The tale of the fastest ocean
liner in the world—ever. America’s flagship—the SS United
States. Retired in 1969 and lying derelict at a pier in Philadelphia, there are now plans by a
Norwegian Cruuise Line to refit her as a modern day state-of-the-art cruise
ship.
SD Feed: Sunday, May 4, 2008,
1400 ET HD Feed: TBA
Analog & HD
Rights: 6 Releases/2 Years From May 4, 2008 – May 3, 2010
DVD’s
Available upon Request
Dear
colleague:
Big Ship Films, LLC, in cooperation
with WTTW National Productions, is proud to
present a brand new one-hour documentary about the greatest ocean liner ever
built: the SS United States. Shot
in high-definition and featuring previously unseen archival footage, SS United States: Lady In Waitingtells the
story of this largely forgotten 20th Century technological and
design marvel—and her possible rebirth.
The tale of SS United States: Lady in Waiting is told
in part by Susan Gibbs, granddaughter of the preeminent naval architect William
Francis Gibbs who designed the ocean liner. Capturing the fancy of boat lovers around the world with
its elegance and sleekness, the SS United States graced the New
York City waterfront for years before her retirement in Philadelphia. Designed
for times of war and peace, an entire army could fit into an inner hidden hull
if necessary. Although peeling today, the ship was built so well that
only a small portion of its outer layer has eroded.
SS United States:
Lady in Waiting evokes an American era that has largely vanished:
an age when some folks had the time to travel the seas in style and
luxury. The SS United States Conservancy provided
the producers with exclusive access to their audio-visual archives, as
well as assisted with coordinating extensive interviews with former crew and
passengers. The extensive archival footage reveals a Who’s Who of American
politicians and celebrities that sailed on the great ship from the 1950s –
1960s, including Sean Connery, Suzanne Pleshette, Jonathan Winters, Shirley
MacLaine, Cyd Charisse and a host of others. Walter
Cronkite and many of her former passengers and crew are interviewed, as well as
Bill Clinton who was on board on his way to England to study under his Rhodes
Scholarship.
With its high nostalgia quotient, SS United States: Lady in Waiting invites
viewers to participate in sea-going lore and to be part of the dream to rebuild
the Great Lady. The documentary contains interviews with Norwegian Cruise
Line’s C.E.O. and others who fantasize about rebuilding the ocean liner and
also documents the enormous technological and monetary challenges of building a
new cruise ship inside a 55 year old hull.
SS United States is
produced by Big Ship Films, LLC. The program is presented by WTTW
National Productions. Local
underwriting is permissible. It is distributed as a free offer to public television
stations by American Public Television (Exchange), which feeds it Sunday, May
4, 2008, 1400 ET.
Please contact me if you have
questions. DVD’s are available upon request. I will be in touch with you during March and April
about your carriage plans. A fact sheet follows.
Summary:
The
tale of the fastest ocean liner
in the world—ever. America’s
flagship—the SS United States. Retired in 1969 and lying derelict at a
pier in Philadelphia,
there are now plans by a Norwegian Cruise Line to refit her as a modern day
state-of-the-art cruise ship.
Parts/Length:
1/60
Rights: Analog
& HD: 6 releases/2 years
May 4, 2008-May 3, 2010
R Eisenberg Presents, Inc.
Regina Eisenberg
The tale of the fastest ocean
liner in the world—ever. America’s flagship—the SS United
States. Retired in 1969 and lying derelict at a pier in Philadelphia, there are now plans by a
Norwegian Cruuise Line to refit her as a modern day state-of-the-art cruise
ship.
