Everyone,

Remember in the argument with George where there was ANOTHER argument about whether or not Rose, Cal, and Ruth (in the movie) were supposed to be "aristocrats"? Well, I found the proof that they WERE. I went to the "official 'Titanic' webpage," and read the "character biographies." I've put the most important parts in bold. Here's what Cal's says:

Caledon Hockley (Billy Zane) was the 30-year-old scion of a wealthy Pittsburgh steel family. Handsome, self-confident, rich beyond meaning, he aspired to sophistication and insisted on propriety. He found in Rose DeWitt Bukater a suitable young woman to fill the role of wife in his aristocratic future, and he presented her to his peers with the pride of ownership, basking in others' reaction to her beauty and her pedigree. As a wedding present for her, he purchased one of the largest and most valuable diamonds in the world, the legendary blue stone once worn by Louis XVI known as the Coeur de la Mer - the Heart of the Ocean.

Here's Ruth's: Ruth DeWitt Bukater (Alice Krige), mother of Rose, was a society empress from one of the most socially prominent families in Philadelphia. After the death of her husband, her family fell on hard times, but she was determined to achieve financial salvation through her daughter's marriage to Caledon Hockley. A woman who ruled her household with an iron will, she was intolerant of Rose's rebellious nature, and found in Cal an ally in her efforts to control Rose.

Here's Rose's: Rose DeWitt Bukater, born to one of the very best families in Philadelphia, was a mere 17 years old when she became engaged to Caledon Hockley. Intelligent, poised, and beautiful, Rose had been schooled since childhood to be everything a young woman of society was expected to be. Rose's betrothal to Hockley, heir to a Pittsburgh steel fortune, was considered an admirable catch, a perfect pairing of wealth and social position. Yet her spirit rebelled against the rigid confines and expectations of Edwardian society controlling her destiny.

Doesn't this echo stuff that George was saying? I guess the movie did put them in a bad light. That's not very nice. I'm going to have to tell George that on Monday.

Niles

-- Niles M. Gregory (foo@bar.com), January 09, 1999

Answers

Niles, Just thought I'd mention that Alice Kridge did not play Ruth DeWitt Bukater. Her name was Francis Fisher. Thanx for your time.

-- Alicia (alicia@hotmail.com), February 13, 2003.