Dorothy Gibson, a survivor of the Titanic, brought her story to film months after the shipwreck, long before recreations on television
The sinking of the Titanic captured the attention of millions of people over time, both in film and on television. This tragedy, which left deep scars on its survivors, inspired the first film about the disaster, starring Dorothy Gibsonwho relived his experience just weeks after the sinking.
“Saved from the Titanic” It was the first film about the disaster, in which Gibson co-wrote and starred. This production was launched just a month after the ship sank in the icy waters of the Atlantic, on April 14, 1912.
“Saved from the Titanic”.jpg
What was the first film made about the sinking of the Titanic like?
“Saved from the Titanic” was directed by Etienne Arnaud and written by Dorothy Gibson, who was also the protagonist of the film. The film was produced by Éclair Studios and premiered on May 16, 1912, just 31 days after the sinking. The speed of its completion was a controversial issue, as the public was still shocked by the recent disaster.
The film’s script directly recounted the events that led to the sinking of the Titanic, with Gibson recreating his own experiences in the tragedy. However, The production faced numerous problems. From the beginning, the actress showed signs of stress and emotional exhaustion, which complicated filming. Some reports state that Dorothy burst into tears several times as she relived the trauma of that fateful night.
During the development of the film, Éclair studios sought to exploit the public’s morbidity, capitalizing on the recent disaster. Although the film was a financial success, many criticized the speed with which it was produced, accusing studios of exploiting survivors’ pain for profit.
Compared to the colossal success of the film Titanic by James Cameron 1997, “Saved from the Titanic” was a modest production. While Cameron used technological advances and special effects to narrate the fictional love story of Jack and RoseGibson tried to tell his experience in a raw and real way. Both films have in common the impact of the tragedy on popular culture, but each approaches the story from a completely different angle.
The legacy of both films, although very different, contributed to the Titanic remaining in the collective memory. While Cameron’s version captured the grandeur of the disaster and the heroism, Gibson’s film showed a more personal and painful perspective, a testament to how survivors faced their trauma in front of the cameras.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
