Jerry Jameson (director)
Network (studio)
PG (certificate)
115 min (length)
09 February 2015 (released)
08 February 2015
An American spy finds a mine in deepest Siberia. Housed there was a secret element that could change the balance of the cold war in who ever finds its favor. When he excavates deeper into the mine he discovers that the element was actually moved and hidden on board the Titanic in 1912. Chased off by Russian soldiers to an awaiting escape vessel, the spy sets up a team with the jobs of finding the ship and raising it too the surface. Using information from a surviving passenger, they set off for the wreck. Low and behold the Russians are also onto this and set about getting it all for themselves.
So what can I say about a film with the most preposterous story as above? Well it was made before the Titanic was found. it was also made before it was found in two separate pieces. Let us get it straight the films premise is ridiculous and it deserves too be noted everyone who worked on this thought so. It was also made in the era of Star Wars and as such is action packed and knock about with great paper thin dialogue. We have visual effects that are for the time excellent, if not a little outrageous. Taking all this into account, its not a bad film just a little bland. It would have been better made in the late 60s, when adventure films were all gung ho and belting. The raising of the Titanic is 'of the time' , as is the spy stuff. Although it would be right in saying some of its points are still relevant.
Now this is not why you should watch the film. You should watch the film firstly for the score which is AMAZING. John Barry was at his masterly best with this score. The second reason to watch comes after you have done a little research into its making and production. The producers were at war with the writer, who refused to acknowledge the script. The original director left the shoot. It went massively over budget (3 times by my estimation!) and the superbly Erudite Lew Grade (the films producer) said that it 'would have been cheaper to sink the Atlantic'. Now that would have been a movie.
The film looks great as the transfer is from original elements. The extras are notes on the production (very interesting and worth reading), Time lapse pics of the Titanic and the isolated score!