The item in question is a wooden panel from the 1997 film “Titanic,” which lead character “Rose” managed to climb on and survive the ship’s sinking while fellow lead “Jack” clung to it from the water and perished. The panel has been the subject of much debate for more than 25 years – could both characters have fit on it and lived? – and it outsold 1,600 other auction items and costumes from other notable films.
After being in storage for more than 20 years, the panel has found a new home at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Here, it can finally be seen and appreciated by the general public through a special movie-themed display. Other items in the new exhibit include original wardrobe pieces from the film; the lifejacket Rose wore (and actor Kate Winslett signed); and a prop violin signed by all the cast members and the film’s director, James Cameron.
These items join hundreds of others at the museum, which is home to one of the world’s largest permanent collections of Titanic artifacts. Many of those items have incredible historic significance because of their direct personal ties to the more than 2,200 passengers and crew members who were aboard the ship.
What’s the Item?
- This wooden panel is one of the most iconic and talked-about props in Hollywood history.
- It’s an ornate piece of carved wood, which most movie-goers might call the “door” that featured prominently in the Oscar-winning blockbuster “Titanic.”
- The panel helped save the character Rose, portrayed by Kate Winslet, from drowning as Titanic sinks.
- Since the movie was released in 1997, fans have speculated whether Jack, the film’s other main character (portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio), could have fit on the wood panel with Rose, thereby saving his own life.
- Now visitors to the Titanic Museum Attraction can decide for themselves if two people could have fit aboard.
- It’s the focal point of a new display that pays tribute to the saga of “Titanic” movie characters Rose and Jack.
- Why a Piece of Wood?
- The eight-foot balsa wood movie prop was based on the most famous complete piece of debris salvaged from the Titanic, which sank in 1912.
- The intricately carved prop bears a striking resemblance to the Louis XV-style panel housed in the Maritime Museum in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
- Titanic Director James Cameron regularly visited that museum when doing research for his film, and it inspired him to create a similar piece of debris to stage Jack and Rose’s emotional final moments.
What Else Is in the Special Movie Exhibit?
- Several original wardrobe pieces worn by the character Rose.
- The coat worn by the character Cal.
- The lifejacket worn by the character Rose, which was signed by the Oscar-winning actor who portrayed her, Kate Winslet.
- A prop violin used in the movie and signed by all the key cast members, director James Cameron and Celine Dion.
What Else Is at Titanic Museum Attraction?
- More than 1,000 artifacts.
- This attraction houses one of the largest permanent collections of Titanic items anywhere in the world.
Where Did This Prop Come From and Where Has It Been?
- The prop has been in storage for two decades.
- It was acquired in March, at the Heritage Auctions’ “Treasures from Planet Hollywood” auction.
- It was the auction’s highest-selling item, outselling 1,600 key items and costumes from other notable films such as Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
How Do People See It?
- It’s included with regular admission to Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
- The museum is open daily at 9 a.m.
