'Titanic' prop door fetches $718,750 in auction, reignites debates

Heritage Auctions' recent sale of the famous door from the 1997 film "Titanic" has reignited a longstanding debate among fans.

The prop, a significant piece from James Cameron's romantic disaster film, sold for a remarkable $718,750, outshining other iconic items such as Harrison Ford's whip from "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom."

In James Cameron's film "Titanic," the door serves as a makeshift raft for Rose, played by Kate Winslet. However, it cannot sustain both her and Jack, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, ultimately leading to Jack's tragic death.

Contrary to popular belief, the prop is not an actual door but part of the door frame above the first-class lounge entrance on the Titanic, intricately designed with Rococo motifs.

This sale has renewed discussions over a critical scene in the movie: whether the door could have supported both characters.

Addressing this debate, James Cameron said in an interview with the Guardian, "We did a thorough forensic analysis with a hypothermia expert, and the answer was: there was no way they both could have survived. Only one could survive."

The "Titanic" door was part of a larger auction featuring numerous Hollywood memorabilia, including Nicholson's ax from "The Shining" and a dress worn by Marilyn Monroe.

Social media responses varied, with some users humorously commenting on the auction. One fan on X quipped, "If she'd shuffled over to let Jack on, it might've fetched a million."

Kate Winslet, the actress who played Rose, weighed in on the debate during the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast in December 2022.

She said, "I do have a decent understanding of water and its behavior ... I actually don't believe that we would have survived if we had both gotten on that door."

Source: Newsroom