Sorry, this film is not available for viewing online




Belfast, Halifax, New York




British Pathe



black and white


06min 47sec




British Pathé

Rights Holder

British Pathé



This film was made following the tragic sinking of the Harland and Wolff-built liner, Titanic, on 15th of April, 1912. The film is believed to contain the only authentic filmed material of the Titanic.


Although the newsreel is nearly seven minutes long and covers only the first minute presents actual footage of the Titanic. This is the only established authentic footage of the Titanic in existence. Mostly this was due to the fact that before its infamous collision with an iceberg the Titanic was not a significant news story. Although it was the largest liner of its kind in the world, it had two sister ships, the Olympic and Britannic, and it was the Olympic which took most credit (and media attention) as it was the first to be launched.

Shot List

'The Titanic leaving Belfast Lough for Southampton, April 2nd, 1912.' Front view, three-quarter view and pan along side of Titanic in the harbour. 01:06 'Before the disaster. Captain Smith on the Bridge'. It is now thought that this is Smith on the bridge of the Olympic, Titanic's sister ship, rather than the Titanic herself. Followed by a flashing distress message - 'C-Q-D Help! Help! We are sinking'. 01:25 'The Graveyard of the Sea. Icebergs and icefloes near the Scene of the Disaster'; 02:01 'The yacht Mary Sculley going out to meet the Carpathia at Sea'; 02:13 'The Carpathia nearing New York with survivors'. 03:05 'The Carpathia docked'. 03:11 'Captain Rostrum of the Carpathia'. 03:23 'Some survivors of the Titanic's crew'. 03:48 'Quarter master Hitchens of the Titanic who went down with the ship and was afterwards picked up'. 03:56 'Father Hogue a passenger of the Carpathia who first sighted the Titanic lifeboats'. 04:10 'Some of the heroes of the Titanic's crew picked up at sea'. The men are wearing lifejackets. 04:30 'Reporters interviewing survivors'. 04:41 'The crowd at the 'White Star' offices, New York, awaiting news'. 05:32 'Scene at the Cunard Docks the morning after the 'Carpathia's' arrival'. Street scene. 05:46 'Marconi, whose marvellous discovery saved over 700 lives'. 06:03 'The 'Mackay Bennett' leaving Halifax in search of the dead.' Pan across deck of boat and showing the boat leaving the harbour.



