The alternative ending to “Titanic”: A mixture of confusion that could have made the movie into a disaster
Viewers and reviewers believed James Cameron made the right choice leaving out the alternative ending.
After 25 years, “Titanic” has not lost its crown as a cinematic masterpiece loved by fans. Currently, the movie has accumulated 2.2 billion USD from international box-offices and is sure to be one the the top 5 highest-grossing movies. In 1998, at the Oscars, “Titanic” left a mark with 11 wins across different categories, includingt two most important awards: “Best Picture” and “Best Director.”
While “Titanic” directed by James Cameron was regarded to be “complete” from artistic lens, the director himself actually had a different ending in mind.
In the official ending for “Titanic,” Rose (by Gloria Stuart), now an aged lady, moved to tears the group of researchers under Akademik Mstislav Keldysh when she recalled her short-lived love story with Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio). After the ship sank, Rose (Kate Winslet) had to witness her lover sink to the bottom of the ocean in order to keep her alive. She changed her last name to his and abandoned the life of aristocracy for a life of freedom.
At the end, Rose secretly threw away the rhinestone necklace that the researchers were struggling to find and peacefully fell asleep where she could be with Jack in her “eternal dream.”
In the 1990s, iJames Cameron perhaps was not totally satisfied with the ending and decided to write another, more dramatic and action-packed, alternative. The other ending was released in the Special 10-Year DVD Edition and later appeared on the internet.
In this ending, after finishing the story, Rose walked towards the edge of the ship. When the others approached, she told them not the get any closer or she would drop the necklace.
Rose continued by giving a monologue about her internal conflict whether she would sell the necklace or live in the guilt of lavishing on the fortune of her evil former fiancé. As she was about to throw away the necklace, Brock was able to convince her to let him have a look. Yet Rose still decided to throw it away into the ocean.
Brock could only smile bitterly when the necklace was gone in front of his eyes while his colleagues left in disappointment. Brock suddenly turned to Lizzy and asked if she wanted to dance, reminding the viewers of the scene where Jack and Rose first met. The movie ended with Rose looking up the sky and passed away in her sleep in her cabin.
According to SlashFilm, the movie was lucky when the director did not make the alternative ending the official conclusion. If it had been, the audience would not have been able to connect the dots and understand the message of the movie.
On social media, the audience expressed relief when James Cameron opted for the official ending instead of the alternative one, and claimed this to be a valuable lesson for filmmakers on the importance of making wise and right choices for their works.
Source: k14
