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) was Paramount and 20th Century Fox's monumental collaboration, directed by James Cameron on what was then the most expensive production in Hollywood history. Released in December 1997, it went on to dominate the box office worldwide and swept the Academy Awards, tying the record for most wins. Its blend of period romance, disaster spectacle, and technical ambition made it a defining cinematic event of the decade, one that reshaped expectations for what a blockbuster could achieve both artistically and commercially.
This 35mm cell centers on Rose DeWitt Bukater, played by Kate Winslet, whose portrayal anchors the entire narrative as both the young passenger swept into the ship's fate and the elder survivor recounting her story decades later. Rose stands as one of the most collected characters from the film, embodying its themes of class, freedom, and memory. A cell bearing her name alone speaks to her presence as the emotional core of Titanic, a keepsake tied directly to the character whose perspective frames the entire film for audiences.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm theatrical release print of Titanic (1997).
Gauge
35mm, confirmed by four perforations per frame on both edges; the strip holds three frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on both edges; spacing appears even and the punched edges appear clean with no visible tearing.
Soundtrack
A variable-area optical track is visible below the picture area, with what appears to be a Dolby Digital data block pattern in the inter-perforation gaps on the lower edge, consistent with a dual-format optical release print.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture at sufficient resolution to quote characters.
Base & colour
The base shows a light blue-violet tint typical of a dyed safety base; the dye image appears neutral with no visible red shift or fading.
Projection history
Light vertical lines are visible across the frame area, consistent with projection wear; no splices or cue marks are seen.
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single shot, consistent with a release print of Titanic (1997).
Era check
The combination of blue-tinted safety base, variable-area optical track, and apparent Dolby Digital inter-perforation data blocks is consistent with a mid-to-late 1990s theatrical release print.
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 000062635
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
