Atlantic (film)

Atlantic
theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ewald André Dupont
Written by	Victor Kendall Ernest Raymond
Produced by	Ewald André Dupont John Maxwell James Scura
Starring	Franklin Dyall Madeleine Carroll
Cinematography	Charles Rosher
Edited by	Emile de Ruelle
Music by	John Reynders
Production company	British International Pictures
Distributed by	Wardour Films UK) Columbia Pictures (US)
Release date	15 November 1929
Running time	90 minutes (US) 87 minutes (UK)
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Atlantic (1929) (also known as Titanic: Disaster in the Atlantic for its home video release) is a British black-and-white film, directed and produced by Ewald André Dupont and starring Franklin Dyall and Madeleine Carroll. Originally, two versions were made, the English and German-language version Atlantik were shot simultaneously. Subsequently, the production of a French version (Atlantis) began in spring 1930 using different footage and partially an altered storyline. The fourth version was released as a silent film.

Plot

Atlantic is a drama film based on the RMS Titanic and set aboard a fictional ship, called the Atlantic. The main plotline revolves around a man who has a shipboard affair with a fellow passenger, which is eventually discovered by his wife. The ship also has aboard an elderly couple, the Rools, who are on their anniversary cruise. Midway across the Atlantic Ocean, the Atlantic strikes an iceberg and is damaged to the point where it is sinking into the Atlantic. A shortage of lifeboats causes the crew to only allow women and children in (though the captain allows a few men to take to the last remaining boats as the disaster reaches its zenith) and many couples are separated. Mrs. Rool refuses to leave her husband and after the boats are gone all the passengers gather on the deck and sing "Nearer, My God, to Thee" as the Atlantic sinks into the ocean. The final scenes depict a group of passengers saying the Lord's Prayer in a flooding lounge.

Cast

• Franklin Dyall as John Rool
• Madeleine Carroll as Monica
• John Stuart as Lawrence
• Ellaline Terriss as Alice Rool
• Monty Banks as Dandy
• Donald Calthrop as Pointer
• John Longden as Lanchester
• Arthur Hardy as Maj Boldy
• Helen Haye as Clara Tate-Hughes

• D.A. Clarke-Smith as Freddie Tate-Hughes
• Joan Barry as Betty Tate-Hughes
• Francis Lister as Padre
• Sydney Lynn as Captain Collins
• Syd Crossley as Telegraphist
• Dino Galvani as Steward
• Danny Green as Passenger
• Fanny Wright as Passenger

Production

The movie was filmed aboard the White Star Line ship RMS Majestic. The film was originally made as Titanic but after lawsuits it was renamed Atlantic. The White Star Line, which owned the RMS Titanic, was still in operation at the time; and nevertheless had owned a major liner called RMS Atlantic which was lost in 1873. The final scene of the movie was filmed as a shot of the liner sinking, but it was cut at the last minute for fear of upsetting Titanic survivors.

Sound

Atlantic was one of the first British films made with the soundtrack optically recorded on the film (sound-on-film), and was Germany's first sound movie feature. In England, it was released in both sound and silent prints. The French version was the fourth French feature with sound-on-film.

As the first sound film about the sinking of the Titanic, it is also the first to feature the song "Nearer, My God to Thee," which is played by the ship's band and sung by passengers and crew.

See also

• List of films about the RMS Titanic

External links

• Atlantic at IMDb
• German-language version Atlantik at IMDB
• French-language version Atlantis at IMDB
• Atlantic at AllMovie
• additional lobby poster advertisement