10 Dumbest Decisions In Disaster Movies
9. Titanic (1997) - Locking Passengers In The Lower Decks
This next entry is based on the real-life sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic in 1912.
Those travelling in steerage were housed in the lower reaches of the ship and priority was given to first and second class passengers to access the lifeboats when the magnificent liner started to sink. The third class passengers were held at bay by padlocked gates that lead to the higher decks before finally forcing their way through. However, after they had gone, the gates were locked again.
Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) is being held in the brig for a crime that he did not commit when Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet) risks her life to head below decks and release him. However, this means that they then become trapped in the steerage section of the ship whilst it rapidly fills with icy water.
Eventually obtaining the keys to the gate from a guilt-ridden officer (who drops them in the frigid waters), Jack and Rose manage to escape up onto the main deck.
However, locking people in like cattle to prevent them from reaching safety before those of higher social station and then relocking the gates to prevent any stragglers from reaching safety was never a good idea!