KALININGRAD, February 8: Director James Cameron on Saturday brought his mega hit film Titanic to the Baltic Sea enclave of Kaliningrad -- the place where he said the idea for the film was born, for its Russian premiere.``We began discussing the idea for the film right here in the summer of 1992. The project began here, so it is only right that Titanic first be shown in Russia here,'' Cameron told AFP after arriving in Kaliningrad. The film was given two showings on Saturday in Kalingrad's Zarya theater, a majestic 500-seat structure which was built more that 60 years ago and underwent major reconstruction especially for the screening of Titanic.
The first showing was by invitation only and was seen by guests which included the crew of the Mstislav Keldish and their families. The Canadian director sent more than three tonnes of sound equipment to be installed in the theater for Saturday shows.
It was a gesture which director Cameron said was meant not only to thank the people whomade filming Titanic possible, but also for all of Russia's contributions to the film industry.
``I know that Russia is enduring a low point now, but it has made great Contributions to cinema over the years, and I am glad to bring a little joy to those people who worked with me on this picture,'' he said.
Following the second screening of the film in Kaliningrad, director Cameron flew to Moscow where he will be present for Titanic's official Russian premiere on Monday.
But while the film has only just officially landed in the country, many Russians have already seen it. Pirated studio copies have been available on video for more than six months.
Titanic has been the top box-office draw in the United States for eight weeks, and has earned more than 310 million dollars worldwide since its release, making it one of the highest grossing movies ever.
The film is expected to surpass Steven Spielberg's space drama Star Wars which raked in more than 461 million dollars in the United Statesmarket, followed by two other Spielberg's films ET (400 million dollars) and Jurassic Park (357 million dollars).
The three-hour and 14-minute movie is reported to have cost in excess of 200 million dollars to film, which would also make it the most expensive motion picture ever made.
The film stars Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio as a young couple who meet and fall in love on the ill-fated maiden voyage of the supposedly unsinkable luxury liner.
More than 1,500 of the 2,200 people aboard the Titanic died when the ship struck an iceberg and sank in the Atlantic on the night of April 14, 1912.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
