A Night to Remember | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Roy Ward Baker |
Screenplay by | Eric Ambler |
Story by | Walter Lord |
Based on | A Night to Remember 1955 book by Walter Lord |
Produced by | William MacQuitty |
Starring | Kenneth More Michael Goodliffe Laurence Naismith Kenneth Griffith David McCallum Tucker McGuire |
Cinematography | Geoffrey Unsworth |
Music by | William Alwyn |
Distributed by | The Rank Organisation |
Release date |
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Running time | 123 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Budget | £500–600,000[1][2][3] |
A Night to Remember is a 1958 British historical disaster film, directed by Roy Ward Baker. Its screenplay by Eric Ambler was based on the 1955 book by Walter Lord, depicting the sinking of the RMS Titanic on 15 April 1912, after it struck an iceberg. The film recounts the events of that night in a documentary-style fashion in considerable detail.[4] It stars Kenneth More as the ship's Second Officer Charles Lightoller and features Michael Goodliffe, Laurence Naismith, Kenneth Griffith, David McCallum and Tucker McGuire.
A Night to Remember was filmed at Pinewood Studios from October 1957 to March 1958. The production team, supervised by producer William MacQuitty, used blueprints of the ship to create authentic sets, while Fourth Officer Joseph Boxhall and ex-Cunard Commodore Harry Grattidge worked as technical advisors on the film. Its estimated budget of up to £600,000 made it the most expensive film ever made in Britain up to that time.[3] The film's score was written by William Alwyn.
Released on 3 July 1958, A Night to Remember disappointed at the box office.[1] However, it received widespread critical acclaim, with praise going to its sets, soundtrack, cinematography, historical accuracy and the performances; it won the 1959 "Samuel Goldwyn International Award" at the Golden Globe Awards. Among the many films about the Titanic, A Night to Remember is regarded highly by Titanic historians and survivors for its accuracy, despite its modest production values, compared with the 1997 film Titanic.