Ever since that fateful night, the mystified Titanic has fascinated generations of those drawn to her tragedy, absurdity, and drama.Time and time again, the disaster has found its way into the minds of storytellers. As film dominated entertainment countless interpretations of the doomed liner have found their way onto the big screen.

In the words of Clifford Ismay:
"Every movie needs a narrative; you need a love story, you need a hero, and you need a coward- your villain".

Titanic (1943) - A WWII Nazi propaganda film which portrays Ismay as a tempermental, snobbish, and demanding businessman- a caricature of negative British stereotypes.

A Night to Remember (1958) - One of the most well-known Titanic adaptions recognized for its technical accuracy. While Frank Lawton's portrayal isn't as exaggerated, Ismay is still depicted as a self-saving coward.

Titanic (1997) - The blockbuster we all know and love! James Cameron's edition intentionally leaned into the dramatic, historical-fiction side, focusing more on a memorable story for wider audiences. In doing so, Jonathan Hyde's Ismay was written as well-meaning but ignorant and arrogant. In this particular case, James Cameron included a scene perpetrating the false idea that Ismay pressured Captain Smith to increase Titanic's speed.

Titanic (2012) - A lesser-known miniseries released to commemorate the centennial of the disaster. In episode two, James Wilby's Ismay makes racist comments to Second Officer Lightoller on the behavior of Italian staff members.
Furthermore, Thomas Andrews warns Ismay of a lifeboat shortage and criticizes the White Star Line for cutting corners in shipbuilding quality. Ismay responds to this rudely by interrupting Andrews and dismissing his concerns.