Revisiting the 1997 "Titanic" Premiere
This article was originally published on January 5, 2017. We are re-promoting it for the 20th anniversary of Titanic.
This December, Titanic, the movie that made everyone fall in love with Kate and Leo (and made millions hold their pees because the thing was three hours and 15 minutes long), will mark a major milestone. Yes, in the words of Rose, it’s been 84 20 years.
The Heart of the Ocean remains nowhere to be seen, along with Jack’s frozen body. It’s only fitting that you celebrate the movie’s 20th birthday with these vintage photos of what Leonardo DiCaprio and everyone looked like on Dec. 14, 1997, the night Titanic held its premiere at what was then called Mann’s Chinese Theatre. I’ll never let go of Leo’s slightly frosted tips and dreamboat smile.
1. Leo went to the premiere without a date. His days of romancing models were about to begin though.
2. He did his hair. Or rather, someone was paid to do Leo’s hair. Hey, it was the late ‘90s. This look was in. And Leo looked great and was sooooo happy to be there.
3. Elijah Wood was also pretty stoked to be there. Elijah starred in two movies that year: The Ice Storm and the TV remake of Oliver Twist. His biggest movie franchise to date - Lord of the Rings - would not premiere for another four years.
4. James Cameron attended the premiere with his then-wife Linda Hamilton. This was one of the last appearances the two would make together, as they announced their divorce days after James’s Oscar win (and awful, awful “King of the World” speech). It was later revealed that James had fallen for Suzy Amis, who played Rose’s granddaughter in Titanic.
5. Gloria Stuart looked divine. Here she is with the aforementioned Suzy Amis.
6. Maria Shriver wore this curtain thing. Not in style then. Not in style now. Sorry, Maria.
7. The Nanny wore a curtain thing too. But because it’s Fran Drescher, no one dared to say anything about it.
8. Billy Zane’s eyebrows showed up. So perfectly sculpted and planned, unlike Cal’s plot to keep Rose and the necklace.
9. Celine Dion made the premiere date night with husband René Angélil. If you’re a sucker for love stories, do read up on Celine and René’s. (René passed away from a long battle with throat cancer in January 2016).
10. Rupert Everett forgot to invite Julia Roberts to the premiere. Not really, but he should have invited her! My Best Friend’s Wedding was my second favorite movie that year.
11. Ashley Judd and Rupert Everett had a Who Wore It Best face-off. Man, gray was so in that year...
12. Frances Fisher showed off her guns. Ruth DeWitt Bukater was not to be messed with that night.
13. Dustin Hoffman brought the whole fam. Boat crash, a nude sketch sesh, thousands of people freezing to death - sure, it’s a family movie! (For the record, it was rated PG-13).
14. Jennifer Tilly was all sorts of ~goth chic~.
15. Thora Birch came straight from a high school dance. How else would you explain the silk skirt that looks like it came straight from my home ec class?
16. Victor Garber made a statement in monochrome. I think the statement was, "My character (the ship's builder Thomas Andrews) deserved better in the movie and IRL."
17. Christine Baranski slayed in red heels. She’s also carried that fierceness for the last two decades, bringing it to The Good Wife and The Good Fight.
18. Celine and Leo had a ~moment~. I’m pretty sure they were having a nice debate about whether or not Jack had a chance with the floating door.
19. Kate Winslet was MIA. Kate actually missed the premiere due to the death and funeral of Stephen Tredre, with whom she had a relationship for four years. Kate would later make up for this in 2012 at the U.K. premiere of Titanic 3-D. Leo didn’t go to that though.
20. This.
21. And also this. Obviously nothing is really happening in this photo but maybe this was the moment Leo realized he should’ve brought someone - anyone - to the premiere? Or maybe he realized he lost his ticket?
Titanic turns 20 on December 19. Read more anniversary articles here.
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