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Famous movie scene busted; Titanic's Jack could have lived

October 9, 2012 @ 6:39 am (Updated: 11:55 am - 10/9/12 )

One of the most popular movies of all time, "Titanic," was put to the test on "MythBusters."

"MythBusters" does not tackle the issue of why or how the ship sank. No, instead it applies its uber-literal approach to the dramatic climax of the movie - whether Jack had to die.

To set the stage, our two romantic leads, Rose and Jack, are in the freezing waters after the Titanic has sunk. Rose has clambered aboard a makeshift raft but it's not big enough to carry Jack too, so he just has to cling to it.

When a rescue boat shows up, Rose is saved but Jack has frozen to death.

The MythBusters guys do a series of tests to see whether this is really what would have happened.

Here they tell Titanic director James Cameron what their experiments found.

The MythBusters hosts say that they found a way to rig the board Rose was floating on using her life jacket so that both Jack and Rose could be saved.

But Cameron says the MythBusters are missing the point.

"The script says Jack dies. He has to die."

I also think that expecting Rose to give up her life preserver on the off chance that Jack might have also survived is not something the chivalrous Jack would have risked.

Cameron's right. The MythBusters are missing the point.

By TOM TANGNEY

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Comments (11)


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  • TwoTrees wrote...
    I don't think Jack is dead.
    October 9, 2012 6:18 am
    He's an alien in arctic aquatic hibernation.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Lonestar wrote...
    Hypothermia should have killed both of them
    October 9, 2012 7:28 am
    Seriously! Those weren't palm trees in the background.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DJFavorite wrote...
    I agree with Cameron
    October 9, 2012 7:56 am
    As sad as it was, Jack had to die, or we wouldn't of had a movie. But without, watching the Mythbuster episode, I question the solution. They came up with their idea not frozen in the water after the loss of your ship. Would Rose and Jack actually been able to figure out the mythbuster solution? I doubt it.
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  • Stevebo wrote...
    Actually... I think you guys are missing the point of Mythbusters...
    October 9, 2012 10:12 am
    Of course the script said Jack had to die...

    The Mythbusters aren't about what was makes for great cinema or storytelling... they are about testing the cirumstances.

    If you're unable to have fun with that, then Mythbusters isn't for you.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • okisoji wrote...
    Agreed.
    October 9, 2012 11:20 am
    Tangney: missing the point.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Dark Jedi wrote...
    Caledon 'Cal' Hockley survived
    October 9, 2012 10:45 am
    So should of Jack. Maybe on the re-re-release of Titanic, we can have an alternate ending to look at where Jack lives. ;)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    Jack would return many years later looking like Patrick Duffy
    October 9, 2012 12:43 pm
    As the "Man from Atlantis."
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • myopinion wrote...
    Jack Froze
    October 9, 2012 2:35 pm
    That froze I dont care what the Myth Busters say , It was a freezing night so jack had been in the water already as she had been so hypothermya would have set in regarless.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Bremerton Voice wrote...
    Maybe Jack knew but wanted to die...
    October 9, 2012 3:12 pm
    After all he was giving up his carefree single life.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Snout wrote...
    Hid they test that scenario without extra explosives?
    October 9, 2012 3:19 pm
    Sad.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • urvile wrote...
    Someone get Jen Andrews on the phone
    October 9, 2012 3:51 pm
    lol
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }