FAQ for
Titanic (1997) More at IMDb Pro »

No. Titanic is based on a screenplay by Canadian-born producer and director James Cameron. However, Cameron did extensive research on the ill-fated Titanic, including organizing a dive to the wreck of the Titanic itself. During his research, Cameron was given access to the Titanic builders' blueprints and other archives.

Jack, Rose, Cal, Ruth, Brock Lovett, Lovejoy, Fabrizio, and Tommy Ryan were all fictitious. The most prominent real-life characters mentioned by name are multimillionaire John Jacob Astor and his wife Madeleine, Ben Guggenheim (the guy who dresses in his best and asks for brandy), Margaret ("Molly") Brown (although in real-life her nickname was not Molly, but Maggie), the Countess of Rothes, Colonel Gracie, Sir Cosimo and Lady Duff Gordon (who really did design lingerie), the ship's architect Thomas Andrews, White Star Line president Bruce Ismay, and the captain and crew members. Isador and Ida Strauss (the old couple shown lying on the bed near the end) are shown but not named, as is Charles Joughin (the baker on the railing with Jack and Rose). Arthur Ryerson is named but not shown. Robert Douglas Spedden is the kid spinning the top on the promenade deck, a scene based on an actual photograph taken en route to Queenstown.

At the time of the Titanic disaster steering orders were still given in concurence with an old tradition. Early ships were steered with an oar and then later with a tiller that would control the rudder. In order to turn to starboard you would turn the tiller to port and vice-versa. So if an officer said hard-a-starboard that meant turn the tiller to starboard and the ship would go to port. During the early 18th century, the wheel was introduced. Now turing the wheel to port would steer the ship to port, but the old orders stayed the same i.e if an officer said hard-a-starboard (like in the movie), the helmsman would turn to port, in essence the helmsman had to turn in the opposite direction to what the officer had said. Confusing? Yes, but this was finally corrected in Britain on January 1st, 1933 when hard-to-port finally meant turn to port and hard-to-starboard finally meant to starboard.

Some people think that Lizzy is Jack's granddaughter. Not true. "I've never told anyone about Jack before, (looks at Lizzy) not even your grandfather". Lizzy's grandfather was a guy named Calvert that Rose married in the 20's. Taken from Movie_Buff_Brad's FAQ.

That was the Norwegian girl Helga, who Fabrizio was dancing with in the 3rd Class dance. All her other scenes were cut from the movie, but are included in the Special Editions.

Warm weather causes huge chunks of ice to break off of glaciers. The icebergs then float south with the ocean current until they eventually melt. The iceberg that Titanic hit most likely came from Greenland. Taken from Movie_Buff_Brad's FAQ.

This is highly debatable. A woman of Rose's position would have been frowned upon and all but rejected from polite society if not a virgin until marriage. As women rode sidesaddle and didn't participate in sports that may break the hymen, an intact hymen was still a good indicator of virginity, or lack thereof. However, Cal saying to Rose, "I had hoped you would come to me last night," in a nonchalant way during breakfast (the morning after the steerage party) indicates that they may have been together before. Rose's casual response that 'she was tired' would indicate that she was not shocked by the suggestion and that it had occured before. Though Rose said that the drawing was the most erotic moment in her life until that point, sex in itself is not necessarily erotic.

Additionally, during the argument at breakfast Cal states "You are my wife, in practice if not yet by law" or something to that effect, which may indicate a sexual relationship.

In a deleted scene, Rose's servant, Trudy, comments that "tonight, when [she] climb[s] between the sheets, [she'll] be the first" (because the ship is brand new). Cal, at the door, says that "tonight, [he'll] be the first" when he climbs between the sheets as well, then dismisses Trudy. He then walks up behind Rose and says "The first and the only". It can be assumed that, now that they're on their way to be married, he's decided to take what he feels belongs to him, and that, that night, they did in fact sleep together.

Jack visited brothels. That much is clear. He drew portraits for ten cents a piece for paying customers, but not all his customers were paying, and he did draw prostitutes nude, drawings he kept. Most likely he was not a virgin.

That he asks Rose in the car whether she was nervous, indicates that he knew what was going to happen and wasn't nervous himself, but considered Rose's feelings and her possible virginity. That he was shaking is probably due to the intensity of the act and not necessarily it's being the first time.

To counter the Jack argument, he comes off very boyish and inexperienced. At several points, like when confessing his love for Rose, he is as angsty and non-smooth as humanly possible. He visited brothels because they would pose nude for him. He even makes it clear in one scene that he didn't have a love affair with one, just drew her. And Rose points out that he is "very professional" about it. Also, Rose makes the first move with everything. She asks him to draw her, she kisses him first (except when they kiss each other simultaneously on the bow), she pulls him into the backseat, she sucks on his finger, she puts his hand on her chest, etc. Also, he appears very nervous in the car scene, so I would say that him asking her if she is nervous indicates more that he himself is nervous and is asking her if she feels the same way. She of course is the one who brought him there, so obviously she knows what's going on. And the shaking is unbelievably noobish (for lack of better word), and the "heat of the moment" argument doesn't convince me. And then she rests his head on her shoulder, calmly, while he shakes and pants away. This all seems like she knows whats she's doing, while he is the beginner. After Kyle Reece, blonde boy virgins that die tragically after loosing it can very well be a trend for Cameron.

She had just had an orgasm. Taken from Movie_Buff_Brad's FAQ.

It was also a directorial choice. It has great dramatic effect and looks really good on camera.

There was only one black man on Titanic, that was Joseph Laroche. He and his French wife and two children were traveling in 2nd Class. Sadly, Mr. Laroche did not survive; however, his family did. Taken from Movie_Buff_Brad's FAQ.

"Eternal Father, Strong to Save".

This is also known (to Americans) as the Navy Hymn--note the lyrics

Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee, For those in peril on the sea!

Its use in this movie constitutes an anachronism, because although the original lyrics of the hymn were written by William Whiting of Winchester, England, in 1860, and were set to music by John Dykes, an Anglican clergyman, in 1861, the verse that precedes Whiting's famous reference to "those in peril on the sea":

O Spirit, Whom the Father sent / To spread abroad the Firmament; / O wind of heaven, by Thy Might, / Save all who dare the eagle's flight; / And keep them by Thy watchful care / From every peril in the air.

shows the version being sung here is the one that first appeared in the printed Hymnal of the US Protestant Episcopal Church in 1940, and so would not have been part of services aboard a British ship in 1912.

There's a possibility that he did. An officer indeed shot himself on the deck, but no one knows for sure which, and it's most likely no one ever will. The officer who shot himself could have been either 1st Officer William Murdoch, Chief Officer Charles Wilde, or 6th Officer James Moody, all of whom died that night. Witness testimonies over this matter varied, saying which was the perpetrator. Some also say it was Captain Smith, but due to how recognizable he was, it's doubtful that anyone would confuse him if he was indeed the man who shot himself. Murdoch could have done so over guilt of crashing the ship, Wilde could have done it because he lost some relatives in a car crash earlier (need verification), and Moody could have done it simply due to stress over how awful the situation was. It was most likely Wilde, because the officer who killed himself was in his section of the ship

However, it's worth mentioning that both Second Officer Charles Herbert Lightoller and Fourth Officer Joseph Groves Boxhall said that they hadn't noticed anyone shooting himself on the ship as she sank.

Old Rose never mentioned what happened to her, but Ruth probably went poor and died penniless.

It's also possible that she married again to a merchant. Many widows of the Titanic disaster did marry again. While the mother was depending on Rose to marry Cal, she could herself have married later, perhaps to a less extravagant but still financially secure level.

Rose's father left a lot of debt hidden by a good name. Debt was transferred from one generation to the next in 1912, which is why Rose's and Ruth's things would have been sold at auction. It's unlikely Cal knew about the debt. By the time the wedding would have happened, the debt would have been Rose's, and what was Rose's was Cal's.

In Rose's time, an actress could have been in vaudeville rather than film. Also, as with today, there are many actors and actresses who can be found online, but are otherwise completely unknown. She may never have been on film. (There were no TV commercials that might show someone in the background.) All promoting was on posters, and only the big names were on posters. Also, film was often perceived as a more common form of entertainment for lower social classes; upper-class people often shunned movie theaters as an unrespectable environment. Unless she had become an actress in prominent East Coast theatres, it's entirely possible that no one from among Cal's social acquaintances would have been aware of her.

But let's presume for a moment Cal had seen her. He remembered the diamond was in the coat when he put it on her; however, he had filed an insurance claim, and had probably been paid. If he retrieved the diamond, it would have become the property of the insurance company, as they had already paid him for it.

Keep in mind that Cal comitted suicide after the Great Depression in 1929, so if Rose became a noted actress after that year, he posed no risk to her.

She says in the alternative ending that she didnt want to cash in on the diamond because she didnt want to rely on Cal for money. Also she wanted to give that diamond to Jack's memory.

Accounts vary slightly, but the best estimate is that 12-13 people were picked up from the water by lifeboats. Of these, at least 3 died of injuries or exposure. http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/item/1495/

This one is very hard to answer. The major problem is that the only ones that know the answer for sure (that is, the band) unfortunately went down with the ship.

However, the vast majority of the eyewitness testimonies assert that "Nearer My God To Thee" was indeed the last song that the band played as the Titanic sank. The other people either claim they played nothing, or that they played "Autumn" (claim by Second wireless operator Harold Bride) - this one still not sure (and will most probably never be), if it was referring to the Episcopal hymn "Autumn", or to the popular waltz "Songe D'Automne" by Archibald Joyce.

Even with "Nearer My God To Thee", there's a problem. This song comes in three main versions (and five other alternate versions) - the American version ("Bethany"; played in this very movie), the British version ("Horbury"; played in "A Night To Remember" (1958)), and the British Methodist version ("Propior Deo"; currently not yet played in any Titanic movie to this date). All the members of the Titanic's band, save for one French member, were British, thus the American version is out of question (so we can say that this movie took a bit of artistic liberty with this one, so to make that scene understandable to a wider audience). The leader of the band, Wallace Hartley, was a Methodist, and so was yet another member of the band, so the possible versions of "Nearer My God To Thee" that could have been played that night are the British and the British Methodist versions. The British Methodist version resembles the American version a bit, so it's possible that this one was indeed the one played that night, since we have American passengers claiming to have heard the band playing "Nearer My God To Thee", and considering the above statement about the American version, it's possible that they could have misheard the British Methodist version, mistaking it for the American version. As for the British passengers who also claimed to have heard the band playing "Nearer My God To Thee" - some of them were probably Methodists, and the other ones could even not have recognized the tune, only to learn later on from other passengers that it was a version of "Nearer My God To Thee". Wallace Hartley, the band's violinist and bandleader had written letters to his sister a year before the disaster, claiming if he ever were on a sinking ship, he would play Nearer My God To Thee.

It is also claimed that "Nearer My God To Thee" was not on the White Star Line hymn sheets; however, it's not impossible that the band knew the tune anyway.

He was angered that Jack would win Rose. However, it is likely that this is simply a plot contrivance since James Cameron wanted an action sequence in the film. A longer fight sequence between Jack and Lovejoy was cut out of the film.

************************************************************************************ As Cal had said a few moments earlier to Jack as they watched Rose descend in the lifeboat (that she soon jumped out of), "I always win, Jack. One way or another." Once Rose jumped back onto Titanic and into Jack's arms, Cal saw that he wasn't going to "win" and this made him homicidal.

That song was a popular tune back then called "Come Josephine in my Flying Machine." It was first written in 1910 by Fred Fisher and Alfred Bryan, then recorded by Blanche Ring. In 1911 it was recorded again as a duet between Bill Murray and Ada Jones.

On the "Back To Titanic" soundtrack it is heard sung by Maire Brennan with lines from the movie in the background said by Rose towards the end. It is also heard again on a deleted scene on the three disk special edition DVD.

Rose is laughing because she is remembering the night before when she was with Jack after the steerage party and they sing the song together. This is a deleted scene on the four disk special edition DVD. The deleted scene shows Jack and Rose singing "Come Josephine" in the "Flying Scene" and they see a shooting star.

Women and children meant females of all ages and boys who were 14 or younger.

********************************** But the lifeboat boarding policy depended on which officer was controlling the boarding. Second Officer Lightoller had a strict policy of women and children only (he tried to keep Arthur Ryerson's 13-year old son out, but relented when the father protested. "No more boys," Lightoller grumbled, according to Walter Lord's account in the book "A Night To Remember."

Other officers allowed any passengers to board the boats. Lifeboat #1 was boarded by Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon, his wife, his manservant, and other men and women for a total of only 12 passengers in a lifeboat made for about 40.

Lots of people question why Rose and Jack didn't share the board "because there was room". But what they don't seem to realize is that Jack and Rose DID try to share the door, but it flopped over. There was too much weight. If they both managed to get on, the door would have been about a foot under water, which would have led to both of them dying. So in the end, only one could get on and the other had to stay in the water, so Jack gallantly sacrificed himself. They couldn't take turns either. The water was ice cold, so they couldn't just move back and forth in it. Remember when Rose got off the door to get the whistle? She could barely swim. And even if they could take turns, they both probably would have ended up dying. The thought probably didn't even cross their minds. When you're in that kind of water, "you can't move, you can't think. Well, at least about anything but the pain". Taken from Movie_Buff_Brad's FAQ.

*************************************************************** To get an idea of how difficult it must have been to get onto that door, try climbing onto an inflatable lounge chair when you're in the deep end of the pool. It flips over on you.

Although James Cameron wanted it to be an open interpretation, with the script stating that she might be sleeping or possibly more, many agreed that she died. This open interpretation was an ingenious publicity stunt by Mr. Cameron. I also agree that she died, but with a combination of a dream prior to the death. Many people believed that just the moment before death, the person would imagine their deepest wish to come true at last in their mind. Meeting Jack on Titanic is the most traumatic moment in Rose life, and she must have thought about it so many times. Near the end, we see Rose kept her promise to Jack in living a full life as the camera panned across the photos of Rose's life in America. When the camera came to Old Rose in bed, she was in her last moment before death, and the image of her returning to Titanic and meeting Jack started to form in her mind. After she meet Jack again, the camera panned toward the dome and a great flash of light before the credit. Many people who experienced near death described a great flash of light. That great flash of light indicated her death, that is why a blackout followed and the end of the movie. The combination of dream and death ending fits beautifuly with the theme song My Heart Will Go On "Everynight in my dreams, I see you..." and the keeping of Jack's hope for her- "You're going to die an old lady, warm in her bed"

"Brock's Epiphany" There's an alternative ending on the 2-4 disc special editions. In it, Old Rose is about to toss the diamond into the ocean (like in the movie), but Brock, Lizzy, Lewis and Bobby come and try to talk her out of it. Rose convinces Brock that it has to be done, he asks to hold it for a minute, he does, then Old Rose snatches it back and tosses it into the ocean. Lewis and Bobby run to the stern and watch it sink below the surface, Lewis yells "That really sucks, lady!". Brock then starts laughing, then he asks Lizzy to dance with him, she does. Rose then smiles, looks into the starry sky and sees a shooting star. Taken from Movie_Buff_Brad's FAQ.

In the original video edition released in 2007, a script accompanied the deluxe boxset and this alternate ending is written in the script.