National Film RegistryLibrary of Congress · Inducted 2017
“James Cameron's epic retold the story of the great maritime disaster and made mega-stars of both its leads, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Their upstairs-downstairs romance transported the audience to another world and time via spectacular sweeping scenes in the bow of the ship and beyond.”
Selected for preservation as culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.
Directed by
James Cameron
Studio
Paramount Pictures · British Film Institute · 20th Century Studios · 195 min
Sources: Wikidata · Library of Congress · OpenAlex. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Titanic (1997) arrived from Paramount and Twentieth Century Fox as one of the most expensive productions of its time, directed by James Cameron and released amid heavy anticipation about whether its scale could match its ambition. It went on to dominate awards season and box office records alike, becoming a defining cinematic event of the late twentieth century and cementing its stars, particularly Kate Winslet, as central to its lasting cultural footprint.
This cell centers on Rose DeWitt Bukater, the film's headstrong protagonist whose journey from societal confinement to self-discovery anchors the entire story. The sketch scene is among the film's most referenced sequences, a quiet, intimate moment that reveals Jack's perspective on Rose and her willingness to be truly seen. For collectors, this is prime material: a 35mm frame tied to a scene fans return to again and again, capturing a pivotal exchange between the two central characters in a story built on their connection.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm colour release print of Titanic (1997).
Gauge
35mm, confirmed by four perforations per frame visible on both edges; the strip holds three complete frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges; spacing appears even; perforation edges appear cleanly punched with no visible tearing.
Soundtrack
Not visible in this capture; the area beside the picture frames is obscured by the bottom edge curl and coloured fringing.
Edge print
Top edge reads, mirrored: KODAK 388 12 [purple square] 1661; bottom edge text is not legible due to colour fringing.
Base & colour
Base shows a cool blue-grey tint consistent with a colour safety stock; the dye image presents in warm sepia-brown tones suggesting some dye shift.
Projection history
Faint vertical lines are visible running through the frame area, consistent with projection wear on a release print.
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames appear to show the same or near-identical composition, suggesting a repeated or near-static shot; content is consistent with a dramatic live-action feature.
Era check
Kodak edge coding style and the cool polyester base tint are consistent with mid-to-late 1990s release print stock, matching a 1997 theatrical release.
Read from the original intake capture shown below. Observations only — film is authenticated, not graded.
This original motion picture film element has been examined and authenticated by Crown Grading in partnership with National Film Vault, and encapsulated for archival preservation.
Why so little survivesRelease prints were leased to theaters, not sold. When the run ended they went back to the distributor to be destroyed, and most were. What collectors hold today came from the prints that escaped that order, and no new 35mm prints of these films are being struck.
CROWN SERIAL 000062628
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
