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04th Dec 2017

The Real Life Story Behind This Couple In The Titanic Will Have You In Tears

Darragh Berry

What do you think when you hear the word ‘Titanic’?

You think of the tragic love story of Jack and Rose, Leo and Kate. The King of The World and the love of his life who he taught how to “spit like a man”.

They were perfect for each other and no matter how many times you watch the movie, you still root for their love even though you know it’s going to end in tears.

And as believable as Jack and Rose’s story is, it’s only fiction. 

However, there is a real love story in Titanic that’s trapped in the middle of the madness when the ship is sinking and people are bombarding the boats trying to keep themselves alive. 

You might remember during the sequence when the band are playing ‘Nearer My God To Thee’, the camera flashes to an elderly couple who are locked in each other’s arms. 

Well, they are based on a real couple called Isidor and Rosalie Ida Straus, who had been married for a staggering 41 years by the time of their death.

Clip via JonRichie94

Isidor was a former member of the US House of Representatives, and was also a co-owner of the department store Macy’s and according to the House’s historians the gentleman took his wife to one of the lifeboats – which were only taking on women and children – but she refused to go without him.

We’re not crying, YOU’RE CRYING. 

A survivor of the sinking ship reportedly told the New York Times: “They were standing arm in arm as the last boat left. She would not forsake her husband. As she refused, she clung to him, and they went down arm in arm with the boat.”

More of their story was supposed to be documented in the movie but you know yourself how long Titanic is and when it came to the editing process, their part was left on the editing room floor. 

We should have never started cutting those onions in the office…

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