Matthew McConaughey was favored by the studio, but with support from James Cameron, Leonardo DiCaprio won the role.
Although Reba McEntire was offered the part, she had to pass because of prior commitments. The role was ultimately played by Academy Award winner Kathy Bates.
Winslet contracted pneumonia, probably as a result of spending long hours in chilly water. Most of the other cast members wore wet suits under their clothes, but she did not, probably because the garment would show or create additional bulk.
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The film cost more. In 1997 when the film was produced, it would have cost a high-end figure of about $150 million to build the Titanic ocean liner. It cost around $200 million to make the film.
According to Box Office Mojo, worldwide grosses for the film have reached nearly $2.2 billion.
The film was titled "Planet Ice" in early footage taken of icebergs. It kept that title for a while as misdirection for the overly curious.
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Gloria Stuart played a 101-year-old Rose. The actress was 86 at the time.
That would be Caledon Hockley, or Cal for short.
He was 22.
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She was 21.
It was a huge, perfect blue diamond called the heart of the ocean.
He wins two third-class tickets in a poker game and invites his friend Fabrizio De Rossi along for the ride.
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The song is "My Heart Will Go On." This Academy Award winner was written by composer James Horner and lyricist Will Jenning.
There's a 13-year age gap. Rose is 17 and Cal is 30.
He appears twice, once during the below-decks party, and again waiting for a lifeboat later in the film.
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Paxton and Cameron have had a long and successful association. Paxton's first movie with Cameron directing was the 1984 film "The Terminator." You can see him in an early scene as one of the punks killed when the cyborg (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) steals clothing someone is unlucky enough to still be wearing.
That would be 0. Cameron forfeited his salary (an estimated $8 million), when the film ran over budget.
Although the original plan called for 40,000 gallons of water to rush through the door, Cameron didn't think that was enough. He increased it to 120,000 gallons.
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It won 11 awards, for best: picture, director (James Cameron), art direction, cinematography, sound, sound effects editing, original dramatic score, original song ("My Heart Will Go On"), costumes, film editing and visual effects.
It was No. 1 at the box office for 15 weeks running.
"Avatar" surpassed "Titanic" at the box office. Both were James Cameron films.
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It was nominated for 14. This placed it in a tie with the film "All About Eve" (released in 1950) for most nominations.
The role was played by Gloria Stuart. For her touching portrayal of Rose at the end of her life, Stuart became the oldest actor, at the age of 87, to be nominated for an Academy Award.
Jack shouts "I'm the king of the world!" The American Film Institute has included his enthusiastic proclamation in their list of the top 100 quotes in movie history.
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Céline Dion sang the theme song.
The main staircase was made somewhat larger.
The time is set to 2:20 a.m.
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Robert De Niro was suffering from a gastrointestinal infection and declined the role.
Whether you think the section of wood paneling on which Rose survives the frigid waters was large enough for Jack to climb onto or not, it wasn't just stagecraft. It was modeled after an actual piece of Titanic wreckage.
That would be Gloria Stuart.
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