“Titanic has long been a dream of mine and I am confident I can get a Magnificent picture from it”

David O. Selznick

January saw the first sign of a Titanic project emerging from Culver City Studios. American producer David O. Selznick with an eye for profit, was drawn to the Titanic story as a subject for his latest film. He could see the potential of American audiences at the box office and the British and European markets too.

In March with plans in the advanced stage, meetings were held with producers and directors, and early pre-production was progressing at Selznick International Pictures.

But there was a serious problem, early in pre-production, Selznick had had the idea to acquire the S.S. Leviathan, as a giant film set, it had been laid up at Hoboken since 1934.

His plan after purchasing the ship was to have it towed to California and then have it revamped to resemble the Titanic, film most of the scenes on board and then sink the ship for the final sequence, making it the most realistic sinking scenes ever put on film.

Unfortunately that was not to be, Kay Brown his New York representative was instructed to contact the owners, the United States Line with an offer to purchase.

She was told by a marine insurer that the Leviathan had been sold recently for $2,000,000. When she tried to explain the reasons for needing the ship, a rather skeptical voice on the other end of the phone replied: “Miss Brown, it would cost two million to tow it to California so I suggest you tell your Mr Selznick to forget about it”.

Needless to say without a cast, screenplay, director and now a ship the project was shelved.

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