The United Kingdom’s White Star Line constructed the Titanic to be the most opulent cruise liner in the world. It was almost 900 feet in length and more than 100 feet height. The Titanic could thrust out speeds of 30 knots and was expected to be the world’s swiftest ship. With the compartments being individualized and watertight, it was seen as practically indestructible and unsinkable.
The movie Titanic was released in cinemas nearly 21 years ago and brought audiences to tears. Director James Cameron’s Titanic instantly became the highest grossing motion picture in history. Here are some movie facts for fact lovers and Titanic fans as well.
Coincidence? If all of the present day scenes were deleted, leaving only the scenes that take place in 1912, the film would run 2 hours and 40 minutes, the exact time it took for the Titanic to sink.
Jack and Rose’s spitting scene was almost entirely ad-libbed, as was the moment when Kate Winslet spat in Billy Zane’s face. Rather than spitting on Billy Zane’s face, Kate Winslet’s character was supposed to stick him with a hairpin.
There was a real J. Dawson who died on the Titanic. Joseph Dawson, along with many other Titanic victims, was buried in a cemetery in Nova Scotia. His gravestone is apparently the most visited in the cemetery.
This was the second film that features the sinking of the Titanic to win the Best Picture Oscar.
The first was 1933’s Cavalcade.
The elderly couple who lie in bed as water floods the room is a tribute to Ida and Isidor Strauss. Ida was offered a seat on a lifeboat but turned it down because she wanted to stay with her husband. She is quoted as saying: “As we have lived together, so we shall die together.” They were owners of the Macy’s department store.
Kate Winslet was one of the only people who didn’t wear a wetsuit while filming. She got pneumonia and almost quit the production.
It cost more money to make the movie Titanic than it did to actually construct the original ship. Movie’s cost: $200 million. Ship’s cost: $7.5 million ($150 million when adjusted for inflation).
The line “I’m the king of the world!” was ad-libbed. And it’s considered among AFI’s 100 greatest movie quotes of all time.
Composer James Horner said that the first cut he saw of the film was 36 hours long.
When Rose meets Jack at the Grand Staircase, the clock reads 2:20 a.m., which is the exact moment the ship sank.
Barbra Streisand and Reba McEntire were both in talks to play Molly Brown.
Madonna was considered for the role of Rose.
James Cameron’s 10th film, it is only the first that didn’t include the use or mention of nuclear weapons.
Most of the movie’s extras were given a three hour lecture on proper 1912 mannerisms and behavior.
A powder was applied to the actors’ faces, which then crystallized when exposed to water. Wax was also applied to everyone’s hair and clothes, which gave everything a glossy, frozen look.
James Cameron provided more than 150 extras with names and backstories of real Titanic passengers.
The entire film contains over 100 speaking parts, with more than 1,000 extras.
Bonus: Celine Dion – My Heart Will Go On Live at the Billboard Music Awards 2017
