Since the film’s releaseTitanic” by James Cameron, the Rose / Jack couple is at the center of all attention. However, in real life, it is another couple who hit the headlines with their tragic story, briefly addressed in the feature film.
Titanic : a romance to heighten the emotion
Although the sinking of the Titanic in April 1912, a tragic true story that led to the death of more than 1,500 people, the Rose DeWitt Bukater/Jack Dawson couple never existed. Indeed, these characters interpreted by Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio are straight out of the imagination of James Cameron, screenwriter and director of the film at the 11 Oscars.
To increase tenfold the tragic fate of this liner, Cameron has indeed chosen to put in the foreground a love story between two passengers that everything opposes: the rich heiress and the penniless artist.
The public is passionate about their romanceuntil the heartbreaking outcome that has not finished making us cry hot tears.
If Rose and Jack never existed, similar dramas played out during that fateful night, and many couples were separated, mainly when the canoes left (women and children first) or chose to perish together. The best-known story remains that of Isidor and Ida Straus.
Ida and Isidor Straus: the real tragic story of the shipwreck
Among the images of the shipwreck seen in the film, that of the couple lying in bed, with water seeping into the bedroom, is one of the most striking. What you may not know is that it is inspired by the true story of the Straus couple, who remained united until the end.
Isidor Straus, born in 1845, is a wealthy American businessman, notably co-owner of Macy’s stores. He married in 1870, Rosalie Ida Blun, who became Ida Straus. fusion couple, they are inseparableand write to each other every day when they are not together.
On April 10, 1912, they both boarded the Titanic from Southsampton, in a first class suite, accompanied by their butler and their servantEllen Bird.
“We lived together, we will die together”
The night of the shipwreck, Ida Straus, who nevertheless had a place reserved on board one of the rare lifeboats, refuses to leave her husband. The latter is offered a place at his side but also refuses, “as long as there are still women and children on the ship”. It is finally their servant who will come on board.
At the officer’s proposal, Isidor Straus will declare that he is “no better than another”.
For her part, Ida Straus said:
We have lived together, we will die together.
According to numerous testimonies from the survivors of the sinking, Ida and Isidor Straus settled side by side in deckchairs waiting to be taken by the waters. The image of the film showing them entwined in bed is therefore fictionalized, but Cameron wanted to pay homage to them.
In a cut scene from Titanic, Isidor can be seen trying to persuade his wife to get in a canoe, to which she replies “we’ve been together for 40 years, wherever you go, I’ll follow you.” Check it out below:
Tribute
The body of Isidor Straus has been found, identified, and rests in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York. His tomb also serves as a cenotaph dedicated to his wife, as her body was never found.
In the National Geographic documentary Titanic20 years laterthe couple’s great-grandson, Paul Kurzman, shows James Cameron a very precious object having been found on the body of his great-grandfather: a pendant with his initials engraved on it containing two photos: those of his two eldest children: Jesse and Sara, the grandmother of Paul Kurzman. He said it was the most valuable item he owned.
If you are passionate about the secrets of James Cameron’s film, we advise you to take a look at the alternate ending scene, or the cut scenes that you must have seen.
