Secrets of the Titanic.

• Author: Rothenberg, Robert S.

Ask anyone to name the most famous ship in history, and oddson the answer will be the Titanic, that tragically doomed luxury liner that sank on its 1912 maiden voyage with a loss of life exceeding 1,500, including some of the most renowned names of the time. This National Geographic video combines the story of its sinking, utilizing rare archival films and photographs, paintings, and clips from a 1929 movie detailing the disaster, and efforts to find and explore the wreck almost three-quarters of a century later.

For those familiar with Titanic's collision with an iceberg and its plunge to the ocean depths, as only 705 survived in its insufficient complement of lifeboats, this video will fill in the background and explain why White Star Line's floating palace was fatally flawed. For those to whom the tale is new, it will serve as a comprehensive summary of the events that led to its doom.

Less familiar is the story of the French-American expedition...