<Tr> <Th> Budget </Th> <Td> $1,805,000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> $2,250,000 (US) </Td> </Tr> <P> Titanic is a 1953 American drama film directed by Jean Negulesco . Its plot centers on an estranged couple sailing on the ill - fated maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic, which took place in April 1912 . </P> <P> At the last minute, a wealthy American expatriate in Europe, Richard Sturges (Clifton Webb), buys a steerage - class ticket for the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic from a Basque immigrant . Once aboard he seeks out his runaway wife, Julia (Barbara Stanwyck). He discovers she is trying to take their two unsuspecting children, 18 - year - old Annette (Audrey Dalton) and ten - year - old Norman (Harper Carter), to her hometown of Mackinac, Michigan, to raise as down - to - earth Americans rather than rootless elitists like Richard himself . </P>

When did the original titanic movie come out