- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: EUROPEAN LAUNCH OF VIDEO OF THE FILM "TITANIC"
- Date: 18th October 1998
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (OCTOBER 18) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) GAELIC STORM MEMBER STEVE WEHMEYER SAYS, (SOUNDBITE ENGLISH "ALL THE TUNES THAT WE PLAYED ON TITANIC ARE NOT ONLY TRADITIONAL - THEY'RE ALSO PERIOD. WE HAD TO DO A LOT OF RESEARCH TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE AUTHENTIC TUNES THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PLAYED IN 1912 - THE PIECE THAT MOST PEOPLE RECOGNISE IS 'JOHN RYAN'
- Embargoed: 2nd November 1998 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM AND FILM LOCATIONS
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA49PG4BLS2URI2E48BAX09DOGK
- Story Text: The Titanic 'hype' juggernaut just keeps cruising on
and on.The European launch of the video of the world's most
successful ever cinema movie was released at midnight in
London on Sunday (October 18) at a champagne gala ceremony,
with fans literally beating down the doors to get their
favourite film.
Celine Dion sang, "My heart will go on," as the love
theme to 'Titanic,' and it looks like she was right -
because the 'Titanic' hype just keeps steaming on and on.
Having smashed box-office records around the world - and
tying with 'Ben-Hur' by scooping up eleven Oscars, James
Cameron's epic account of the famous 1912 maritime disaster
now looks set to be the biggest-selling video ever.
Already on sale in the US, the video has now 'launched'
in the UK and looks set to be the country's biggest ever
seller by Christmas.
On Sunday it went on sale at midnight at selected record
and video shops across the UK, with actors and staff wearing
Edwardian-period dress.
At London's HMV record and Video mega-store, 'Gaelic
Storm,' an Irish folk-music band who played in the 'steerage
party' scene in the film, took part in the celebrations, as
fans queued up outside - entertained by more folk music and
dancers.
At the stroke of midnight, the store's doors were opened
and in streamed the customers - the first lucky thousand
also getting a limited edition poster with their video.
Gaelic Storm were on hand to sign them - and spoke of how
happy they were to be a part of the on-going success of
'Titanic.'
Band member Steve Twigger said, "We''re just delighted
with the success of the film - and obviously our party scene
where Jack dances with Rose was pivotal.
"Everyone tells us how much they loved that scene - and
the music.It's great for us - and our own album is doing
very well."
Store manager Andy MacIndoe also looked a very happy man.
He expects to shift seven thousand copies of the video in
the next seven days - and up to five MILLION across the UK
by Christmas.
Similar sales are expected across the world - making
'Titanic' truly, 'The King of the World. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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