Golden Age of Hollywood Book Club discussion

Hats! Memorable headwear in cinema.

"Some men won't have them in the house. Some men are afraid of them..." (Nichols & May)

Me, I admire well-fitted head attire.

What I'm wearing tonight: French Foreign Legion, legionnaire's desert protection, as I cook mussels in white wine over linguine:




I also own an authentic WWI pilot's cap, (but I don't often have reason to don it)



I'm considering purchasing a pith helmet someday. But I'm not sure I'd be allowed to wear it in public? Might be inferred by some, as an offensive pro-colonialist slur?

What about a turban, Feliks? But maybe not!

Unnngh!

'The Four Feathers' ...was it that fine actor, Robert Donat? Who temporarily donned a turban in that romp?

I feel that one's hat --should reflect 'what you are' in this world.

I'm not a Muslim, so I would not pose as one. Even though I admire and respect that faith.

Jill wrote: "What about a turban, Feliks? But maybe not!"

A couple weeks ago I observed a very tall older man --fitly built, with a steely stride --taking a commanding gait through downtown Brooklyn near where I work.

Ah'm a telling yew whut.

Remarkable about this gent was the size of his gigantic John B. Stetson hat. Enormous. Evidently a Texan tourist.

This was a man who wouldn' take no backtalk. Truly a sight. But his hat! Was the size of a 24 lb ThanksGiving turkey. Rock Hudson size headwear.

Of course --New York being what it is --that same week I somehow saw a black man ...impossible as it sounds ..dressed in the full uniform of a first-century AD, Roman centurion. Skirt and all, like Marvin the Martian.

Gallivanting through the crowd, broadsword held high. Eyes glazed, ablaze with drugs. No one able to explain the apparition.

One other time, (around 5th Ave/Bryant Park) I saw ...DC comics Batman. I donno how to describe it. 2am in the morning. But there he was. 6'7" at least. Cape and cowl and boots.

Ya just never know.

My least favorite headgear - what I had to wear in middle school for my upper jaw 😿

Similar to -

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health...

I can see why that is your least favorite headgear.........ouch!

How about a deerstalker cap, Feliks? I saw a man, not too long ago, wearing one.

I think that would only be effective with the matching rain-cape. Maybe they do that kind of thing at conventions?

Also there's the fact that physically, I look nothing like Holmes. So I suspect I'd create a mighty foolish-looking impression

I have also owned in the past:


~a Greek fisherman's cap (black wool)
~a porkpie hat
~a 'Frank Sinatra'-style fedora (aka 'trilby')
~a 'beanie' cap (like in The Bowery Boys)
~a 'Jacques' cap (the red cap symbol of freedom)

Have you tried a bowler? The only person I ever saw who looked good in a bowler was Patrick McNee (John Steed) in The Avengers tv show.

Naw, but I have two others in mind

~The strange, floppy, desert cap worn by some of the Turkish soldiers in 'Lawrence'.

~The tail-gunner's caps worn by some of the POWs in 'Stalag 17', catch my eye, too.

~US Civil War field caps. Union blue--not Confederate grey, obviously. Not in this day and age. But a female co-worker of mine occasionally wears one of these trooper's lids to our jobsite; creating a 'little drummer girl' effect.

But she's a style maven. I don't know in what situation I myself might try for a Union infantryman's effect. Maybe only if I was in Lisbon where no one knows me might I get away with it.

One more I currently own:

~a fur-lined arctic patrol hat with ear flaps; like you see in 'Gorky Park' or (better known, but I can only infer from stills and trailers) 'Fargo'.

Jill wrote: "The only person I ever saw who looked good in a bowler "

Ugh. Now I recall Malcolm MacDowall and his gang of toughs ... dystopic cosh-boys in black bowlers, army boots, and white mechanic's jumpsuit/overalls. Worst combination ever.

Would make an inexpensive Hallow'een costume, tho

My best costume idea was taping a big clump of white medical gauze over my nose a la Jake Gittes

LOL...........and then you could wonder how many people recognize the character.

Or you could wrap all visible parts of your body in gauze and go as Claude Rains.

A tricorn hat? Nah, they are too ugly.

Anyone know what this style of sunglasses were called? Anyone know where they were made? Possibly, what manufacturer or brand name? Ever seen 'em anywhere, like in a movie?

Saw a young man dressed as Napoleon Buonaparte on the bus yesterday afternoon. Seemed to be a male of Filipino ancestry.

It was odd only because I know of no holiday which falls on yesterday's date which has any connexion.

Also, no current historic film shoots going on in the Big Apple.

Also the outfit didn't fit him very well at all. It was baggy and saggy and seemed to be purchased "off the rack" in a costume store.

That was the tipoff that it wasn't actually Napoleon. I made up my mind that it was not he.

I dig those old-school hardhats --like you can maybe see in that John Wayne/Jim Hutton oil-well movie, 'Hellfighters' ?

They remind me slightly of the French helmets that les poilus wore in 20th century world wars.