Saved From the Titanic — Kinemacolor?

[Jack Theakston]

Perhaps some Titanic or Kinemacolor enthusiasts can answer this question: some sources cite the 1912 Eclair feature SAVED FROM THE TITANIC as containing two Kinemacolor scenes. I know Kinemacolor supposedly filmed a newsreel of the Titanic's launch, but it doesn't seem technologically feasible that theaters would have been playing a feature with Kinemacolor sequences in it.

What is the real story here? Did Eclair simply swipe footage from Kinemacolor for black-and-white use in the film? What trade mentions (since I guess the film is lost) that there was color in this film?

[urbanora]

Perhaps some Titanic or Kinemacolor enthusiasts can answer this question: some sources cite the 1912 Eclair feature SAVED FROM THE TITANIC as containing two Kinemacolor scenes. I know Kinemacolor supposedly filmed a newsreel of the Titanic's launch, but it doesn't seem technologically feasible that theaters would have been playing a feature with Kinemacolor sequences in it.

What is the real story here? Did Eclair simply swipe footage from Kinemacolor for black-and-white use in the film? What trade mentions (since I guess the film is lost) that there was color in this film?

Kinemacolor in the UK did attempt to film the building of the Titanic (as it did with the Titanic's sister ship Olympic) but the negotiations fell through and no colour film record was made. After the disaster some theatres did show the Olympic colour film while claiming it showed the Titanic. I have never heard of a Kinemacolor/Eclair relationship nor of any Kinemacolor sequences within SAVED FROM THE TITANIC. There's no mention of it in the account of the film given in Stephen Bottomore's The Titanic and Silent Cinema, which includes several trade press descriptions.

[Jack Theakston]

Thanks Luke, I knew I should have asked you directly!