Before The Titanic crashed into Leonardo and sunk into the Hollywood morass...

No compelling theme, no minor sub-plots, no special effects and no artificial licence - Fantastic ! Simple human story told honestly and with no need to guild the tragic lilly. Strong understated performances and more than eough pathos. Watch Cameron by all means but this is far more compelling.

Though not boasting a technological showcase of the ship compared to the '97 film, this adaptation of Walter Lord's thoroughly-researched novel follows the terrifying factual events of the night of the Titanic tragedy. The acting is tremendous, to the point that this nearly feels like a documentary. We get to know real people and experience their genuine fear. The lone historical flaw is the ship going under in one piece, but the splitting was not discovered until the wreckage was found in 1985.

memorable for some fine acting, especially by more. it also shows how the tragic event occurred, with great emphasis on the miscommunications of the wireless operators.....

Even though the movie is in black+white I enjoyed it more than James Camerons Titanic.The special effects were good considering the movie was made in 1958.The movie did not have any melodramatic side plots

Very well done; the only Titanic movie anyone needs.

It's only natural to compare this movie to Titanic. Cameron views the events through the eyes of his fictional couple, where Baker has no specific central characters and attempts to give the bigger picture. It's hard to say which approach is more effective, I suppose each is effective in its own way. Baker's film is quite harrowing even without modern movie magic. Superbly told and very compelling.

Beats Titanic hands down a true classic.

The only thing Titanic gave me that this didn't was a naked Kate Winslet.

Sticks to the facts. Excellent performances. Watch this instead of the Cameron movie, and you won't be disappointed.

For a story with a known and inevitable outcome this certainly is pretty gripping. Even so it does get a tad repetitive and drawn out and there were several times when I found myself wishing ill upon some of the passengers.

It's no wonder Baker went on to do horror - this is very suspenseful; it's subtle and foreboding. Blows the remake out of the water.

I saw this as a kid when I was into all things Titanic--even then I could see how accurately it portrayed Walter Lord's book, with the characters and events matching how I'd pictured them. Seeing it again as an adult it still holds up. Aside from how it depicts the crew of the Californian, the film takes a very even-handed & non-judgmental tone. The result is a captivating and memorable flick.

"Gripping, emotional and true, this is a landmark in British cinema, as good today as it's always been."