In the world of cinema, where success is often measured by box office numbers, the story of the film Titanic is a testament to the power of belief and the impact of a single individual's determination. But here's where it gets controversial: while the movie went on to become a global phenomenon, earning over $2 billion at the box office, many in Hollywood initially doubted its potential. When the legendary producer Jon Landau embarked on bringing James Cameron's vision to life, he faced an uphill battle against the odds.
The late Jon Landau's memoir, set to be published next month, offers a fascinating glimpse into the behind-the-scenes drama. Excerpts reveal a tense atmosphere where studio executives and press rumors cast a shadow of doubt over the project. Landau writes, "The press continued to hound, with reporters infiltrating and ingratiating themselves in search of scoops. Rumors spiraled, and articles reported wildly varying budgets, from $200 million to even more. They compared Titanic, still months away from release, to notorious flops like Ishtar, Waterworld, and Cleopatra."
Internally, Paramount executives shared these concerns, worried that audiences wouldn't embrace a sweeping historical romance mixed with disaster elements. It was in this challenging environment that Titanic's promotional strategy became a sticking point. Instead of a conventional teaser, Cameron and Landau envisioned a riskier promo, one that would showcase the epic nature of their vision. This involved creating a trailer over four minutes long, prioritizing characters and conflicts over fast-cut action beats.
However, the studio had other ideas. They cobbled together their own teaser, which Landau and his team called "the John Woo trailer." It was all flash cuts, pounding music, gunshots, and screams, making the movie look like an action flick set on the Titanic. Landau recalls the initial disagreement with Paramount, where they tried reasoning and then "screaming" at them. But it was the studio's CEO, Sherry Lansing, who ultimately made the decision, allowing the longer trailer to be shown at ShoWest that year.
And this is the part most people miss: it was Kurt Russell, the star of the studio's forthcoming action thriller, Breakdown, who played a pivotal role in turning the tide. According to Landau, as the trailer played to its banquet hall audience, Kurt Russell loudly announced, "I'd pay ten dollars just to see that trailer again." With that, they secured a special dispensation from the Motion Picture Association to release a four-minute-and-two-second trailer to audiences worldwide. Landau writes, "From that day on, every negative article about the film ended with the sentiment that the movie might actually be good. It was a real turning point."
The Bigger Picture by Jon Landau will be published on November 4, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Titanic and the power of belief in the face of doubt.
