Los Angeles, Mar 30:
A buyer shelled out $718,750 for one of the most controversial wooden planks in cinematic history: the
door frame panel that saved Rose’s life in the 1997 film Titanic.
Heritage Auctions announced the ornate piece of wood, sold as part of a Planet Hollywood movie
memorabilia auction, fetched the ship-sinking sum after numerous bids.
The prop, made from balsa wood, was based on the “most famous complete piece of debris” salvaged
from the real sinking of the Titanic in 1912, the auction house said.
“Often mistakenly referred to as a door, the ornate structure was in reality part of the door frame just
above the first-class lounge entrance,” the item description reads.
The auction house acknowledged the controversy surrounding the wooden plank.
“The iconic prop has caused much debate from fans, many of whom have argued that the floating wood
panel could have supported both Jack [Leonardo DiCaprio] and Rose [Kate Winslet] — making his fateful
decision to stay in the frigid water an empty gesture,” the description states.
Director James Cameron said he had a scientific study performed in an attempt to put the debate to rest
once and for all.
