Titanic in 3D?!

My previous post of the movie trailer reminded me about the interesting rumors I've heard about James Cameron releasing Titanic 3D in 2012. When Googled, it seems to be official. For me, I relish the idea of seeing Titanic on the big screen one more time.

Is there really a downside? I'm not sure. Although Cameron is known to produce kick-butt 3D movies (reference Avatar), are his skills good enough to convert an already 13 year old movie into a world of three dimensionial "awesomeness"?

I do feel confident since the task is in Cameron's hands, considering he has produced the top two grossing movies of all time.  But maybe like the real Titanic's underwater grave, this film needs to be left undisturbed.

Movie Trailer

I am in the mood to watch the film. Maybe as a birthday present someone will watch it with me! Enjoy!

Titanic Memorial Voyage

In approximately a year and a half, it will be the 100th anniversary of Titanic's journey. I've often wondered if there would be an anniversary cruise, or at least some type of memorial. I decided to do a little investigating. Where's the best place for background info? Wikipedia, of course! Well, Wikipedia informed me that a cruise ship, Balmoral, operated by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has been chartered by Miles Morgan Travel to follow Titanic's route in April 2012. Obviously, one can not completely trust all information on Wikipedia, so I decided to do more investigating.


It turns out that this is a legitimate memorial voyage. The Balmoral will sail from Southampton, England, April 8, 2012, and follow Titanic's schedule. It will pass Cherbourg on the French coast, as well as the Irish port of Cobh. The ship will then continue its voyage across the Atlantic and arrive at the Titanic's sinking site on April 14th/15th.  A memorial service will be held at 2:20 a.m. for lost passengers and crew. The Balmoral will continue to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and continue on to New York, the Titanic's planned destination.


Pretty cool, huh? My first reaction was this event is perfect. If I could design a memorial, this would be it. Then I scrolled down. Titanic Memorial Cruise--Full. Okay, not like I would be able to afford it anyway. Then I scrolled down some more. Cabins--£4,000 to 8,500 per person. I'm not claiming to be an expert on pound/dollar conversion, but that seems to be a lot of money. So I did some more investigating. £8,500 is approximately $13,500, with £4,000 equivalent to $6,400. 


Although I will not be part of this memorial voyage, I will be interested in hearing the testimonies of those involved. I'm sure there will be passengers who claim to see a ghost ship and ghost passengers. I wouldn't expect any less. However, a gnawing feeling in the pit of stomach tells me it might be a good thing I'm not on this voyage. Doesn't history always repeat itself?


I want to hear readers' comments! Do you think this is a good idea? If you had the chance would you do it? Or do you think it should be left alone? 

Molly Brown

Because it is October, I decided to see what Titanic passengers either were born or died during this month. I was surprised to see Margaret Brown, also known as the "unsinkable" Molly Brown, passed away Oct. 26, 1932. She is often referred to as one of the most famous passengers with lore of her independent nature and determination.

Margaret Tobin was born in Hannibal, Mo., to Irish immigrant parents in 1867. After exploring Brown's past, it is easy to understand why she was a strong female character. Her parents, John and Joanna, strongly believed in education, even for women. They also surrounded their family with varieties of people and interests. At age 13, she left school and began working in a factory. Brown was obviously not satisfied with this existence, so she moved to Leadville, Colo. During this time, Leadville was becoming a booming silver camp.

When she first arrived in Leadville, Brown worked at a department store. It was not long before she met her future husband J.J. Brown, a mining engineer. After a short courtship, she and J.J. married on Sept. 13, 1886. She was 19 and he was 33 years old. When they married, J.J. had not yet built up his fortune. It was not until about 1893 that J.J. discovered gold in a local mine and the owners rewarded him with shares in their mining company. The Browns became millionaires.

Now that they were wealthy, the Browns moved to Denver. However, the move was during a time of social unrest and the Browns became part of the Progressive movement. I was unsure of this era myself, so let me summarize. The Progressive movement was an attempt to fix social problems caused by industrial growth. For example, reforming working conditions in factories was a common cause. Some of Brown's projects included installing public baths in the courthouse and creating more public parks. In 1901 Brown tried breaking down the political glass ceiling when she ran for a state senate seat. However, she withdrew from the race before the actual elections.

Another effect of the Browns' sudden wealth? They realized their love of travel. Unfortunately traveling the world was not enough to salvage their marriage. After 23 years of marriage, the couple signed a separation agreement, although they never officially divorced.

When Brown boarded the Titanic, she was on her way back to America from a European trip. After the ship struck the iceberg, Brown was loaded into lifeboat number six. This lifeboat was able to hold 65 passengers, but was launched with just 24 people. Once survivors were rescued by the Carpathia, Brown's leadership became apparent. She assisted in consoling passengers and helped to find blankets and supplies. By the time the Carpathia reached NYC, Brown had established the Survivor's Committee and raised almost $10,000 for needy survivors. According to mollybrown.com, she was given the nickname "unsinkable" by reporters because when asked about the disaster, she replied, "Typical Brown luck. We're unsinkable." No one in her life actually called her Molly, the name was a Hollywood fabrication.

Although Margaret Brown has been idolized in pop culture through movies and books, her life after 1912 is often forgotten. She continued her philanthropy work by easing tensions between miner strikers and their employer, a Rockefeller company. She also became involved in the women's suffrage movement, as well as relief efforts during World War I.

During this month, 78 years ago, Margaret Brown passed away in her sleep in New York City.

Photos from mollybrown.org. 

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition

I have had a few questions conerning Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. It is a travelling exhibition, so the one in NYC is no longer there. I checked the website, and the only ones displayed in the U.S. right now are in Indianapolis, Connecticut and Las Vegas.

The summary from the website is, "Actual artifacts, recovered from two and one half miles below the surface of the North Atlantic, tell the story behind the legendary Titanic’s short journey from construction and destruction to eventual recovery. Walk her decks, peer into her cabins, and meet her passengers and crew."

For more information, here is the link for the exhibition's website. http://www.titanictix.com/

Titanic's Appeal: Why does it interest you?

What makes Titanic appealing to people of different ages and interests? The history of civilization is full of events one can find interesting. So why is Titanic the topic many of us choose to obsess about? There are varying answers, but I'm sure there is one underlying theme: the haunting beauty of such a story.  Titanic's story offers cinematic qualities, no matter the person's interests. Hence, why the 1997 film was a monstrous hit. Titanic's lure presents foreshadowing, indulgence, tragedy, romance, climax, etc.

For me, Titanic is a story surrounded by "what ifs." What if Captain Smith heeded other ships' warnings of ice? What if Bruce Ismay wouldn't have pressured Smith into pushing Titanic to go faster? What if the California would have answered Titanic's distress calls? What if Titanic wasn't a floating who's-who of 1912 society? What if there would have been enough lifeboats for all passengers? More importantly, what if the lifeboats would have been loaded to maximum capacity, rather than some being launched more than half empty?

I used to agonize over these questions, plus a dozen others. When most people watch the movie, they tear up when an icy Kate Winslet releases Leo's gorgeous, but frozen hand. Not me. I lose it during the sinking scenes. Okay, I can't lie. I cry throughout the entire movie because it always ends the same way. Every time I hope something will change the plot, the course of history. I mean, can't Hollywood utilize its poetic license? But that's not what happened 98 years ago and that's why I am hysterical when the ship sinks. It is a visual manifestation of actual death. It blows my mind to think passengers suffered through that kind of pain and suffering. It is heart wrenching to think this disaster could have been prevented, or at least lessened. The what ifs drive me crazy.

There is constantly a new topic to explore or discover (no puns intended) with the Titanic. This is why it stays relevant. I'm curious to know why others love the history and stories involving Titanic. If you're a reader who has an opinion on this topic, let me know! Leave a comment and tell me why you're a fan of all things Titanic!

A Poem

The Convergence of the Twain 

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)

Author

In a solitude of the sea,

Deep from human vanity, 

And the Pride of Life that planned her, stilly couches she. 

Steel chambers, late the pyres

Of her salamandrine fires,

Cold currents third and turn to rhythmic tidal lyres.

Over the mirrors meant

To glass the opulent,

The sea-worm crawls --grotesque, slimed, dumb, indifferent.

Jewels in joy designed

To ravish the sensuous mind

Lie lightless, all their sparkles bleared and black and blind. 

Dim moon-eyed fishes near

The daintly gilded gear

Gaze querying: "What does all this sumptuousness down here?"

Well: while was fascinating

This ship of swiftest wing, 

The Immanent Will, that stirs and urges everything, 

Prepared a sinister Mate

For her--so gaily great--

A Shape of Ice, for the time far and dissociate, 

And as the smart ship grew

In statute, grace and hue,

In shadowy silent distance grew the Iceberg, too.

Alien they seemed to be:

No mortal eye could see

The intimate welding of their later history, 

Or sign that they were bent

By paths coincident

On being anon twin halves of one august event; 

Till the Spinner of the Years 

Said "Now!" The which each hears, 

And consummation comes, and jars two hemispheres.

The Longevity of Gloria Stuart: A Career Worth Remembering

I'm not going to get into a discussion about the 1997 James Cameron blockbuster hit in this post. I need to save that topic for when I have more time to write. But I know we all remember the actress who played 'old Rose' in the film. I always thought, "This woman had to be around when the Titanic sank in 1912." Well, she was actually almost two years old at the time. Sadly, she passed away Sept. 26, 2010.

Her death was brought to my attention by my wonderful boss/editor/mentor, Bonnie. (She's the one who pushed me to blog about Titanic.) Anyway, upon reading an article about her life, I found it to be fascinating! Let me share: 

Gloria Stuart was born July 4, 1910, which made her 100 years old at her time of death. Ironically, this was the age of old Rose's character. For her portrayal of Rose DeWitt Bukater, Stuart became the oldest nominee for an Academy Award. However, most people never knew of her extensive career that  spanned more than 80 years. 

Between the years 1932 and 1946, the beautiful California blonde acted in more than 40 films. Some include The Invisible Man (1933), The Old Dark House (1932) and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1938). By the late 1940s, Stuart decided to leave Hollywood for one reason or another. She did not return to the big screen until 1982, when she acted alongside Peter O'Toole in My Favorite Year. It was still another 15 years until Stuart would star in her biggest role. She was quoted in the Chicago Tribune as saying about her Titanic character,"If I had been given plum roles like this back in the old days, I would have stayed in Hollywood.”

Stuart was an old Hollywood soul who brought depth and wisdom to her acting. She made us believe she was the older version of Kate Winslet. Too bad it took decades for her to find a role to leave an imprint on our generation. 

For more photos of Stuart, I found this great slide show from Life.com.

 

Last Living Survivor: Millvina Dean

As I mentioned in my previous post, Elizabeth Gladys Dean, or Millvina, was the last survivor of the Titanic disaster.  She passed away in 2009 at 97 years of age. When boarding the ship in Southampton, she was just nine weeks old. Millvina was accompanied by her father, Bertram Frank Dean, her mother Georgette Eva Light Dean and her brother Bertram Vere Dean.

The Dean family was never meant to be aboard Titanic. They were supposed to travel on another White Star liner, the Adriatic, but it did not sail because of a coal strike. White Star then transferred them to the Titanic as third class passengers in cabin number 33. The family was traveling to Wichita, Kan., where Millvina's father had family. He hoped to open his own tobacco shop. Unfortunately, he was the only Dean casualty in the early hours of April 15, 1912.

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition NYC, Jan. 2010

This past winter, my best friend, Laura, and I traveled to New York City to visit Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition. Upon entering, we were told the exhibition should take approximately one hour to complete. We spent two hours walking through it. Unfortunately, but understandably so, no photographs were allowed inside. Readers will have to depend on my description.

The exhibition was displayed chronologically, beginning with the blueprints and construction of the ship. Large, blown-up photos of the building process were hung on the walls. Actual nuts and bolts of the ship were encased on the floor.  Already Laura and I were impressed. Goosebumps ran up my arms and my heartbeat increased. I couldn't believe I was actually viewing real pieces of the real Titanic.

Once it was built, we "boarded" the ship. For me, this was the most poignant moment of the entire exhibition. There was a mini boarding platform and once we crossed it, we were in third class quarters. Soft music played in the background. The kind of music one would expect to hear on a ship in 1912. The lights were turned down so low that shadows bounced off the walls. I closed my eyes and an eerie sense of disaster loomed over me. We walked slowly down the third class corridor, remembering how most of these passengers never again saw land.

Obviously after third class is second class, and this area had a much happier feeling. Profiles of second class passengers hung on the walls. Most of these names I did not recognize, so I did not know whether they survived the sinking. Artifacts form second class rooms were displayed, as well as replica furniture and menus.

Of course, when walking through first class, I recognize all the names. Astor, Andrews, Guggenheim, Ismay, Brown, Straus...just to name a few. Artifacts from these rooms were as beautiful as I imagined. There were teacups brought up from the site that had no chips or cracks at all! One of the highlights was the built to scale Grand Staircase. If you look to the right side of my blog, you will see the one photo opportunity we were given. The farther we walked, the creaking and rocking of the ship became more apparent. Again that sense of disaster hit me.

We finally made it into a cold, dark room. The only light was surrounding an icy mass. The iceberg. This was one part of the exhibition viewers could touch. I approached it. Of course I knew this wasn't the REAL iceberg that sent hundreds to their deaths. Still, I felt angry. I touched it and the coldness made my hand feel numb. Laura did the same. We looked at each other and I knew we were thinking the same thing. If we were this cold from touching a block of ice, I can only imagine how the passenger felt plunging into the icy water. I pulled my hand away and I looked over my shoulder while walking into the next room. I could see my handprint slowly melting. Although it would eventually disappear, I knew I changed the surface of the mini-iceberg. Just like Titanic has left an impression on my heart.

The coolest part? Before entering the exhibition, everyone was given boarding passes. On it you were given an actual passenger's name, female passengers for female participants and male passengers for men, with background information of him or her. At the end, in the final room, there were lists of survivors, organized by class. My passenger? Millvina Dean who was 9 weeks old at the time of the voyage. My fun was spoiled because I knew as soon as I was given the pass that she was the last living survivor of the disaster. Laura was a first class women who survived.

Overall, if anyone has the opportunity to visit the exhibition in a city near you, go! It was reasonably priced and you can walk through at your own pace. Laura and I literally read every word of every display and no one tried rushing us through. For lovers of history, or just the movie, it was a truly moving experience!