A COLUMN BY Dick Rolfe Chairman, THE DOVE FOUNDATION
TITANIC Isn’t
GONE WITH THE WIND
Even before I saw "Titanic" I planned on writing a comparison between this romantic drama set in a tragic historical background and another similar epic, "Gone With The Wind." I soon learned that my inspiration was not an exclusive brainstorm after reading several articles from film critics making the same connection. However, the pundits reached nearly opposite conclusions. Two noted critics heralded "Titanic" as the modern day equivalent of "Gone With The Wind." At least one film critic asserted that comparing James Cameron’s film with Victor Fleming’s classic saga of the lost south was "hyperbole that bordered on sacrilege." Even though I found "Titanic" highly engaging, I concur with the later assessment.
The similarities between these two cinematic extravaganzas are obvious. They both center around heated love triangles that take place in the midst of – and practically in spite of – monstrous historical tragedies. The makers of "Gone With The Wind" created an impressive graphic reproduction of glamorous Southern aristocracy contrasted with the cruelties of the Civil War. Computer technology and $200 million dollars contributed to a graphically impressive reenactment of the horrors of the sinking of the grand, "unsinkable" Titanic. If one were to remove the love stories from either film, we would be left with two sets of movie Cliff Notes suitable for any history student’s perusal. One can only hope that future students won’t become confused and assume that Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet) were true-to-life passengers who made love in a steamy auto in the ship’s hold moments after hitting the iceberg.
Of course, the focus of each film was love, not history. And that’s where the similarities end. The focus was a bit dimmer in "Titanic" than "Gone With The Wind." The former love story more closely resembled a scantily clad Romeo and Juliet at Sea, rather than the rich, complex tale of unrequited love told in "Gone With The Wind."
Make no mistake; "Titanic" will undoubtedly be remembered as a huge technical and financial accomplishment. But it will also be remembered for a script as vulnerable as the original ship’s hull, including forgettable dialogue like, "I’m just a tumbleweed, blowin’ in the wind."
"Titanic" missed The Dove Seal for the two very reasons it failed to live up to the sophisticated grandeur of "Gone With The Wind." Cameron apparently felt it was necessary to add more salt to his already salty story with bits of profanity, nudity and fornication. While no one can argue with the record-setting box office which is nearing one billion dollars, it is probable that the same degree of success could have been achieved without the explicit material.
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Dick Rolfe is Chairman of The Dove Foundation a nonprofit organization whose mission is to encourage and promote the creation, production and distribution of wholesome family entertainment. For more information about wholesome films and videos, write: 535 E. Fulton, Suite 1A, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, or call (616)454-5021.
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