Hi Bell!

I don't regard the Cameron movie depiction as confusing -- it was, after all, a dramatisation.

With regard to sinking quickly, there are a number of points. It's all relative. IIRC, 16,000 tons of water had come aboard in the first 40 minutes -- by 12.20 a.m. -- and since Titanic's displacement was around 52,000 tons, and she became unstable with more than 30,000 tons of water aboard, she lasted quite well.

Britannic, with her extra safety features, sank in 55 minutes. Lusitania sank in 18 minutes in 1915, after a torpedo hit, although there's much debate there.

I believe the Hall-Beveridge book is excellent. I was approached pre-publication and was impressed by their research.

Best wishes,

Mark.