Sealing the Sale: The Titanic Door’s Voyage from Film Set to Auction Block
The door from Titanic recently sold for $718,750 at a Planet Hollywood auction.
In the film, Rose (Kate Winslet) floats on a door frame while Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) clings to it. Unfortunately, a rescue boat arrives too late for Jack. Rose promises never to let go but eventually frees herself, and Jack sinks into the ocean.
James Cameron filmed the famous door frame scene in a 17-million-gallon water tank, using balsa wood for the door frame. The auction included 1,600 items from various films, such as the whip from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, a bowling ball from Kingpin, and the ax from The Shining, totaling $15.7 million.
The ending of "Titanic" has spawned debate for decades – could Jack have fit on that floating door with Rose, or was he doomed to die in the icy waters of the Atlantic? Now, the controversial prop has a new home: It sold last week at auction for $718,750. https://t.co/zYlUxKc5C6
— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 28, 2024
Heritage Auctions’ recent event broke records for their movie props and costumes auctions, attracting over 5,500 bidders worldwide. The five-day live event at their Dallas headquarters featured rotating auctioneers and was streamed on their website.
The auction house described the Titanic prop as the “hero floating wood panel,” crafted to resemble a famous piece of debris from the 1912 shipwreck. It features ornate floral accents and rococo motifs reminiscent of King Louis XV of France’s reign. Heritage Auctions highlighted its resemblance to a panel at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia, visited Cameron during his film research.
Titanic's 'door' prop that kept Rose alive sells for $718,750. #JoyEntertainment pic.twitter.com/wC40E6IdFR
— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) March 28, 2024
The door sparked fan debate on its buoyancy for Jack and Rose. Measuring around eight by three and a half feet and reinforced with hardwood, it was auctioned as a significant piece, symbolizing the film’s climax, with bidding starting at $90,000.
The winning bidder, who remained anonymous, won the prop with a bid of $575,000 within five minutes, totaling $718,750 after the bidder’s premium. Previously displayed at Planet Hollywood in Orlando, Florida, the prop had been in storage for nearly two decades. Most other Titanic items, including the ship’s helm and costumes worn by DiCaprio and Winslet, were sold. Some items, such as high school yearbooks featuring celebrities such as Steven Seagal, Sharon Stone, and Michelle Pfeiffer and a red thong from The Full Monty, are still available.
In February, the sale of memorabilia from Planet Hollywood’s vaults marked a significant moment for the resort and casino group, according to the chair and co-founder Robert Earl. The items offered were part of Planet Hollywood’s collection, which began with star-studded support in 1991, opening its first location in New York City. Despite expanding to over 100 locations globally, financial difficulties, particularly after the launch of a Las Vegas location in 1998, led to bankruptcy filings and significant losses for Earl. In an interview before the event, Earl described Planet Hollywood’s goal of providing patrons with a red-carpet experience and a connection to celebrities beyond what was available outside of Los Angeles or New York.
It is still being determined what the door will be used for.
