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Tragic true life story behind couple who inspired characters in Titanic

Home> Film & TV

Updated 08:15 20 Jun 2023 GMT+1Published 20:01 21 Nov 2022 GMT

Tragic true life story behind couple who inspired characters in Titanic

The true story has been revealed behind a couple who died onboard the Titanic and were commemorated in the film.

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck

Featured Image Credit: Old Magazine Articles / Paramount / 20th Century Fox

Topics: Film and TV, Sex and Relationships, US News, World News, Titanic

Poppy Bilderbeck
Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.

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The true story has been revealed behind a couple who died onboard the Titanic and were commemorated in the film.

If you made it through the whole of the 1997 romance drama directed by James Cameron without shedding a single tear, then well done, you don't have a heart.

Not only did the film - starring none other than Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio - recall the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912 and deaths of over 1,500 passengers, but the movie also centred itself on the heart-wrenching love story between Rose and Jack too.

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However, there's wasn't the only romance to board the ship.

The true story of another couple has since been revealed.

Ida and Isidor Straus were also onboard the Titanic and were paid tribute to in the 1997 film.
Paramount Pictures/ 20th Century Fox

As well as featuring a scene where Jack paints Rose 'like one of his French girls' and a steamy rendezvous in the back of a car, another couple also makes a cut, spooning one another in bed as the water rushes onto the ship - ultimately deciding to die in one another's arms.

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While the scene isn't entirely factually correct - the real-life couple actually deciding to hunker down for a hug on the deck opposed to back in their room - the shot is based on a real couple named Isidor and Ida Straus.

Married in 1871, the Jewish couple had seven children together. Isidor was 67 when he boarded the Titanic and Ida the age of 63.

Isador refused to get in the lifeboat and Ida resolved to stay with her husband on the sinking ship.
@bearz1066/ Twitter

After the Titanic was struck by an iceberg on that fateful day in 1912, the lives of women and children were prioritised on the lifeboats rescuing passengers from the sinking ship.

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However, due to the Straus' status - Isidor a co-owner of Macy's Department Store located in New York - his chance to escape followed shortly after.

Despite being offered a seat due to his status and wealth, Isidor turned the opportunity down, stating: "I will not go before the other men."

Ida resolved to not leave without her husband and according to Historical Honey, said: "We have been living together for many years. Where you go, I go."

There is a memorial for the Straus' in New York.
Richard Levine/ Alamy Stock Photo

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Isidor's body was recovered after the ship sunk, however, unfortunately Ida's has never been found.

However, their united love lives on in one of the scenes from the 1997 release - not only portrayed as the couple spooning on the bed, but the design for Rose's cabin room onboard the ship inspired by the Straus' actual room which was the best suite onboard the ship.

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677

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