Logo for HistoryGap

Historical accuracy of Titanic

Poster

Characters

Largely not historic

Story

Partly historic

Setting

Largely historic

Historical accuracy of: Titanic

Characters

Largely not historic

Story

Partly historic

Setting

Largely historic
Poster

Characters

False

The characters Jack and Rose

The main characters, Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater, are fictional creations. Their love story and personal experiences are a central part of the film's narrative but are not based on real individuals.

Partly true

The portrayal of J. Bruce Ismay

J. Bruce Ismay, the chairman of the White Star Line, is depicted in the film. While he was a real person, the film's portrayal of him as a villain has been criticized for being unfair and inaccurate.

Story

True

The sinking of the Titanic

The film depicts the historical sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912, after striking an iceberg. This event is the central focus of the film and is accurately portrayed.

True

The iceberg collision

The film depicts the Titanic's collision with an iceberg, which is the historical cause of the sinking. The sequence leading up to the collision and the immediate aftermath are generally accurate.

True

The shortage of lifeboats

The film highlights the insufficient number of lifeboats on the Titanic, which tragically resulted in many passengers and crew being unable to escape. This was a major factor in the high death toll.

True

The ship breaking in half

The film depicts the Titanic breaking in half before sinking, which is consistent with eyewitness accounts and later investigations.

True

The Carpathia rescuing survivors

The film shows the RMS Carpathia arriving to rescue survivors from the lifeboats. This is historically accurate, as the Carpathia was the ship that responded to the Titanic's distress calls.

Average depiction

The depiction of the first-class passengers

The film portrays the lifestyle and interactions of the first-class passengers. While some aspects are accurate, others may be exaggerated or romanticized for dramatic purposes.

Average depiction

The depiction of the third-class passengers

The film also shows the experiences of the third-class passengers. While some aspects are accurate, the film's portrayal may be limited and not fully representative of the diversity of experiences within this group.

Setting

Good depiction

The ship's design and features

The film recreates the Titanic's grand interiors and exterior features with impressive detail, based on historical photographs and blueprints. This attention to detail contributes to the film's visual authenticity.

True

The class divisions onboard

The film accurately portrays the rigid class divisions that existed on the Titanic, with distinct areas and privileges for first, second, and third-class passengers. This social hierarchy played a role in the events of the sinking.

True

The band playing as the ship sank

The film depicts the ship's band playing music as the Titanic sank. This is based on eyewitness accounts and is considered a poignant historical detail.

True

The 'women and children first' protocol

The film shows the 'women and children first' protocol being followed during the evacuation. While not strictly adhered to in all cases, this was the general guideline for loading the lifeboats.

Good depiction

The use of visual effects

The film's visual effects, particularly the recreation of the sinking, were groundbreaking for the time and contributed to the film's immersive quality. The effects are generally considered accurate and impressive.