1953 Titanic Model

[Jeffrey Beaudry]

Hi. I'm not sure whether this should go under the movie thread or the modelling thread, so I'll post it here.
I'm not sure if this has been posted here before, but I have found the model from Titanic 1953 at the Marine Museum in Fall River, MA. I went there with my father the other day, and while I knew that the museum had a large Titanic model, I didn't know that it was *the* model from the movie.
My digital camera isn't very good when lighting is involved, and the model was behind glass, but I will put some pictures on here to show you.

 

[Jeffrey Beaudry]

 

[Jeffrey Beaudry]

These are the forward port lifeboats

 

[Jeffrey Beaudry]

These are the aft well and poop decks. I noticed that the aft docking wheel wasn't on this model.

 

[Jason D. Tiller]

Hi Jeffrey,

I moved this thread to here, where it's more appropriate.

Those are great photos of the model, thanks for posting them.

 

[George Heiss]

Hello Jeff,

NICE PIX! I didn't know that the model from the 1953 film was saved. I wonder if a model exists from ANTR. I believe that would be a more accurate one. But it is nice to see this model is preserved. Moreover, I notice in the background the model of the Ship sinking. That looks equally impressive.

 

[Robert H. Gibbons]

The model for A Night to Remember was cut up as it was filmed sinking, since the water tank was not deep enough for it to "sink" all in one piece. The model from Raise the Titanic is still weathering away in Malta. The stern of the breakup model from Cameron's TITANIC is sinking again in a shallow pool at the Hollywood Casino in Tunica, Mississippi. Robert H. Gibbons

 

[George Heiss]

Hello Robert. Yes, I do recall that on the ANTR video I have, but that was of the full size model. I was curious if smaller models were used in the making of the film as well and perhaps they might be around. I did see a website that shows pictures of the Raise The Titanic model. It is really a shame that they are just letting it rot away like that. It should be fixed up and showcased. If not as the RTT model, the perhaps convert it to a 'regular' model of the Titanic. As I recall that model was fairly large.

 

[Jeffrey Beaudry]

It is a shame of what happened to the Raise the Titanic model, and I would definitely put some money into restoring it. I actually didn't find out until after I left the museum that the model was from the movie (oddly enough I didn't put 2 and 2 together when I saw the giant movie poster behind it, or when the little brochure said "for the 1953 movie").
And as a side note, the sinking model in the background is only about 1 1/2 foot long, though a very nice model. The modelers even took the time to hang little ropes from the davits.

 

[Robert H. Gibbons]

There was a second model of the Titanic for Raise the Titanic. It was the "ceramic" white model used in the drop tests (Filmed at Rockwell in Anaheim, CA). I heard after the movie was finished, the smaller model was detailed and put on display at an amusement park in New Zealand. I also heard it was sold at auction, but I don't know its whereabouts today. Robert H. Gibbons

 

[trainmaster]

Hello Jeff,

NICE PIX! I didn't know that the model from the 1953 film was saved. I wonder if a model exists from ANTR. I believe that would be a more accurate one. But it is nice to see this model is preserved. Moreover, I notice in the background the model of the Ship sinking. That looks equally impressive.

Hello, George:
In 1977, the Titanic Historical Society did a Commutator (their quarterly magazine) about the making of ANTR. The complete description of the model and its disposition is in there. But, let me sum it up for you - most serious Titanic students feel that the 1953 model of Titanic was more accurate, and the model for ANTR was a little too long. However, the ANTR model was dismantled as the ship continued to sink to get the effect until the last part sinks and the model is completely dismantled. The model and all the sets were burned at Pinewood Studios, Londen, where ANTR was filmed, as it was their practice. Nothing of the model is left. I hopes answer your question.