Titanic

Directed by HERBERT SELPIN

"This film depicts the sole voyage of the luxury liner Titanic ,

whose fate was to hold the world in suspense for months.

It is April, 1912."

Gentlemen.

Dear shareholders...

I called this meeting of the White Star Line

to inform you of the following:

We have built the Titanic, the largest ship in the world.

There have been unforeseen incidents and unexpected difficulties.

Construction costs have escalated month after month.

We were forced to stretch our finances to the extreme,

exhaust our investors,

and what's more, take out substantial loans.

As a result...

the share price is plummeting.

Mr. President.

May I ask how much share capital you represent?

200,000 pounds, Mr. President.

So permit me to ask you:

Can't this drop in share price be stopped?

It's out of my hands.

White Star Line at 98!

Who will buy White Star Line at 98?

96!

I'm selling White Star Line at 96!

95!

White Star Line at 95!

I'm selling White Star Line at 95!

Gentlemen.

- The latest word is 95. - 95.

That's right, Henderson. 95.

And it will keep going down.

Or do you think all the little people who invested their pennies

will just sit on their shares?

You should be happy if they sell.

Then the price will drop even more

and give us even more chances to buy on the cheap.

I agree.

We're the board of the White Star Line, not some charity.

But what do we do now?

It's simple.

We sell too and bring the price even lower.

- You think so? - Are you positive?

Yes.

- Can you give us a guarantee of that? - I believe so.

- Really? - Let's hear it!

Net week, the Titanic makes her maiden voyage over the big pond,

and you, gentlemen, will be aboard as my guests.

On this trip you will experience a sensational surprise

that will cause our shares to skyrocket.

I don't care to say any more about it right now.

But I ask all of you to trust me,

just as we all trust our Titanic, the proudest ship ever to sail,

soon to set to sea for the honor of the White Star Line

and the glory of England.

Wherever Ismay goes, the lovely Gloria can't be far behind.

What nerve, to bring his girlfriend with him.

Perhaps he wants to marry her on the high seas. Wonderful idea.

Ismay marries the lovely Gloria on the maiden voyage of the Titanic.

Makes perfect sense.

Maybe that's the sensation he promised us.

So, Captain Smith, we understand each other.

For arrival on schedule in New York I will pay you $5,000.

And for every hour ahead of schedule, another $1,000.

So the faster your ship, the greater your reward.

Who is that?

Sigrid Olinsky, a wealthy Baltic woman.

Travels all over the world. Rather extravagant.

- It shows. Married? - No.

- Alone on board? - Yes.

Should we invite her to our table?

- If you wish, Mr. President. - Yes, please.

Do we have to, Bruce?

My dear Gloria, I'm not on board for my private amusement.

I'm also here as president, and as such, I have certain duties.

President Ismay requests the honor of your presence at his table.

With pleasure.

So, the president has the honor of having 20 million more at his table.

- That much? - At least.

They say she has enormous estates in Russia.

Gentlemen, the aristocracy in the flesh.

The Duchess of Canterville and Lord Archibald Douglas.

Her Highness' net worth: around 20 million.

- And his? - Two million

in debt.

There's room for improvement there.

Who are those two?

Professor Bergmann and his assistant, Dr. Lorenz.

- How much? - Not worthy of mention.

German scientists only count in marks.

Señor Cristóbal Mendoz of Cuba.

Never seen him before.

Your misfortune. He's especially interesting.

- How much do you estimate he's worth? - I'd say around eight to ten

years in prison.

I'll nab him in the act this trip, or I'll resign as ship's detective.

Here comes the one man

who could give his wife the Titanic as a birthday present:

John Jacob Astor and his wife. The richest man on board.

These are the two we've been waiting for.

Excuse me. As chief steward, duty calls.

I'll go see to the lovely people.

And I, dear doctor, to the not so lovely.

Ladies and gentlemen.

Please give your attention to the president of the White Star Line,

Sir Bruce Ismay.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to welcome you aboard our newest ship.

You already know that at 46,000 tons, the Titanic is the world's largest ship.

You also know that English experts say she is the world's safest ship.

But I'd like to inform you of a third feature of the Titanic :

She is also the fastest ship that has ever sailed the Atlantic.

At this very moment, what you are experiencing

is the Titanic cruising at 26 1/2 knots,

a world-record speed.

Ismay is a genius.

Let's get to the telegraph and buy all the shares we can.

Before it hits the papers.

The ship's crew informs the passengers in steerage

that the Titanic is sailing at record speed,

specifically at 26 1/2 knots.

That makes the Titanic the fastest ship in the world.

26 1/2 knots. How fat is that?

One nautical mile is 6,076 feet.

26 1/2 times 6,076 is...

It's beyond me.

First one with the answer gets a kiss.

My God, that's easy. It's about 30 miles.

It is precisely 31 miles per hour, Marcia.

No, precisely 30.495 miles per hour.

Attention, everyone.

The ship's management has announced each of you will receive a bonus

if the current speed is maintained.

CALM SEA.

EVERYTHING FINE ON BOARD. PETERSEN

Mr. Morlock, would you please read the temperature?

Yes, Herr Petersen.

Exterior temperature, 54°.

Thank you.

What weather!

If it says calm, we'll be in New York at least a day ahead of schedule.

Meanwhile the engines are ruined.

President Ismay surely knows what he's doing, ordering this speed.

Sailor.

Who's running this ship? Ismay or the captain?

The captain naturally does what the president of the line requests.

And why does he request such rubbish?

Mr. Brede?

That comes to $9.

Here's $20.

- Keep the change. - But see you send it immediately.

Thank you, but we don't accept tips.

The telegrams are sent in the order received.

- Good evening. - Thank you.

We make the world record and already they're looking to profit from it.

Look at this.

One is buying 200,000 White Star shares, and the other 250,000.

Almost half a million. What I could do with that!

And when the world hears that we're sailing at record speed...

Let me see.

No, first the president's telegram to the press.

Yes, sir.

SAILING AT 26 1/2 KNOTS. RECORD SPEED. ISMAY.

TITANIC SAILS TO WORLD RECORD.

RECORD SPEED OF 26 1/2 KNOTS.

SAILING AT 26 1/2 KNOTS. RECORD SPEED.

TITANIC SAILS AT 26 1/2 KNOTS WORLD RECORD!

WILL THE TITANIC BREAK THE WORLD RECORD?

Today isn't the 13th, it's the 14th.

And it's a beautiful Sunday as well, with fine weather and pleasant music,

and everyone is happy about arriving in New York tomorrow.

And we're happy too, Bibifax.

- Aren't we happy, Bibifax? - Yes, and I'm happy too.

Because everyone wants to announce their early arrival by telegram.

Same old story: They have all the fun, and we have to work.

- Good morning, Mr. Brede. - Mr. Hopkins.

- What can I do for you? - Is the latest market report in yet?

Sorry. Not yet.

Too bad. Mr. Astor is anxiously awaiting it.

I can well imagine.

All of the gentlemen seem very interested.

- Good morning, Mr. Philipps. - Good morning, Mr. Hopkins.

Just a minute. Something is coming through.

President Ismay has already looked in a couple of times.

He's waiting anxiously for the latest news.

Nothing to be done about it, I guess. Good day.

Wait a minute, Mr. Hopkins. Here comes the latest news.

What is it, gentlemen? Why so nervous?

We bought White Star shares on your advice.

You promised us a huge profit.

And we're going to lose our shirts if the price keeps falling.

We're sailing at record pace. The Blue Ribbon is ours for sure.

- The price has to climb. - Well, it's falling now.

Correct. For now.

There is some power at work...

that we are unfortunately not yet aware of.

Hopkins?

- Did you get the latest news? - Yes. 71.

Ismay has bet everything on his speed record,

but he has miscalculated.