Hoisting the sales

Titanic fever pushes movie soundtrack, books into best-seller lists

The box office is not the only place people are sinking their money for the highest-grossing movie ever.

The success of Titanic, which won 11 Academy Awards Monday night, including Best Picture, is overflowing. The movie's success has increased sales in local businesses that have been capitalizing on the Titanic frenzy.

The biggest sales have been with stores selling the soundtrack for the movie.

"In the history of our store (the Titanic soundtrack) has definitely sold the most of any soundtrack," said Charissa Ondeck, manager of Disc Go Round, 228 W. College Ave.

"When we have it in used, it goes in 30 minutes!" Ondeck said.

The soundtrack contains the song "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion, which won the Best Original Song award at the Oscars.

Noah Krommes, head clerk trainee at Mike's Movies & Music, 210 E. Calder Way, has not seen an increase in demand for movies featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Titanic's leading man, or other members of the Titanic crew.

However, Krommes said the soundtrack from the movie is selling better than any other in the store's past. He said it has been the No. 1 seller since the week it first came out.

In addition to music, book sales have also increased as a result of the overwhelming success of the movie. Last week, nine different books about the Titanic and DiCaprio were on the best seller list, said Laura Bernhard, manager of Barnes & Noble, 365 Benner Pike.

"Titanic has created a whole new interest in the story," Bernhard said.

Ingrid Arndt (junior-biology) said the movie is about an important issue that a lot of people know little about.

- Ingrid Arndt, junior-biology

Bernhard said that due to the movie's Oscar success, she expects the sales to continue at a steady pace in the weeks to come.

The Apple Tree, 136 E. College Ave., has maintained a steady stream of sales from Titanic posters, said owner Earle Harner. Although the sales have not increased since the Academy Awards, he said posters that feature DiCaprio in the new movie The Man in the Iron Mask are selling well.

The Academy Awards may not have been able to increase sales, but expect to see Titanic merchandise well into the future.

"(Sales will) taper off soon but will increase again when the video comes out . . . and again the first time it airs on TV," Harner predicted.