Return to the Titanic: Live!

Now here's an once in a lifetime event....just like Titanic's maiden voyage back in April 1912. And here's the kind of thing that only in the lavish and crazy 1980's could ever happen; today, the level of political correctness wouldn't allow such thing to happen, there'd be protests against the possible exhibition or even a huge backlash after its airing. "Back to the Titanic: Live from Paris!" is sort of cringeworthy thing but I gotta admit: I was curious in knowing what would be revealed that we didn't know about the mystery of the mythical ship that went to the bottom of the occean after hitting an iceberg after its innaugural trip to the States in 1912, killing more than 1500 people onboard when everyone, White Star Line, his builder Thomas Andrews said that this was an unsinkable ship - the biggest of its era. As they say in James Cameron's film: "It was the ship of dreams...".

The program broadcast live on 1987, two years after expert Robert Ballard and his team finally find the ship's location and reveal its condition and objects, comes this show that was a stunning case of grave-digging to some, exploitation to others and fascinated findings to a few: a rich French team decided to return to the ship - since then the location was now know by every diver or exploration teams - to collect items that weren't recovered by Ballard's team and present to audiences (I guess lots of rich folks were dying to know what it was and would want to pay lots of cash to have them. If I'm not wrong the first objects like plates and White Star Line material was already in museums or being acquired by collectors). Host Telly Savalas presents Titanic's story with great ellegance and class (except for an hilarious moment after opening a bottle of champagne, he walks in this tiny set, trips to a chair and almost falls. So, if you think the program is tasteless just watch for that moment which is a killer hysterical moment of laughter). The opening moments before Savalas comes to the screen is of security guards, highly armed holding the new Titanic findings in secrecy- an almost kind of "Miami Vice" kind of thing. Laughable as well. And what is revealed is a safe. What's in there? Well, the show keeps going on secret with lots and lots of commercial breaks, backstory of Titanic and the survivors who were still alive back in the day sharing their stories about the tragedy.

I saw this out of sheer curiosity some months ago, don't remember all that much about what was in the safe; so if you're curious go and challenge yourself. But what I do remember was that there was some minor objects; one belonged to a named person whose parents were alive in the 1980's I think; and a bunch of currency money and coins from the 1910's.

And it was so bizarre seeing those three or four experts trying to analyze if the objects were authentic or not; carefully handling the wet money at the same time Telly Savalas was able to carry an object without wearing a glove. Those things after more than 70 years below the sea vanish easily without a proper care. Amazing, has to be seen to be believed the level of dumbness. I guess the main succees of this event was that, even if the makers could make things up or present fake objects, they didn't make the infamous moment of Geraldo Rivera's embarassment in the previous year while opening Al Capone's empty secret vault. David Mamet probably used this in "The Untouchables" when Elliot Ness found those alleged booze boxes filled with umbrellas.

If I sound bitter or contemptous about this show, trust me, I'm not. I liked it because it reminds me of daring, bold and outrageous moments in entertainment that will never happen again and its nostalgic; not to mention that it got me gripped all the way. I wasn't bored, I was stunned and truly curious in knowing about what could possibly be rescued from the Titanic and let's face it, I'm always excited and curious to know more and more stories about that ship - and others as well but we all know that that's THE ONE that made impact in "recent era" - except for the amazing Galeão Santa Rosa (for those who don't know, it's was a Portuguese ship way back in 1700 that exploded or crashed with lots of gold in it and it still hasn't been found). My review is possibly the most enthusiastic ever; the ones released back in 1987 and still can be found on the net are far more damaging, hilarious and critical - I agree with them in some, there was some exploitation with the victims/survivors (there were some dozens still alive and who complained about the show); it surfaced traumas to some and it was much ado about almost nothing. So what? They found money in one of the vaults, and a medallion. It can't be used or traded for current value.

They had to stay soaked in special water otherwise they'll vanish away, total disintegration. But, if the TV can show it and the program still exists what only counts is that we were able to visualize relics from a different era. Quite good. Almost like seeing dinosaurs skeletons. It's not great TV but it almost got there for a little while. 7/10.