RAISE THE TITANIC (1980)

I dove deep into Titanic mania when James Cameron’s epic hit theatres back in 1997, which remains as one of my favourite big screen experiences. Everyone was on board, so to speak.

During that once frustrating period of being between theatrical and home video release, I sought my fix for the unsinkable ship with a TV airing of the less impressive melodrama, S.O.S. Titanic and the odd documentary about the various screen adaptations, which were very dismissive toward the far-fetched classic, Raise the Titanic. However, a very material nod of respect has come from Imprint Films in Australia with a Blu-ray box set edition that hit shelves, and icebergs, on June 10th.

When the US government learns that an ample supply of a rare mineral, valuable to a missile defence system, is supposedly within the sunken remains of the Titanic, the Navy and an underwater research agency attempt to raise her from the icy waters of the North Atlantic.

Raise the Titanic insists on linking the ill-fated ocean liner to a Cold War plot, with an obviously fictional ‘McGuffin’ that sounds even worse when spoken out loud. Yet the confrontation with the Russians, who have been following closely, ultimately amounts to very little as the film’s climax approaches. Justification to raise the titular ship could easily have been for a more noble cause, such as a lost formula to cure cancer, or just good old-fashioned treasure.

Despite being preoccupied with the political climate of the time, Raise the Titanic is by no means a bad movie. I enjoyed it a lot more than I anticipated, and thankfully, the bulk of the film is as advertised, and actually sounds plausible, but in reality, the laws of physics state otherwise. Impressive underwater cinematography during the many danger-filled dives to discover the wreckage creates an almost alien-like atmosphere.

The real star of the film is perhaps the highly detailed miniature of the ship, which to this day has not been matched, and it wasn’t until Waterworld that we would again see this level of maritime filmmaking. In hindsight, it may have been a bit ridiculous to assume the vessel would still be in one piece, but I think it’s a nice notion as the actual remains were still five years away from being discovered.

With a male-centric cast, the movie feels like it’s for the boys, but anyone can enjoy it, and dependable stars Richard Jordan and Jason Robards elevate the film out of B-grade territory for the most part, while Alec Guinness, as a Titanic survivor, brings a touching element of the past tragic sinking to the film’s very modern setting.

SPECIAL FEATURES

DISC ONE – Feature Film

1080p High-definition presentation on Blu-ray
Lighting the Titanic: rare alternate scene
Theatrical Trailer
Rare Teaser Trailer
Audio: English 5.1 Surround + LPCM 2.0 Stereo
Aspect Ratio 2.35:1
Optional English HOH Subtitles

DISC TWO – Special Features

NEW Interview with Raise the Titanic historian Jonathan Smith
NEW Syncing a Sunken Ship – interview with assistant editor Geoffrey Mackrill
NEW Muller in Malta – interview with production manager Frederick Muller
The Last Great Human Adventure – rare 1980 TV documentary on Raise the Titanic
Test footage of unused 1912 opening sequence
Time-lapse footage of the Titanic model over the decades
Three original radio ads
John Barry’s isolated score in stereo, accompanied with comprehensive image gallery

BOOKLET

“An exclusive 80-page hardback book featuring a brand-NEW essay, It Would Have Been Cheaper to Have Lowered the Atlantic: The Making of Raise the Titanic, by Raise the Titanic historian Jonathan Smith, featuring the extraordinary behind-the-scenes story of how the film came to be.” – Imprint

It’s clear that many hopes and dreams were pinned not only to the film’s success, but the Titanic legend, and while not all came to pass as expected, the abundance of bonus content and the bank of knowledge from historian Jonathan Smith contained in this unsinkable box set is commendable. The overall making-of that Disc Two covers suits perfectly for immediate viewing after the man feature, while interviews with some of the film’s surviving crew add real-life behind-the-scenes context.

VIDEO AND AUDIO

After first emerging in HD in 2014, the same 1080p HD master has been used by Imprint, which, in all honesty, is perfectly fine and serviceable against the flood of 4K restorations that now dominate. Given the nature of the film’s setting, there’s good visibility and contrast, which brings out the details of the model ship.

Optional 5.1 Surround and LPCM 2.0 Stereo tracks both emphasise the sheer weight of the film’s triumphant score while providing a rich scope of sounds for an immersive home theatre experience.

Raise the Titanic has a Sunday afternoon quality. It’s an odd classic that randomly shows up on TV that you find yourself instantly glued to. Even though the way we watch movies has changed significantly, I think this edition will manage to catch one’s attention, speaking to curiosity, as opposed to personal interest.

RAISE THE TITANIC
(1980, director: Jerry Jameson)

★★★★

Check out Imprint Films to explore the vast catalogue of titles and follow them on social media for the latest releases, giveaways, great deals and more!

Instagram: @imprintfilms | Facebook: Imprint Films |Twitter X: @imprint_films | Bluesky: @imprintfilms.bsky.social