The Road to a Smooth Escape

When Henry stopped dodging and honking his horn, and the road conditions became relatively smooth, he knew he had left the boundaries of New York City.

Don't ask how he managed to find a way out when almost the entire city had to flee. The answer is that his various Super Senses abilities were so powerful that they allowed Henry to move through uncharted territory; plus, he occasionally drove the car like an off-road vehicle, which enabled his successful escape.

In short, once Henry had left Sentry and New York behind, and the road behind him, Henry mood lightened considerably. He was also able to happily chat with Catherine Hepburn and listen to stories from her era.

Moreover, many of the people involved in her stories are no longer alive. She is not as protective of her privacy as she was when she was younger, which leads to many unexpected and juicy stories being heard.

At least, she and Spencer Tracy spent twenty-seven years together as the other woman. Only today can Catherine Hepburn speak of those times without any reservations.

Of course, the conversation was somewhat restrained; at least Henry didn't hear anything risqué. But if he tried to press her for answers, the old lady's Iron Fist was still sharp.

However, Catherine Hepburn was not like most elderly people who always liked to chatter on and on about her past.

She also talked to Henry about recent events.

"I remember you also invested in Titanic, this year's big Oscars winner?"

"Yes. Stark Studios invested $65 million, of which $10 million was my personal money." Henry revealed inside information that most people wouldn't know without any concealment.

As for how much they made, it's hard to say, since the movie is still showing. 20th Century Fox, who relinquished the North America distribution rights, must be kicking themselves.

Relinquishing distribution rights means that the power to manage the accounts falls into the hands of others. It is common knowledge that there are shady dealings involved in the profits and losses of film companies that are difficult for outsiders to understand, and sometimes even insiders stumble on these issues.

Regardless of whether profits are distributed according to investment ratios, if the books are in someone else's hands, some black holes are bound to appear, and profits may be used to cover certain unknown costs.

Although Stark Studios had previously maintained a relatively small size, its production and distribution departments were fully prepared for the release of "Titanic." Henry even expanded the distribution department's staff to ensure that the film could be shown simultaneously in more than 3,000 theaters across North America.

Initially, these actions drew considerable criticism from within the film industry. However, the noise subsided completely once the impressive impact of the Titanic crashing into the iceberg was realized.

Instead, phrases like "he got lucky" and "it was just a beginner's fluke" quietly circulated.

Henry, of course, paid no attention to these voices. He had the benefits in his hands, so what did it matter if those who were envious said a few words?

Catherine Hepburn listened to the person in the driver's seat, who spoke in a tone as if humming a song, and said, "At first I was wondering how someone who doesn't like to adapt her own works into movies could invest so much in a romance film."

"I remember you saying that for movies with a clear historical or story background like this, the most important thing is cost control. If the investment is too large, resulting in an overly high return target, it can easily lead to a second ' Cleopatra ' tragedy."

"But then I remembered you saying that cultural differences are the most important factor in whether an audience can accept a film. And * Titanic * didn't have that cultural acceptance hurdle. Is that the reason for the film's success?"

"The story of Cleopatra isn't exactly a household name for us, but it's certainly widely known. Do you really think that cultural differences are the sole reason for the different outcomes of the two films?"

After thinking for a moment, Henry said, "Perhaps it's because we know too much about the story of Cleopatra. Various official histories,..."

Leaving aside unofficial histories, adaptations, and fabrications, how many people claim to have been this poor woman in a past life?

"While we know the ending of the Titanic, we know nothing about the fate of Jack and Rose. That's why we didn't categorize the film as a disaster movie about a cruise ship hitting an iceberg, but rather as a romance film."

"In a woman's eyes, what she sees is someone who pursues true love and finds a lover willing to sacrifice his life for her."

But in the man's eyes, he saw a poor boy who successfully seduced a rich heiress!

"Whether the background is based on the historical fact of the sinking of the Titanic is not that important. What's important is that director James Cameron used this framework to make a movie that both male and female audiences would want to be the protagonist in, and that's the key point."

After hearing Henry's conclusion, Catherine Hepburn said, "So, even if we changed the setting and didn't invest as much money, this movie would still be a success, right? For example, we could create a fictional cruise ship, switch to airplanes or spaceships, or maybe even the Orient Express."

The Orient Express is a long-distance Europe train service that has been operating since 1883, running from Paris to Istanbul across the Europe continent.

Regarding Catherine Hepburn's statement, Henry said, "The film's success has many factors. But it cannot be denied that the sinking of the Titanic after hitting an iceberg was a major factor in attracting audiences to the cinema."

"The huge investment then made the audience curious about what the film would be like. Influenced by various factors, the film itself was also quite excellent, which led to its success, a feat that is difficult for others to replicate."

"Yes, that's true. I even went to the theater myself, which was a long time ago for me," Catherine Hepburn agreed. She then asked, "With such a large investment, why didn't you let your girls play the leading roles?"

"Catherine, What If...? it were you, at the right age, would you make this movie?" Henry countered.

After thinking it over for a while, Catherine Hepburn sighed and said, "If I actually filmed it, I'm afraid I'll regret it afterwards."

"Yes, that's what I think too, which is why I didn't try to get Charlize that opportunity. But even if I had, there's no guarantee of a good outcome. That famous director isn't someone who compromises easily."

"I believe that; you can see it from his movies."

Maria Stark Tom, who had been listening to their conversation but rarely interrupted, asked, "Catherine, why did you say you'd regret making this movie? Isn't it a good movie?"

"It's definitely a good movie. But everyone will only say it's a James Cameron movie, not a Catherine Hepburn movie. Leonardo and Kate are in for a rough time."