In 1997, James Cameron directed Titanic, an epic film that intertwines romance and tragedy. Set during the doomed maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic, it weaves a poignant love story between Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater, brought to life by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, against the backdrop of the ship’s catastrophic sinking. This cinematic masterpiece achieved immense box office success and clinched numerous accolades, including 11 Academy Awards.
During the production of the Titanic movie, director James Cameron, along with his crew and cast, faced numerous challenges. Reconstructing the tragic events leading up to the ship’s sinking presented logistical and creative hurdles. However, one particular scene proved to be the most daunting. Cameron and his team had just one opportunity to capture an iconic moment on film before the set was irreparably destroyed.
James Cameron Had Just One Chance To Shoot This Sequence
Shooting the sequences following the Titanic’s collision with the iceberg demanded vast expanses of water. To address this challenge, James Cameron ingeniously constructed an almost full-scale replica of the ship’s exterior at Fox Baja Studios in Mexico’s Baja California. Filming additionally occurred in Los Angeles, making use of locations like the Belmont Olympic Pool in Long Beach and the SS Lane Victory in San Pedro for specific water scenes.
Yet, in the pivotal moment when water engulfed the Grand Staircase, the filmmakers had just a single opportunity as the entire set was destined for destruction. According to Cinemablography, these sets were submerged within a colossal 5-million-gallon water tank.
For added dramatic impact in depicting the Grand Staircase’s destruction, the Titanic production team released a staggering 90,000 gallons of water onto it. This deliberate act spelled the demise of the set, allowing for just a single take to capture the desired effect.
According to reports, the deluge of water forcefully tore the staircase from its steel-reinforced supports. Interestingly, this is one of the film’s rare scenes in which Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet were not involved.
James Cameron Initially Didn’t Want Celine Dion’s Song
After securing Celine Dion to perform the film’s iconic song, an unexpected twist emerged: the writer and director of Titanic, James Cameron, initially opposed having the song in his movie.
He strongly opposed the concept, expressing concerns about the song’s potential commercialization. The director believed that placing the song at the film’s conclusion, given its tragic historical context, would be inappropriate. He drew a comparison to Steven Spielberg’s work, asking whether a song would befit the ending of a movie like Schindler’s List.
Conversely, the director was under pressure from the studio to discover an additional marketing strategy. The solution ultimately rested in the hands of Celine Dion, who could potentially bolster soundtrack sales and elevate the movie’s overall success. Eventually, Cameron was swayed by Dion’s rendition and approved the inclusion of the song in Titanic.
Titanic is available for streaming on Paramount+.
Source: Cinemablography, Billboard
