Capt. Smith's demeanor

Doug Criner

Doug Criner

Member
In his photos, Smith appears a bit dour, distant, stern, etc. - lacking of friendliness or personality. Maybe that's how passenger ship captains then were expected to look? Or maybe it was just the culture and sign of the times?
 
Hi Doug,

I've not seen too many photos of people from that era where they were smiling to be honest. It wasn't a "say cheese for the camera" thing. Smith was a popular captain, especially amongs the first class passengers, so I doubt if he was lacking in social grace.

Cheers,
Adam.
 
I've gone back to some photos of Smith. I think I was influenced by his beard and drooping mustache, which to my modern eyes, gives him the appearance of a scowl. Nowadays, not a particularly good look. But I shouldn't have drawn my original conclusion.
 
Guys, I'd chalk it up to culture. Take a look at a lot of period photographs and you'll see much the same thing.
 
According to Walter Lord, he wasn't short of a charachter, only allowing company, while smoking, if it only promised to stand completely still so not to disturb the cloud of smoke floating above his head.
 
Augusto,

After all of those decades at sea, who could blame him for developing a few eccentricities like that? ;-)

And Doug, yes I think you're right. The beard wouldn't have helped.

Cheers,
Adam.
 
As a student of the history of photography, I believe it is a misnomer that it was rare to smile in a photograph in Titanic's time. I have seem many daguerreotypes of the 1840s and '50s showing persons smiling.

Incidentally, I never smile in photos. Unless instructed to do so.

Colin
 
This has nothing to do with the Titanic, but there is a hilarious subplot in the movie A Million Ways To Die In The West about whether or not people should smile in photographs.
 
What would Smith look like without a beard? More professional? Other sea captains at that time had no beards.
 
Aly Jones said:
What would Smith look like without a beard? More professional? Other sea captains at that time had no beards.
Click to expand...
On U tube " making of Night to remember " it is noted that the actor who played Captain Smith is almost his double and even Captain Smiths own daughter was taken aback at how just like her father he was.
 
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Keith H said:
and even Captain Smiths own daughter was taken aback at how just like her father he was.
Click to expand...
Here is a picture of that very moment.
 
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