A Night to Remember (1958)

Laurence Naismith: Capt. Edward John Smith

Photos 

Quotes 

• Captain Edward J. Smith : [enters the wireless cabin as the ship's end is nearing, to give Phillips and Bride a final order]  It's time to go now, Phillips. You've done your duty. You can do no more. Abandon your cabin, it's everyone for himself. Look after yourselves now. I release you both. God bless you.

• Captain Edward J. Smith : [addressing the ship's officers and Ismay on the bridge]  Gentlemen, we are in a precarious position. We must be prepared to abandon ship.

  [the officers look at each other in sheer surprise] 

  Captain Edward J. Smith : Mister Murdoch, you will muster the passengers. Mister Lightoller, you will have the boats uncovered and swung out. Mister Boxhall, call all hands and get them to boat stations. Mister Moody, you will help Mister Lightoller. Mister Wilde and Mister Pitman will remain on the bridge. Everything will be done quietly and calmly. There must be no alarm and no panic. I will give the word when the boats are to loaded with the women and children. Carry on, please.

  [the officers disperse to carry out their orders] 

  Chairman J. Bruce Ismay : Captain! Aren't you exaggerating the danger?

  Captain Edward J. Smith : I'm afraid not.

  Chairman J. Bruce Ismay : But... Where's Andrews?

  Captain Edward J. Smith : I am acting on his advice. This ship is going to founder.

  Chairman J. Bruce Ismay : But, she can't! In any case, we can't get everyone in the boats.

  Captain Edward J. Smith : [grim tone]  I know that, sir. Please God, it won't come to that!

• Thomas Andrews : [looking at the ship's blueprints as he describes the damage to the Captain]  Here's the position: we have water in the forepeak; numbers 1 and 2 holds; the mailroom; and boiler rooms 6 and 5. That means a gash 300 feet long, from there to there...

  [indicates gash with a pencil on the blueprint] 

  Thomas Andrews : Below the waterline. Do you agree?

  Captain Edward J. Smith : Yes. Well?

  Thomas Andrews : The pumps are keeping the water down in this boiler room, Number 5, but the first five compartments are flooding.

  Captain Edward J. Smith : Well, what's the answer?

  Thomas Andrews : She's going to sink, Captain.

  Captain Edward J. Smith : But... She can't sink. She's unsinkable.

  Thomas Andrews : She can't float. Look... she can float with any three of her first five compartments flooded. She could even float with four of them gone. But she can't float with ALL of the first five full up.

  Captain Edward J. Smith : Yes, but...

  Thomas Andrews : [cuts him off]  These watertight bulkheads here only go as high as E Deck. The weight of the water in the bow is going to pull her down by the head. So, you're going to get the fifth compartment overflowing into the sixth... the sixth into the seventh... and so on, as she gets lower. It's a mathematical certainty. With that amount of underwater damage she can't stay afloat.

  Captain Edward J. Smith : How long will she last?

  Thomas Andrews : [starts doing figures on a scratch pad]  Just trying to work that out, now. As far as I can see, she made 14 feet of water in the first ten minutes after the collision. That's not very fast. She should live... another... hour and a half. Yes. About that, I should think.

  Captain Edward J. Smith : There must be no panic.

  Thomas Andrews : No.

  Captain Edward J. Smith : You'll be careful of what you say to the passengers.

  Thomas Andrews : Of course... How many people are there on board?

  Captain Edward J. Smith : 2,200, or more. And room in the boats for...? How many?

  Thomas Andrews : 1,200.

  Captain Edward J. Smith : I don't think the Board of Trade regulations ever visualized this situation. Do you?

• Quartermaster George Thomas Rowe : [after firing off the last of the distress rockets in a desperate attempt to attract the attention of the "Californian"]  That's the last one, sir.

  Captain Edward J. Smith : No reply to your signals?

  Quartermaster George Thomas Rowe : No sir. I think the bastards must be asleep.

  Captain Edward J. Smith : Report to Mister Murdoch. He's shorthanded.

  Quartermaster George Thomas Rowe : Aye aye, sir.

• Captain Edward J. Smith : [through his megaphone to passengers and crew as the ship is beginning its final plunge]  Abandon ship! Every man for himself!

• Assistant Wireless Operator Harold Bride : Captain? I got some good news. We've contacted the Carpathia eastbound from New York. She's on her way to us.

  Captain Edward J. Smith : How far away is she?

  Assistant Wireless Operator Harold Bride : 58 miles. She's making all possible speed and should be with us in just under four hours.

  Captain Edward J. Smith : Four hours... Wait, you see a light out there. Isn't she replying?

  Assistant Wireless Operator Harold Bride : [sees the light from the Californian in the distance]  No sir. She'd blast our ears off if she did. Maybe she can't keep a 24-hour watch. Or maybe she hasn't got wireless at all, sir.

  Captain Edward J. Smith : Thank you, Bride.

• Captain Edward J. Smith : Any more news, Phillips?

  Wireless Operator John 'Jack' Phillips : Nothing fresh, sir. The Carpathia is now about 30 miles out and coming as fast as she can. The Olympic wanted to know if we were steaming south to meet her, and the Frankfort keeps asking for more details! Those idiots! They don't seem to understand our situation, sir.

  Captain Edward J. Smith : Can't be easy for them. The engine room is flooding. You won't have power to send very much longer. Tell the Carpathia.

  Wireless Operator John 'Jack' Phillips : Yes sir.

  Captain Edward J. Smith : Tell her to hurry.

• Captain Edward J. Smith : [hurrying to the bridge immediately after the collision]  What is it?

  First Officer William Murdoch : Iceberg, sir. I put her hard-a-starboard and reversed the engines, but she was too close.

• Engineer : She's making water fast, sir. The mail hold's practically full already.

  Captain Edward J. Smith : Aren't the pumps working?

  First Officer William Murdoch : Yes sir.

  Captain Edward J. Smith : [indicates engineer can return to his job]  Thank you.

  Fourth Officer Joseph Boxhall : The engine room says they'll need more. They're rigging them now.

  Chairman J. Bruce Ismay : This is most unfortunate, Captain.

  Captain Edward J. Smith : Yes sir.

  Chairman J. Bruce Ismay : Do you think the ship is seriously damaged?

  Captain Edward J. Smith : I'm afraid she is.

  [sees Andrews arrive on the bridge] 

  Captain Edward J. Smith : Excuse me.

  Chairman J. Bruce Ismay : [to Murdoch]  How long is this likely to delay us?

  First Officer William Murdoch : Not long, I expect, sir.

  Captain Edward J. Smith : [to Andrews, quietly]  We've struck a berg. I think she's badly damaged. I would like to know *how* badly.

  Thomas Andrews : Right. I'll go down and have a look.

• Captain Edward J. Smith : Well, Phillips?

  Wireless Operator John 'Jack' Phillips : Another update from the Carpathia. She's increased speed and is now making 17 knots and she should rendezvous with us earlier than expected at around 3:30.

  Captain Edward J. Smith : [looks at his wristwatch]  Still... that'll be too late! There must be somebody nearer. Keep trying.

  Wireless Operator John 'Jack' Phillips : Yes sir.

  [Smith exists as Bride enters] 

  Assistant Wireless Operator Harold Bride : I got you a lifejacket.

  Wireless Operator John 'Jack' Phillips : Thanks, put it over there.

  Assistant Wireless Operator Harold Bride : They're growing in short supply, so these may be the last few around.