TITANIC
Starring Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bill Paxton, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher
Director James Cameron
Opens Who Knows?
You know how the movie ends, but when will it begin? It's now almost assumed that the greatest gamble in motion-picture history (both Fox and Paramount are paying parts of the $200 million tab) won't be finished in time for its slated July 2 release. So when will we see it? Cameron, who's already waived his fees and profit participation because of rising costs, is knee-deep in postproduction and the stakes are rising like floodwaters. If the release date sails past July 2, Titanic will lose valuable summer running time — and might miss the season altogether. Handling domestic publicity chores, Paramount remains mum on the troubles, and exec producer Rae Sanchini will only say: ''Our goal is to make the best film possible and release it on the best date. We believe this is a year-round movie that could play any time.'' Working on his restaged night to remember since 1991, Cameron first made cash registers ring two years ago when he made 12 deep-sea dives in the North Atlantic to get footage of the real wreck (to be used in the film's modern-day framing sequence, the only portion of the movie in which Cameron regular Paxton appears). Set problems started last August, when the cast and crew on location in Nova Scotia were poisoned by seafood laced with PCP. More recently, Fox's production facility in Mexico underwent a safety investigation after several accidents involving crew members. And while Cameron (True Lies) is no slouch when it comes to action-adventure, the heart of Titanic is...a love story, and one involving non-box office stars DiCaprio (Romeo & Juliet) and Winslet (Sense and Sensibility). Zane, who plays a steel magnate engaged to Winslet, says he recently visited the director's at-home editing studio. ''He's under incredible pressure to get the film cut, but he's still experimenting with it,'' says Zane (The Phantom). ''As the sum of all the parts [we shot] are ultimately collated by our dear captain, I think we're going to be really pleased with it.'' Meanwhile, Hollywood will be enjoying the greatest cliff-hanger of the season. UPSIDE Moving the film out of the summer could boost its chances as an Oscar contender. DOWNSIDE That $200 million would buy 40 sequels to Shine.
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