Raise the Titanic also was published by the Universal Press Syndicate into a serialized comic strip in the late summer of 1977.  Illustrated by the renown illustrator Frank Bolle, the strip was syndicated in every major paper across the country.

   And on August 1, 1980, Raise the Titanic was released nationwide as a major motion picture starring Jason Robards, Richard Jordan, David Selby, Anne Archer & Alec Guinness.  The film was the most expensive film at that time at a cost of around $30 million.  Unfortunately, the film was a major flop at the box office, recouping only about $7 million.  Even Lord Grade, the president of ITC, the company that filmed the picture, claimed "It would have been cheaper to lower the Atlantic.".

     A year after the film was released, Clive Cussler saw the film, "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and almost cried after watching the picture.  The manner in which Spielberg produced a fast-paced, nail-biting adventure was how he had envisioned the Pitt movie that he never got.  Up to this point, he had vowed never to release any of his novels again as a motion picture until he got cast & script approval.  

     Clive Cussler was once asked, When will there be another Dirk Pitt® Adventure?  And he responded back by saying, "People often wonder why I’ve never sold another book to Hollywood.  My response is “Not after the way they botched up Raise The Titanic!”  The screenwriting was simply awful, the direction was amateurish and even the editing was pathetic.  Only John Barry’s musical score and the special effects were first rate.  I’m not looking for a blockbuster motion picture, but I’m hoping for a production of quality, more of a classic then a run-of-the-mill car chase with special-effects explosions every five minutes."  With SAHARA, Clive got just that, cast, script and director approval, thanks to his great agent, Peter Lampack.

     This site will cover every aspect of the story that Dr. Cussler wrote and the film that followed.  So I hope you enjoy your visit to my site.  Any suggestions, donations and/or financial donations are welcomed and I encourage it.  Most of the material that you will see on this site has been donated by individuals like yourself. 

     When the site was first launched on August 29, 2001, there was hardly any material at all like it is today and the navigation and the structure of the site was very weak and poor.  People got lost really fast and they didn't know where they were going.  Over the last couple of years, suggestions by many different people across the world have help perfect the site as it is today.  

     If you have any questions about this site, check out the FAQ Page and see if your question is answered there.  If not, than send me an e-mail.  If you're an old timer who have been to this site a dozen times than check out What's New and see what has been added since your last visit.  If you like the site, than I would love for you to sign the  Guestbook.

     And if your like me and you didn't like the film but loved the novel itself, than head on over and sign the petition to hopefully someday, have the film redone.

Do you want to get to know other Dirk Pitt® fans out there?  Check out the Message boards and see what others have to say.  Improvements will be made as time goes on.  Again, thanks for visiting and for taking the time to explore Raise the Titanic.com.