Tuesday, Film4, 9:00pm
James Cameron's Titanic is a sprawling epic that deftly interweaves romance, disaster, and historical reconstruction—all while creating a compelling musical experience. The film's soundtrack, scored by the legendary James Horner, is as much a protagonist as Jack and Rose, guiding the viewer through an emotional sea of grandeur, loss, and ultimately, melancholy remembrance. From the melancholic sweep of the main theme to the aching strings of “My Heart Will Go On,” the score imbues the narrative with a romanticism that elevates even the grimmest moments of the ship's descent.
Despite its visual and auditory splendor, Titanic is notorious for a few historical embellishments that might have sent any diligent historian scrambling for their lifeboat. For one, the real J. Bruce Ismay, chairman of the White Star Line, likely wasn't skulking around the lifeboats as he does in the film. And while the orchestra’s last stand is depicted with stirring, almost mythic beauty, their final piece—traditionally believed to be “Nearer, My God, to Thee”—remains a subject of debate. Some survivors recall hearing a different hymn, adding a layer of uncertainty that history cannot quite resolve. Yet, the film’s version of events, matched with Horner’s haunting arrangements, is persuasive enough to make one feel it should have happened that way.
The soundtrack itself, steeped in Horner’s signature motifs and layered choral elements, transforms the viewer’s experience. The seamless blend of Irish flute melodies with full orchestral power evokes not only the cultural tapestry of the passengers but also the grandeur and calamity of the ship itself. By the film’s end, it is impossible to untangle Titanic’s story from its music—the swelling notes of the score become the icy Atlantic waves, as relentless and inevitable as history itself. While Titanic may falter on a few factual icebergs, it ultimately achieves a rare feat: using music to make history’s greatest maritime disaster unforgettable and profoundly human.
- Tom Hanson