The Superliners Twilight of an Era 1980

[@titanicfilmsbymark]

I hope that you enjoy the film and thank you for watching. Please subscribe, like, and comment. Please check out my Dailymotion Channel at www.dailymotion.com/TitanicDocsbyMark God bless you and Blessings Mark.

[@ludwigsamereier8204]

27 years ago I bought this cassette and still own it. Apparently the sound track has been renewed. It was this video that inspired me to book a crossing in 2002. It was a dream come true.

[@ricksutton7447]

The Superliners twilight of an ERA is ONE of MY favourite ocean liner documentaries

[@theblueriband]

I remember when this episode aired on television in 1979 and loved every moment of it! When it came out of VHS cassette in the mid-80's, my Mom bought it for me and I literally wore out the tape from playing it so often! When it came out on LaserDisc in the early 90's, I bought the disc and played it over and over! Finally, it was available on DVD in 2010 and I bought a copy, which I have still today. This is by far, the BEST general population (as opposed to the "rivet-counter" crowd 😛) documentary on the history of Trans-Atlantic ocean liner travel. I STILL show it or recommend it to anyone who is not quite familiar with the whole history, but are interested in knowing more. I had a chance to sail on QE2 in 1996 from Ensenada to Hawaii and was thrilled to have had that experience. I hope to one day make it to Port Rashid, Dubai, UAE to visit QE2 in the future.

[@dave1986R]

I used to rent this documentary on VHS from my local library when I was a kid. I discovered it after I went to see the Queen Mary in Long Beach in the early ‘90’s. It’s nice to see it again, for years I couldn’t find it anywhere.

[@thegameshowgeek]

I rented my copy from Hollywood Video, the first of the front runners to go out of business going into the recession. I miss the old video rental scene 🎬

[@dave1986R]

@@thegameshowgeekthose were the days. Hollywood Video and Blockbuster video were the places you wanted to be when you wanted to spend a Friday or Saturday night at home with a bowl of popcorn.

[@tominatey2653]

I have wanted to watch this documentary for over 24 years (it came out 9 years before I was born) and I'm so grateful to you for sharing such an exceptional copy of it.

[@titanicfilmsbymark]

I am so glad that you found the film Tom. Enjoy it. Blessings -

[@michlo3393]

you and me both. I wore out the VHS of this as a kid. Searched for years to find it again!

[@joes9954]

There is a pace to this that is rare for TV documentaries. Long stretches of just announcements and location sounds without commentary. I worked on the QE2 for one summer in the mid 90's and it was such a great time.

[@ludwigsamereier8204]

You are right sir. I bought the VHS in 1997. May for the reason you desbribe I've loved it all the time. It inspired me to make an Atlantic crossing in 2002.

[@Romulan007]

So glad this is posted! I have the old VHS tape and always enjoyed watching it. I sailed with my family on the QE2 back in summer of 1981 from New York to Southampton. Was just out of this world fun. Also Capt. Ridley was the captain when we sailed and the porter, John, that's interviewed, he was our porter and was one of the nicest people I have ever met. I remember Carroll O'Conner was on board during that voyage and he also was such a kind and good man. This brings back some wonderful and happy memories. It's sad that the QE2 isn't sailing anymore but at least she wasn't scrapped and is a floating hotel in Dubai. Like the Queen Mary in Long Beach. Thank you again for posting this!

[@thatsmarco7413]

12:12 "Women and children first?? No😅" what a beauty and naturalness, always knowing how to live with irony and a smile... This documentary was made with heart and soul.. When did we stop being like this? I always wonder. Thanks again Mark for posting (I didn't know that "ladies first" was an old rule 🤣🤣🤣

[@susanboon4605]

Saw this documentary when it first came out, and was then lucky enough to sail on the QE2 in December of 1980. I went with my Travel and Tourism class (30 of us!) on an 11 day cruise out of New York. We had behind the scenes tours of all parts of the ship, so met the captain, head chef and many other people in this film. I've wanted to see this again, especially as I am soon to embark on my first transatlantic crossing. Thank you for posting this!

[@mordecai4207]

Thank you for posting this. This documentary was a huge part of my childhood. They had this documentary on VHS at the local library: I would rent it and watch it over and over. Its what solidified my love of ships and the sea.

[@titanicfilmsbymark]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jamesg8199]

I was the only 7 year old that would rent this from my local library nonstop as well.

[@165vally]

This has been one of my favorite documentaries for years; I was lucky enough to sail transatlantic on the QE2 twice.

[@titanicfilmsbymark]

That's awesome

[@boataxe4605]

39:30: “Both Queens survived the war without serious incident” The hundreds of dead sailors from the escort ship that the Queen Mary cut in half would disagree.

[@titanicfilmsbymark]

Very true indeed

[@boisegameshowguy]

Maybe so. But I suppose that remark was directed more toward the souls aboard them than those aboard vessels that the Queens made contact with.

[@regalgs51]

My gosh. What a wonderful, heartfelt documentary. So classy. They don’t make them like this anymore. There’s something so touching and honest about it.

[@pierrecaron8731]

I was always facinaded with ocean liners. Glad and happy that this great documantary has been proven wrong, in novembre I will be embarling on the Queen Mary 2 for my first transatlantic crossing, a life long dream come true.

[@gezag.hanniker1940]

47:30 "That's the best tip I got. 17 cents! and an English penny!

[@krimskrams]

that guy had a real distinct way of talking, like some character actor from some movie

[@BMan100]

Normadie... hearing that name makes me think back to the story of one guy who could made his way through her int he dark, during the fire he told the navy he could make it in easy and let her settle upright... but they said " this is the navy's job"..

[@Kaidhicksii]

That was her designer, Vladimir Yourkevitch. When the scrappers were dismantling the Normandie, the boss said that it looked like his heart was broken. You don't say sir.

[@kevinmcadams805]

Mark once again thank you again for posting these incredible videos! They are so much fun to watch and I have no idea where else I would find them. Really appreciate it.

[@ndirangugichuki6260]

This is a good quality version of this documentary, thanks 👍.

[@titanicfilmsbymark]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Kaidhicksii]

@@titanicfilmsbymark There's another version of it here I watched beforehand. I can safely say I've watched this one over and over again because it is higher quality. :)

[@denisiwaszczuk1176]

Thank you from a old seaman

[@gregmerritt4278]

Great video. Thanks for sharing it

[@krimskrams]

I wonder if the dance rehearsal at the 7:15 mark inspired the scene in the Lemmon and Matthau comedy movie "Out to Sea". They are playing the same tune "The Hustle" here!

[@ivo198701]

Amazing documentary once again👌 Thanks!

[@titanicfilmsbymark]

You are most welcome

[@Shipwright1918]

One of the good times when the old girl wasn't wretching her guts out and coughing up plumes of black smoke with boiler or turbine troubles. She was designed to have 4 main boilers, sharing the load evenly between them, but Cunard tried to save money by only having 3 installed, and with that they were working flat out all the time. Coupled with the fast turnarounds and exacting schedules, it did her steam plant no favors. Often wonder if they'd taken the time to put No.4 Boiler in and develop the main turbines a bit more, if the QE2 might've remained a steamship instead of being converted to diesel.

[@Kaidhicksii]

Who knows? Frankly I think the more important question is if she would've remained in service for as long as she did, and not be retired. After all, she was apparently designed for a 25-year service life. If Cunard didn't think keeping her in service would be worth the money (whether still as a steamship or with a reengining), nor did they think the same about building a running mate/successor, QE2 may very well have gone before her time, and the transatlantic tradition would be long over. Likely a Blessing in disguise the way I look at it.

[@garthbrooks4583]

You da best mark

[@renesagahon4477]

Excellent documentary

[@TheRealKnightFuryPremiere]

Now we have the Queen Mary 2, which surpassed the QE2 as the last ocean liner.

[@michlo3393]

QM2, QE2, United States, Queen Mary, and Rotterdam I believe are the last oceanliners still in existence today. QM2 obviously, being the only one working.

[@krimskrams]

great documentary!

[@howardhdavidson]

This was after they ruined the QE2 and done away with the top deck , coffee shop, disco ,and shops and turned the entire deck into suites.

[@MikeHunt-fo3ow]

its like an old folks home on board

[@veritas41photo]

"Offering luxury and leisure no one seemed to want." RIP these outdated icons of hubristic snobbery.

[@howardhdavidson]

Your the no one that didn’t want it .I know lots of people that could afford it , wanted it, and loved it .

[@gezag.hanniker1940]

I'm not sure if I would enjoy sailing on Cunards ship Queen Mary 2 as they have the Victorian class system. I can picture economy class airline except on ship. Thanks but no thanks. At least on cruise lines you can go anywhere through out the ship and with a little extra money you can enjoy specialty dining if you want.

[@Kaidhicksii]

QM2 doesn't have the class system. There are still three different levels of accommodation - Queens Grill, Princess Grill and Britannia (the last of which is also split into four sub-categories) - but that's just based on which restaurant you'll ultimately be eating in. You still have full access to the entire ship, save of course for the crew areas and the classified areas. :)

[@JS-wi5lf]

The Queen Mary 2 is lovely. Sailed her twice in their “economy class” which is similar to a Holland America or Celebrity Cruise. It is in no way like economy on an airplane!! It is very far from that environment. It really is very lovely and you have use of the whole ship except the other dining venues for those staying in suites. Honestly, other lines have gone the route of a class system. NCL has Haven, Celebrity has Retreat class, MSC has Yacht Club. On those ships you are not allowed into those areas. They are basically a ship within a ship. For example, passengers sailing in the Retreat class on Celebrity have their own restaurant, pool, lounge, and outdoor deck area.

[@TheEternallyAggrieved1999]

I hate flying. I still can't believe we let that lousy mode of travel dominate. I hate this era we live in.

[@b172ddm2]

it's a women and children's first?🤣🤣

[@MikeHunt-fo3ow]

why you gonna name your ship after a useless tnuc