Because the banks and courts were holding the Athinai due to the
previous owner's neglect, the old ocean liner, President Cleveland,
was originally thought of to double as the Titanic but the production
crew couldn't figure out how to pull her out of the Hong Kong Harbor
and out onto the open sea to get the open expanse shots that they
needed. At the last minute they decided to go to the Greek
courts and win custody of the Athinai for their shots instead. (Added
5-29-2002)
The film company spent
$250,000 turning the liner Athinai into the raised Titanic.
Filming on the Athinai lasted four-days. (Added 5-29-2002)
The Athinai was filmed
at pier 12 in Faliron. The ship was the film companies second choice
with the R.M.S Queen Mary being the first at $1,000,000.
Thanks goes to John Smith. (Added 8-29-2002)
The film company paid $2,000
an hour for the hire of 4 tugs to move the Athinai. Thanks goes
to John Smith. (Added 8-29-2002)
The harbor master was told
(during filming) to expect the Titanic. He was shocked to see a rusty
old liner (Athinai) being filmed alongside new vessels. Thanks
goes to John Smith. (Added 8-29-2002)
The RTT grand staircase was
filmed in the Athinai's dinning saloon. Thanks goes to John
Smith. (Added 8-29-2002)
A model of the grand staircase was suspended in front of the
camera rather than a matte painting. Thanks goes to Robert
Gibbons. (Added 8-29-2002)
The shot of the Titanic docked in New York Harbor was actually
filmed in Greece. The bow is the ship Athinai used for
the live exterior/interior shots. The rest is a matte painting.
Links
Ocean Liner and Cruise Ship Postcards-This site is devoted to the
Grace Line fleet. The Athinai was a part of this fleet when
she was known as the Santa Rosa. (Added 1-19-2003)
Typaldos Lines-Another site with information from Typaldos line.
This fleet was what the Athinai ended up at after they purchased
it from the Grace Line fleet. Of course it was renamed after the
purchase as you probably already figured out. (Added 1-19-2003)
