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Ornate door panel which saved Kate Winslet’s character Rose in the Titanic movie sells for staggering sum
There were 325 first class passengers on board the Titanic, of which 202 survived
THE ornate door panel which saved Kate Winslet’s character Rose in the Titanic movie has sold for £570,000.
It was from the classic scene where she used it to stay afloat while her lover Jack — Leonardo DiCaprio — slipped beneath the freezing waters to his death.
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The 8ft balsa wood film prop, based on an actual piece of wreckage, had a pre-sale estimate of £65,000, but it led to a bidding war in Dallas, Texas.
A spokesperson for Heritage Auctions said: "Based on the most famous complete piece of debris salvaged from the 1912 tragedy, this intricately carved prop bears a striking resemblance to the Louis XV-style panel housed in the Maritime Museum in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
"Director James Cameron regularly visited the museum when doing research for the Oscar-winning film, which inspired him to create a similar piece of debris to stage Jack and Rose's emotional final moments.
"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.
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"Both the salvaged piece of debris and the film prop reflect the opulent design scheme of original ship builder Harland and Wolff.
"The iconic prop has caused much debate from fans, many of whom have argued that the floating wood panel could have supported both Jack and Rose - making his fateful decision to stay in the frigid water an empty gesture.
"Cameron would later engage in a scientific study to prove that this plot point was more than just a convenient narrative device."
The Titanic departed Southampton for her ill-fated maiden voyage to New York on April 10, 1912.
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The 46,000 tonne liner struck an iceberg four days later and sank at 2.20am on April 15.
There were 325 first class passengers on board the Titanic, of which 202 survived.
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