25th anniversary of the premiere of »Titanic»
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the release of one of the highest grossing films in history, one of the longest running in theaters around the world and the one that united one of the most chemical couples in the film industry, »Titanic». James Cameron became obsessed with one of the most terrifying shipwrecks in history and since he knew its history he made the decision to embark on this project. In this year of celebration we bring you 10 curiosities you may not have known about »Titanic».
Kate and Leo were not the first choice to play Jack and Rose
To this day we can’t imagine Rose and Jack with faces other than Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, however, it seems that the acting duo was not the first choice to play the lovers. Rumors claim that Gwyneth Paltrow and Matthew McConaughey were the actors who were to play Jack and Rose. James Cameron, director of the feature film has responded to this question on numerous occasions, but has neither confirmed nor denied the rumor, although he did respond this way »I just don’t think it’s right to talk about actors who decided not to do it, or who weren’t available, or who stupidly decided there wasn’t enough meat on the character’s bone, or whatever.» While the director has not confirmed the alleged actors who were first choice, he does give a rough idea of what he thinks about them, whoever they are.
Kate Winslet struggled to get the role of Rose
This brings us to the next curiosity, and that is that Kate Winslet was not only not the first choice, but it was she herself who fought to get the role. Winslet knew from the beginning that Rose was a great role and confessed to having sent a bouquet of roses to James Cameron with the message »From Your Rose» after an audition. Winslet, moreover, has confirmed that Cameron’s decision was a brave one »He took a risk in choosing me. Many of my contemporaries, Uma Thurman, Gwyneth Paltrox or Winona Ryder were much more likely candidates. I was lucky.
Jack did not enter in the table, because he did not
All of us who have seen »Titanic» wonder why Jack didn’t get on the board, when apparently there was room for him on it. James Cameron has the definitive answer to this conundrum »It’s very simple: you read page 147 of the script and it says: Jack gets off the board and gives her his place so she can survive. It’s that simple.
The film is more expensive than the boat
One of the most incredible curiosities. The total cost of the film was 200 million dollars, it was the most expensive film in history. Making Titanic cost seven and a half million dollars at the time, which in 1997 was equivalent to about 150 million dollars.
Kate Winslet got right into acting, and into the water
The filming of the shipwreck scenes took long hours. All the actors appearing in some of these scenes wore waterproof suits, however, Kate Winslet refused to use it. The actress wanted to maintain the greatest verisimilitude with the situation of her character so she did all the scenes without any kind of thermal protection, which eventually led her to fall ill with pneumonia. The actress was even on the verge of quitting filming.
The feature film of records
Titanic was released on December 19, 1997 and was still in theaters when the VHS of the film was released on September 1, 1998. It is the first and only film to accomplish such a thing in the history of cinema.
More records at the Oscar Awards
»Titanic» also holds the record for Oscar nominations, although it shares it with two other films. Titanic» received a total of 14 nominations, as did »Naked Eve» and »La La Land». Additionally, it shares the distinction of being the film that has won the most statuettes, along with »Ben-Hur» and »The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Titanic» won 11 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, among others.
»My heart Will go on» might not have been part of the film
One of the most striking curiosities of the film. At first James Cameron was not convinced by the idea of the film having a main song but the composers James Corner and Will Jennings wrote »My heart Will go on» and recorded a demo with Céline Dion. When the director heard it, all doubts were over and it became the theme song for Titanic.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s stunt double
One of the most famous scenes of the film is the one in which Jack is drawing the portrait of Rose. Well, the hands that appear on screen do not belong to the actor, the portrait was drawn by James Cameron himself, and it is his hands that appear in the film. In fact, in the film we can see all Jack’s drawings, well, all the portraits of faces and naked bodies that appear in the film were drawn by Cameron.
Etiquette classes of the time
To achieve verisimilitude and historical accuracy, something that James Cameron took very seriously, all the actors, principal and extras, in the feature film were taught early 1900s etiquette. To this end, the services of the famous choreographer Lynne Hockney were hired, who designed a guide called »Titanic Tiquette» and gave a series of courses in which she taught manners, uses and customs of the society of the early twentieth century.
