It’s been a hundred years since the mighty White Star Liner sank to the bottom of the sea in a freak collision with an iceberg on its maiden voyage. With so many self-proclaimed “experts” on the sinking, it is unfortunate that most filmmakers choose to do no research, making their productions laughable in their melodramatic presentation of events.
Just days before Titanic sets sail amidst fanfare, emotionally conflicted Alice Cleaver (Felicity Waterman) seeks a position with a wealthy family. Silent about her past but with good references, she receives charge of two children, a little girl and a baby boy in nappies. Plagued with nightmares and guilt over the death of her own child, Alice feels disconcerted about their sailing.
The night before the ship departs, pickpocket and general thief Jamie Perse (Mike Doyle) steals a third-class ticket. Simon Doonan (Tim Curry) notices his shenanigans and convinces Jamie that together they can rob first-class blind and escape into New York undetected. But Jamie gets distracted by a beautiful, demure Christian girl, Bess (Harley Jane Kozak).
Among the first-class passengers is Isabella Paradine (Catherine Zeta-Jones), mourning the loss of her aunt and returning home to her wealthy husband and daughter. It horrifies her to discover her former lover Wynn Park (Peter Gallagher) is on board. While she tries to resist temptation, the ship sails toward its destiny with a host of famous individuals on board. Molly Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Astor. Captain Smith. Charles Lightoller.
The series would be lovelier had it paid attention to the facts. For anyone who has studied the ship, the errors are obvious. Some of them were later duplicated in the Cameron film, such as Murdoch killing himself, and the gates between classes being locked. Others are simple mistakes, such as the weather or events that transpired in first class. Once again, the depiction of Charles Lightoller is harsh, Bruce Ismay is turned into a careless monster, Captain Smith gives up too soon, and in a ridiculous scene, the officers stand around blaming one another for what happened.
Despite these faults, the miniseries is interesting and has a decent plot. Much of it is contrived and forced, but the performances are good and I got attached to the characters. I appreciated much about the story, such as its glimpse into the events that transpired on other ships during the distress signals (particularly the Carpathia) but it foundered in its depiction of the officers and its offensive inclusion of a rape scene. The interior also looks nothing like the actual ship, which isn’t surprising for such a modest budget.
SEXUAL CONTENT: An adulterous affair (kissing, caressing, and a sexual scene in her stateroom, with the typical “morning after” shot). A girl is brutally and graphically raped.
Want more stories set aboard the doomed Titanic and in the heart of Edwardian Belfast? Discover The Secret in Belfast, where faith, fate, and a siren’s song intertwine with the lives of real historical figures.
