The Titanic is one of the most iconic movies in the film industry, and if you haven't seen it, it's likely that you've heard about it. The movie is close to hitting its three-decade mark, and people are still arguing whether or not Jack and Rose could fit in the driftwood, and James Cameron may have grown tired of it.
The Experiment
Imagine being James Cameron while watching people fight over an issue that has been going on since 1997 when "Titanic" was released. The scene in question was when all-noble Jack hoisted Rose up the floating door so she wouldn't freeze to death, then dying as a result.
People have been having debates for years, with some saying that Jack didn't have to die since the driftwood was capable of carrying them both, while others say that it would've sunk and Jack would end up in the same place as before, which is what happened in the film.
Cameron decided to recreate the scene to finally put an end to the debate. Under controlled conditions, the scene was reenacted in a documentary for National Geographic called "Titanic: 25 Years Later with James Cameron," as mentioned in Ars Technica.
Two stunt people represented the main characters, Jack and Rose. They even matched the age, height, and weight to make it as accurate as possible. Three internal thermometers were attached to the individuals to monitor their body temperature.
They were put in a tank with cold water and the famous makeshift raft that saved Rose. Ultimately, they concluded that both of them would not have been supported by the raft. Cameron even recreated the test that "Mythbusters" conducted and still proved his point.
Jack Dies Either Way
Cameron believed that there was a scenario where Jack would've survived, which was possible if both Jack and Rose held on to the raft and kept their upper bodies out of the water. Jack could've also survived if he got Rose's life jacket, but there were still a lot of variables.
He also pointed out that it would've been uncharacteristic for Jack to do something that would risk Rose's life. Jack also wouldn't have known what we know about hypothermia now, Cameron added. It's likely that he won't have the energy to find solutions given the freezing cold.
He also dismissed the possible scenarios that could've saved his life, like attaching the life vest under the raft to increase its buoyancy. He said that trying the lifejacket under the boat, therefore, going under the 28-degree water for five to ten minutes will eventually kill Jack.
People have also suggested that they could've taken turns, which is a good idea at first. However, the kind of condition Jack and Rose was in leaves little energy for that kind of work, and they will have to switch every fifteen minutes or so, climbing up the raft at every turn.
Even if people debate about this for 20 more years, the ending would still be the same. As mentioned by James Cameron, the ending would've been pointless if Jack had lived as it was about death and separation, as mentioned in Independent.
He also mentioned that whether he died of hypothermia or a stack fell on him, he still had to die. The outcome was for artistic reasons, and not physics reasons. Although Cameron appreciates that people really loved Jack to the point that it still hurts them to see him die.
