TMS Retro: Titanic Remains the Ship of Dreams

(Paramount Pictures / 20th Century Fox)

Twenty-five years later, and I think I can safely claim there will be no bigger theatrical phenomenon in my lifetime as gigantic as James Cameron’s Titanic (1997). Youngsters these days are used to a movie being in theaters for roughly 4-6 weeks and then hitting VOD/streaming a month or two later. But Titanic was at my hometown’s theater for an entire year from December 1997 to about December 1998. The hit rounded out to over a billion dollars worldwide by the end of its run, and as the first ever film to do so not counting inflation. When it was on home video another year later, it had to be released on two tapes because of the 3.5 hour runtime. School friends went from spending weekends at the theater for Leo and Kate, to having a new favorite VHS to put on during sleepovers. I know this because I was one of those kids. During a slumber party at my best friend’s house, one other girl and I were the only ones who stayed up late to finish the second tape. Leomania was in full force after Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet (1996) already confirmed the new heartthrob in Hollywood was Leonardo DiCaprio. Kate Winslet received her first Oscar nomination for Best Actress following her nomination for Best Supporting Actress with Ang Lee’s Sense and Sensibility (1995). Cameron proved yet again that he can’t seem to lose and was at the top of his game as the Best Director of the Best Picture of 1997.

And is there another movie outside of The Godfather and Star Wars franchises more recognizable in pop culture osmosis? “Are you ready to go back to Titanic?” “I’m king of the world!” “I’ll never let go, Jack.” “I want you to draw me like one of your French girls.” “I’d rather be his whore than your wife.” That ‘clonk’ sound effect when the guy falling towards the water hits a propeller. Rose’s hand landing on that steamy car window. “Gentlemen, it has been a privilege [blank] with you tonight,” was a meme for a while, as was the whole scene where Victor Garber’s Mr. Andrews explains to the crew how the ship will sink. Whether or not that damn door could have held both Jack and Rose. The theme song of Titanic, Céline Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On,’ is a whole monster of its own, topping the charts worldwide and ultimately becoming the biggest single of 1998. Not only are there various mixes released, but I distinctly remember a version that would play on Radio Disney with lines of dialogue edited in between the verses. I can only compare the hysteria of Titanic to how latter day Great Depression viewers got hyped over Victor Fleming’s Gone with the Wind (1939). The on-screen epic romance would not be captured at this scope again.

But like most popular things, there are nay-sayers and critics. Titanic generally did well enough with reviewers, as you generally don’t get nominated and win a boat load of Oscars with mediocrity. But there have always been those who can’t help themselves from bemoaning. Some critics found the film too much of a spectacle for such a tragic incident in history, which is fair to an extent. Though I think it’s pretty obvious from interviews and documentaries that Cameron is legitimately fascinated and respects the history and technical details of the ship. Journalists and pundits clowned on 20th Century Fox for allowing the filmmaker to spend $200M on his ‘future disaster flop’ [who’s laughing now?]. Film snobs who don’t have time for a ‘sappy’ romance with elaborate costumes and effects. And of course, the Leo haters who just don’t want to be near his overexposure and rabid fanbase. On his podcast with longtime radio co-host Simon Mayo recently, respected film critic Mark Kermode recalled a moment when he bumped into then Paramount CEO and Fox president Sherry Lansing and her husband, William Friedkin [director of Kermode’s favorite movie, The Exorcist (1973)] at an event a year into Titanic’s release. Friedkin had asked Kermode what he thought of Cameron’s picture, which the film reviewer flippantly responded, “Well, it’s not A Night to Remember, is it?” [Referring to Roy Ward Baker’s 1958 version of the same disaster]. A bit later Friedkin cheekily asked Kermode to list what’s ‘wrong’ with Titanic to Lansing, which he did, giving all the usual complaints about the melodrama and bombastic atmosphere. Lansing’s only response was calmly, “Your problem is you’re not a teenage girl.”

(Paramount Pictures / 20th Century Fox)

That comment not only made Kermode speechless, but he admits, completely changed how he critiques film. Maybe films aren’t always made for a general audience. Maybe for a change, James Cameron decided to step aside from the young male movie fans [which Kermode included himself in] he gained from the sci-fi action/adventures of The Terminator (1984), Aliens (1986) and T2: Judgment Day (1991); and appeal to the female viewers as well. If you’re making a big, extravagant reenactment of a real natural disaster, and you want to make sure it makes back it’s huge budget, wouldn’t the easiest way be to make it a love story? The guys will see it for the special effects and action, the girls will see it for the main couple, some people will even enjoy both. Or some not at all. Just like Gone with the Wind, George Stevens’ Giant (1956) and David Lean’s Doctor Zhivago (1965), Cameron knew ahead that to guarantee nearly every butt was in seats for his future money-making epic, it would require a sentimental tone. And for that, he realized he needed his own Scarlett O’Hara more than Sarah Connor and Ellen Ripley. Kate’s Rose DeWitt Bukater had all the beauty, grace, courage and stubbornness of Scarlett, but for a more updated elder millennial crowd. Rose isn’t interested in an unavailable man and mainly just wants to get out of her arranged marriage, and a chance meeting with a traveling artist becomes her gateway. Leo’s Jack Dawson isn’t really that similar to Rhett Butler personality wise, but he is the rogue, adventurous outcast with enough charm and mystique to enthrall our female lead. As I mentioned a while ago in a different piece, Billy Zane’s Cal Hockley is pretty much Gaston from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (1991), but the live-action, 1912 east coast equivalent. Interesting fictional characters opposite interesting real characters and events make for a successful historical drama.

So here we are with our second theatrical re-release of Titanic following the 3D cut in 2012, and another $6M from audiences to now $3B total. In 2017, the National Film Registry chose to preserve the film for being culturally, historically and aesthetically significant. While I do agree the most vocal and avid fans are tweens and teens, even now, impressively enough. I don’t think that age bracket alone could get Titanic over a billion dollars. Clearly various walks of life are enjoying Rose and Jack journey across the ocean this whole time. And, why not? It’s got everything. Spectacular practical and digital effects, a sweeping orchestral score from the great James Horner, one of the best assembled group of actors of the decade, precise art & set direction and costumes, and love for the characters, history and filmmaking. As Kate said in her retrospective YouTube interview for the new re-release: “I’m going to be 50 in a couple years, and people are still talking to me about whether Jack could fit on that door with Rose.”