I have seen Titanic countless times over the years. Between experiencing the massive ‘90s movie on the big screen twice, owning it on VHS (remember that double-tape set?), DVD, and Blu-ray, and having access to it on some of the best streaming services, I’ve grown up with this epic disaster and romance film. However, it wasn’t until recently that I discovered the existence of a deleted scene that I totally think should have made the final cut.
No, I’m not talking about the Titanic alternate ending, or one of the more than two dozen minor scenes with the late Bill Paxton that were left on the cutting room floor of James Cameron’s box office juggernaut. Instead, I’m referring to an incredibly tense and awesome fight during the sinking of the famous ship involving Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jack Dawson and one of the movie’s main villains. And after watching it for myself, I’m bummed this wasn’t in the final release.
The Jack Dawson And Spicer Lovejoy Fight Is Seriously One Of James Cameron’s Tensest Sequences
late David Warner) that takes place right after Caledon Hockley realizes he put the Heart of the Ocean diamond in his coat, which he then put Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet), after his fiancee ran off with Jack.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s character’s most badass lines as he punches the mean ‘90s movie villain:
Not only is this line great on its own, but it’s also a great callback to a similar line spoken by Lovejoy after he punched a handcuffed Jack and left him to die in the sinking ship earlier in the night. I’m not saying Jack Dawson wasn’t a great ‘90s movie character before this, but this scene would have made him even more memorable.
I Honestly Think Including The Scene Would Have Made For An Even Better Movie
Though I can totally see why co-editors Conrad Buff, James Cameron, and Richard A. Harris decided to cut this five-and-a-half-minute sequence from the final product (the movie is over three hours long), I think including it would have made Titanic an even better movie. Outside of adding a few minutes to an already exhausting runtime, the fight doesn’t take away anything from the movie, it gives us a great James Cameron scene, and fixes a minor continuity error with Lovejoy’s bloodied face.
I’m not saying I want a five-hour cut of Titanic, but this incredible fight scene should have been included, if only for Jack Dawson’s “Compliments of…” line.