MovieChat Forums > Titanic (1997) Discussion > Too bad the movie wasn't based on true e...

Too bad the movie wasn't based on true events

posted 8 years ago by leiney1987
33 replies | jump to latest

I mean as far the jack and rose story goes. That story could have taken place anywhere. Titanic is the greatest true story ever told, it has so much irony and drama on its own. There is literally a hundred different true stories that could have been told instead, like the discovery of the wreck in 1985. The inquiry is also interesting in my opinion, that could have shown different accounts of the events. I would have also liked to have seen how it was conceived, designed, created built and so on. More about the ship itself, the captain, and the white star line. More of the before and after. The movie is called "Titanic" and yet they really don't tell us much about it. Something with the crew and the radio conversations between the Titanic and the Californian. I do fully understand that the type of movie I'm talking about is not what Hollywood is going to produce and wouldn't have done nearly as well at the box office, but whatever. Maybe if a different director has done the movie. The Titanic movie is done very well and the ship looks great but I find this love story to be a waste of time especially now years removed from its original release.

I'm not trying to offend anyone or make fun of anyone's favorite movie or anything, just an opinion.

[–] MoviemanCin 8 years ago

You might want to watch "A Night To Remember". It's the best film about the Titanic IMHO.

Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar and doesn't.

[–] zjb-86543 8 years ago

The reason James Cameron focused the movie on a love story between two fictional characters was because the audience needed someone to care for in the midst of this terrible tragedy. The audience would only understand the depth of the loss if they had one or two characters they cared deeply about.

[–] ANightToRemember 8 years ago

I never really got this complaint. Tons of Titanic movies have focused on fictional storylines and tons of historic movies come out every year with fictional storylines. It's called Historical Fiction and it's been done since people started telling stories. Just because Jack and Rose have a story doesn't make the real stories of the disaster any less valuable.

[–] leiney1987 8 years ago

I understand the concept of historical fiction, the point that I'm trying to make is that in this particular case I personally don't think that it's needed. I believe that the story of Titanic is much more interesting than the fictional love story.

[–] bobbiekaye69 8 years ago

I think what you're talking about defines the difference between a documentary and historical fiction. I love historical fiction, such as that written by John Jakes.

There have been plenty of documentaries made about Titanic, but as Brock Lovett said near the end, "I never let it in." He understood the technical aspects of Titanic sinking, but he never began to comprehend the human loss, until Rose told her story.

I think that's the point of James Cameron's Titanic, to bring the humanity to the story, so that the viewer can feel the loss felt by so many at the time.

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[–] Stenian 7 years ago

I get what you mean, but you can always watch documentaries about the Titanic. There are tons of them.

[–] saikano_75 8 years ago

Then watch a documentary.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] barbarapaulmayer 8 years ago

But James Cameron put a lot of things in there that really happened:

The crew personal really told people who destroyed ship furniture while trying to escape that they will have to pay for the damage.

The stewards really locked some of the doors to the third class, trapping them. Some, however, let the doors open to get third class women and kids through.

There really was an officer that, according to witnesses, committed suicide.

People really refused to go into lifeboats, such as Isador and Ida Strauss.

So, Cameron put in some rather unknown things, but of course, first of all it is a fictional love story.

Titanic was one of the first presentations I had in school, when I was 12 years old, just when the movie came out. A lot of my peers were surprised these things really happened, because they were in the movie, but unknown (that this really happend) to most viewers.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] alexjd_20 7 years ago

I agree with the poster above. One of the many reasons as to why I love this film is because it uses the device of implementing fictional characters to expand on the historical aspects so that we can understand what is going on. Focusing solely on historical figures would have limited our experience as an audience because we would only be confined to their story.

[–] Purplecover101 7 years ago

It was based on true events. Lol the ship hit an iceberg and sunk. Hahaha

Plus the characters were probably based off real people they just used different names and added some twist to it to make it more interesting.

[–] cc1001 7 years ago

Plus the characters were probably based off real people they just used different names and added some twist to it to make it more interesting.

Rose was partly based on Beatrice Wood, who was born wealthy and chose a bohemian lifestyle instead. She died in 1998 - exactly one day after I saw Titanic for the first time. Like Old Rose, she was living in Ojai when she died.

Jack was partly based on Jack London, the author. Like Jack, London had traveled the world at a very young age.

[–] cc1001 7 years ago

...it uses the device of implementing fictional characters to expand on the historical aspects so that we can understand what is going on.

Good, succinct explanation.

[–] Jrdmln 7 years ago

I agree. The love story in the movie wasn't necessary. It also wasn't very believable. A third class passenger would not be allowed in first class in real life. Jack and Rose wouldn't have been able to meet on the Titanic in real life. I think that the movie should have focused on the real passengers and the real events that happened on the Titanic. There were a lot of passengers on the Titanic. It still could have been an interesting movie if it focused on the real passengers on the Titanic. I think that the costumes are good, the music is nice, the sets look like the real Titanic, the special effects in the sinking scenes look realistic, but the story could have been better. James Cameron wrote, directed, and produced the movie. The love story in the movie is very simple. He focused more on the special effects and the sets than the story line. He should have gotten writers to write the story. The story line could have been better if good writers wrote the story. I enjoy watching this movie. The love story is entertaining, but it is not believable enough and it is also not necessary. I mostly watch the movie to look at the ship and to watch the ship sink and not for the love story. The movie could have been written better than it was.

[–] Neelis 7 years ago

A third class passenger would not be allowed in first class in real life. Jack and Rose wouldn't have been able to meet on the Titanic in real life.

From what I've read, the Sunday services lead by the captain in the first class dining room were accessible to all passengers on the ship.

I understand what you're saying, they would probably not have spent an awful lot of time together, but it works the way events unfold in the film.

[–] palisade-1 7 years ago

From what I've read, the Sunday services lead by the captain in the first class dining room were accessible to all passengers on the ship.

The source for that is John Maxtone-Graham, who has written several historical books about famous ships, including Titanic. However, this is not supported by any evidence, either from survivor accounts or documentation from White Star. The first class dining room could never have accommodated a large number of "extra" passengers in any case, and the rules of docking at USA ports required that third class passengers be strictly segregated during the voyage. Maxtone-Graham may have conflated practices on crossings to non-USA destinations by other liners, where the rules were different, and the number of passengers smaller.

Titanic had services in each class. The Captain conducted one in First Class, and Fr. Byles, the Catholic priest we see in the last moments of the film, conducted Mass in both Second and Third class in separate sittings. There was also a protestant service conducted in the second class dining room by one of the assistant pursers.

Lawrence Beesley tells of a man in third class who regularly climbed up the stairs to the gate separating third class from second class, and conversed there with his wife, who had a second class ticket. But that just reinforces the fact that third class was kept separate, though not by means of locking gates; most were more like Dutch doors.

[–] ThrillerTalk (1118) 5 years ago

Third class passengers weren't allowed to go into first class in the movie either. The only reason Jack made it there was because he stopped Rose from jumping over into the ocean earlier in the film then saved her when she slipped while trying to climb back over.

He got the invite to dinner then had to eventually go back to third class. Having to sneak his way back later on to confront Rose. Then it was her that came to him in third class to tell him that she wanted to be with him.

[–] Stratego (29276) 6 years ago

The real stories of the Titanic are MUCH more interesting. The far-fetched romance story wasn't even inspired by reality.

[–] ThrillerTalk (1118) 5 years ago

Well, there are other Titanic options out there for people like you to enjoy.

[–] Stratego (29276) 5 years ago

Wow, are you kidding me??? There can't possible be another movie, tv show or documentary about this totally insignificant footnote in history!

[–] R_Kane (15828) 5 years ago

You’re wasting your time on a Titaniac, Strat. She’s completely invested in the Jack and Rose bullshit.

[–] ThrillerTalk (1118) 5 years ago

yeah, I wish I had some bullshit that was worth as much as the Titanic movie is. Seriously, why are you so angry over other peoples opinion about a movie? It's a movie, and like I said, yes there are other options out there about the history of that ship that you and your buddy over there can check out if love stories aren't your cup of tea.

It should really be as simple as that. Btw I'm not even close to one of the biggest fans of the movie out there I just think it's a decent flick to go back to every once in a while.

[–] Stratego (29276) 5 years ago

Maybe "people like you" shouldn't take it so personally when others don't like this movie.

What makes you think I'm not aware of other options out there? If I know something about the real life stories, I most likely know something about those options. No need for you to point it out to me.

By the way, I don't have a problem with love stories, but with "the far-fetched romance story" that "wasn't even inspired by reality". Mmm-kay?

[–] ThrillerTalk (1118) 5 years ago

It didn't need to be inspired by reality. The writers simply came up with a fictional love story for the exact reasons that's already been explained in this topic. If you're not a fan of it that's your right mm-kay?

Hope you enjoy all those other great titanic stories in the near future.

[–] Stratego (29276) 5 years ago

There didn't even NEED to be a love story! If you're going to do one, why not base it on real life instead of inventing a far-fetched one?

Who says I didn't enjoy all those other great Titanic stories in the past already? Making assumptions is bad, mmm-kay?

[–] ThrillerTalk (1118) 5 years ago

Because they chose not to. Their movie, their way. Anyway, don't worry I'm sure even more non-romantic titanic flicks will become available to you at some point. Stay tuned, and keep your popcorn ready.

[–] Stratego (29276) 5 years ago

Yeah, and like I said in my first post, I thought their choice for a fictional story was uninteresting. You know, it IS possible not to agree with the decisions filmmakers make. And I thought it was a pretty appropriate comment considering the subject of this thread. If you don't like this one, there are many other threads that may be more to your liking. Just grab some popcorn and enjoy those.

I'm not sure why you are so sure there will be other flicks anytime soon. How many Titanic flicks have been released since 1997?

And AGAIN, no problem with a romantic Titanic movie. Real life romance stories can be very interesting.

[–] ThrillerTalk (1118) 5 years ago

what makes you think I don't like the topic? If I didn't I wouldn't have joined in on the conversation. I simply added my 2 cents in response to what you originally posted here because you know, that's the purpose of these message boards. Moving on now.

[–] Stratego (29276) 5 years ago

Not sure what your comment added to the topic or my comment, but oh well. Have fun!