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Although a sizable publicity campaign had already announced the movie's premiere to be in July 1997, both set construction and filming took longer than anticipated. Shooting didn't start until July 1996, so by the fourth quarter of 1996, it was already clear that a summer 1997 release of the movie would only be possible with major cuts and compromises to the film. However, after a very successful preview of a rough cut of the movie, James Cameron convinced the studios that they needed to properly finish the film and many elements in post-production (especially the special effects) instead of cutting them down. The studio then agreed to delay the release until Christmas 1997; the movie Event Horizon (1997) was quickly rushed into production to fill the summer 1997 timeslot that had become available due to this decision.
(at around 2h 30 mins) The elderly couple seen hugging on the bed while water floods their room were the owners of Macy's department store in New York, Rosalie Ida Straus and Isidor Straus, both of whom died on the Titanic. Ida was offered a seat on a lifeboat but refused so that she could stay with her husband, saying, "As we have lived together, so we shall die together." There was a scene filmed that depicted this moment but was cut from the final version. It was Mrs Straus who originally said "Where you go, I go" that inspired Rose's same line in the film.
(at around 2h 35 mins) In the scene where the water comes crashing into the Grand Staircase room, the film makers had only one shot at it because the entire set and furnishings were going to be destroyed.
After finding out that she had to be naked in front of Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet decided to break the ice, and when they first met, she flashed him.
James Cameron went on 12 dives to the real Titanic himself, and found it an overwhelming emotional experience to actually see the sunken ship. During his first trip, he was so goal-oriented that he managed to film the shots he wanted, but as soon as he was back on the surface, he broke down in tears after finally realizing the magnitude of the historic tragedy that he had just witnessed. He ended up spending more time with the ship than its living passengers did.
The scenes set in 1912, i.e. the whole movie except the present-day scenes and the opening and ending credits, have a total length of two hours and forty minutes, the exact time it took for Titanic to sink. Also, the collision with the iceberg reportedly lasted 37 seconds, which is how long the collision scene is in the movie.
James Cameron: (at around 1h 9 mins) Just below Lovejoy during the below decks party, with a gray beard.
James Cameron: Standing behind Fabrizio on the deck waiting for a lifeboat when Murdoch starts shooting.
James Cameron: [perfect cut] Several dissolves between the Titanic on the seabed to the Titanic of the past, and the dissolve from the young to the old Rose.
James Cameron: [feet] The shoe at the beginning, Rose's feet while climbing the rail, Jack's feet when taking off his shoes, Rose's and Jack's feet while dancing.