tales, Roy Baker. Lensing the film would be Geoffrey Unsworth, who would go onto later fame with ";2001:A Space Odyssey" and "Superman:The Movie"(1978). Lending technical assistance to script writer Eric Ambler was Walter Lord.
Instead of using ficticious characters, like the Fox film, MacQuitty chose to focus on the real people and events of April 14th. The lead star would be Kenneth More, playing Second Officer Lightoller.
While the special effects aren't up to par with the 1953 Fox film (the ship, blazing with lights, more resembles my Grandmothers 100th birthday cake in a tank, then the Titanic at sea), the docu-drama approach does show us around the ship, providing glimpses into all aspects of the story.
Filming was done at Pinewood Studios in England, on a real ship bound for the scrap yards, the Asturius;and a lake near Pinewood that, filming in mid-December, added a chilly element of realism.
The movie premeired on July 3rd, 1958 in England, and was a smash hit. When it premeired in America, the reception was less than enthusiastic. Most Americans seemed to stay away, since the movie didnt have any major stars or a romance(which was almost mandatory in movies of the 50s IE: The War Of The Worlds!)
The film is considered by most Titanic enthusiasts/students;as the one and only accurate portrayal of the loss of the Titanic.
