Titanic fans in awe after seeing how 'intense' famous scene was really filmed

Fans of the blockbuster hit Titanic were gobsmacked after a behind-the-scenes clip revealed how one of the film's most nail-biting scenes was shot. The 1997 epic, directed by James Cameron, tells the tragic love story of two young people from different social classes who fall head in love on the ill-fated ship.

The three-hour epic, starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio as Rose Dewitt Bukater and Jack Dawson, follows the ship's maiden journey in 1912, which lasted less than five days, before it struck an iceberg and sank in the freezing North Atlantic ocean. The wreckage now rests 12,500 feet (3,810 meters) beneath the surface.

Cameron was determined to give viewers a realistic portrayal of the sinking, with one memorable scene showing the iconic glass dome above the Grand Staircase shattering as water floods into the ship.

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Terrified passengers are seen clinging to the ornate pillars and posts around the staircase, desperate not to be swept away by the powerful torrents.

A video shared on Facebook gave fans a peek at how the scene was filmed - using roughly 341,000 litres of water to mimic the sinking.

Massive containers of water, placed outside the set, were opened and the water gushed out onto the staircase. The actors, joined by divers in scuba gear, can be heard screaming in fear.

Due to the sheer volume of water used, the scene had to be nailed in just one take.

The Raise RMS Titanic Foundation revealed some behind-the-scenes secrets about the filming of the iconic disaster movie: "The Grand Staircase flood scene (when the glass dome collapses and water bursts in) involved approximately 90,000 gallons of water dumped at once.

"When released the water destroyed the set as this scene could only be done once, since the ornate set was completely destroyed by the rush of water.

"James Cameron himself confirmed in interviews that the Grand Staircase flood was one of the most dangerous and intense scenes they filmed... and it was shot in one take."

The foundation added: "In key scenes, water was released through large valves (like sluice gates) with tens of thousands of gallons at once crashing into sets and actors.

"For most of the major water scenes in Titanic, the actors were told in advance (especially for the big, dangerous ones like the Grand Staircase flood). However, James Cameron had a reputation for pushing boundaries, and some actors have said they weren't always fully prepared for the intensity or volume of the water - even if they technically knew it was coming."

Fans were quick to share their thoughts in the comments section.

One person said: "Having the actors aware water was coming but not just how intense it would be is probably the way many people during the actual sinking figured it. So it generated genuine reactions...vital if you only have one take."

Another said: "Those screams may have been sincere!!"

A third commented: "I remember seeing this in theatres the first time, the moment the glass dome broke my drink spilled in my lap, I quickly jumped."

Someone else commented: "Well it's a good thing they have someone with dive gear on, I can nearly guarantee he was needed. Just watching that scene is terrifying."

And another added: "That's intense."