After seeing this film at least 10 times I just realized something. ANTR doesn't have anything on John Jacob Astor-the richest man on board. Or am I just missing something?
When there is no more room in Hell, The dead will walk Wal-Mart
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That is true. Even Molly Brown wasn't mentioned at least by name.
When there is no more room in Hell, The dead will walk Wal-Mart
I think it is appealing more to people who know a little about the subject matter and so do not need to be told who most of the characters are.
"A Beump."
Molly Brown and Bruce Ismay were depicted but not named in the film. Perhaps their families, as well as the Astors, refused to permit the use of their ancestors' names, or threatened legal action if they were included or identified. I have no idea why these characters are shown but not identified (or not shown at all) in this film, just hazarding one possible reason. Benjamin Guggenheim is shown (albeit inaccurately, as English and too old), so omitting Astor seems a bit odd.
shareIn Twentieth Century Fox's 1953 production of TITANIC, Thelma Ritter plays Maude Young, an independent, outspoken woman who has gained a fortune in Montana's lead mines. She is obviously based on Margaret "Molly" Brown. According to IMDB, there seems to have been some disagreement between the movie studio and Margaret Brown's estate as to the use of her name and character, and it is suggested this is why Molly Brown became Maude Young. A similar situation could have occured between the Brown estate and Rank Productions. However, in ANTR, instead of creating a fictional character, the production used Molly Brown. Though they never mentioned her by name, there were enough hints dropped that one knew exactly who she was supposed to be. (I showed this movie to my drama students and they knew exactly who Tucker McGuire was portraying.)
I love this film, but it has always bothered me that, as accurate as it is, it portrays handsome, middle-aged American, Benjamin Guggenheim as an elderly Brit traveling with his valet -- and no mention of his French singer-mistress.
It is odd that Astor would be omitted, but then again, Cameron included Astor, but left out most of his story: returning to the States from an extended honeymoon; he was divorced; his second wife Madeliene was only 19; she was five months pregnant and he was very protective of her; legend says he went below and opened all the kennels in order to give the dogs a fighting chance, but his and Madeleiene's Airedale terrior Kitty died in the sinking.
I'm sorry for having rambled so long and saying more than you probably wanted to know.
A TITANIC geek,
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The 1953 Titanic did feature Astor as an identified character, using his real name, along with depictions of several other actual persons who were aboard the Titanic. It didn't show Guggenheim at all, but as you say did have the fictionalized Molly Brown character.
The fact that Astor's widow, Lady Astor, had been an MP and was renowned in British society for years (albeit eventually much discredited for having been an ardent appeaser before World War II), may have led Rank to forego referring to her late husband altogether.
Well, turnabout's fair play. In the Cameron version, the Strauss' are never mentioned by name. I think, they're only shown sleeping in bed as the ship's going down.
shareYes, I remember reading an interview with Cameron in 1997 in which he rather ostentatiously said he had deliberately decided not to include many of the well-known Titanic stories or passengers in his film, including the Strausses -- hence only that single apparent allusion to the couple (who were actually up on deck, not in their stateroom, when they were swept off as the ship began going down). Of course, Cameron did include many actual characters in his film, so his statement doesn't hold much water, if you'll pardon the expression.
shareOf course, Cameron did include many actual characters in his film, so his statement doesn't hold much water, if you'll pardon the expression
He was a good editor too. If he looked into some particular passengers' private lives on board and off and wanted to put some of it on screen he'd have to make some decisions. The Titanic was a great ship... it was also a place of some great trysts...;-)...