The mystery of who drugged the cast and crew of the blockbuster Titanic is Hollywood lore. In 1996 James Cameron shot part of Titanic in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, when someone dumped PCP into the clam chowder the team was sharing on the last night of shooting. Over 50 people ended up in hospital. 

There was a police investigation but the case was never solved. Over the decades theories as to who and why have sprouted. These range from disgruntled caterers to vengeful bikers to insurance scams.

Canadaland decided to take up the case and look for the answer: who spiked the Titanic chowder?

Host: Jesse Brown

Credits: Julian Abraham (Reporter), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Caleb Thompson (Mixing & Mastering) max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)

Additional Writing and Production from Rick Courtney.

Fact checking by max collins

Additional music by Audio Network

More information:

Further Reading:

“Grips are doing wheelies in wheelchairs” - Variety

James Cameron Recalls the Night the Titanic Crew Were Spiked with PCP - CBC

James Cameron on CBC’s The Q - Video

Sponsors: 

MUBI: To stream great cinema at home, you can try MUBI free for 30 days at mubi.com/canadaland.

BetterHelp: Visit https://BetterHelp.com/canadaland today to get 10% off your first month.

Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today. Visit douglas.ca/canadaland to claim this offer

Can’t get enough Canadaland? Follow @Canadaland_Podcasts on Instagram for clips, announcements, explainers and more.

If you value this podcast, support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.