Hats Off & On At The Movies By Cinematic Expert Stephanie Mardesich
January 15th is National Hat Day. There was a time when a lady or gentleman would not be “properly dressed” with out a hat (and gloves for the gals). Partly to display status, yet also pragmatic because a head covering keeps the body warmer in cold clime, and “sheltered” in warm weather.
Hats and head coverings are one of the oldest accessories humans utilize, used for display, ritual, and protection; and denote prestige and style, socio economic status, rustic “salt of the earth” from land to sea.
There was a time when a woman would “buy a new hat” when she was happy or annoyed, for “comfort”, to right a wrong. A true gentleman, a laborer, cowboy, or just an ordinary man would always wear a hat, fundamental to male haberdashery, or to be practical and in films a good prop.
Remember the opening of popular 1950s TV program Father Knows Best when “Jim” would enter and take off his hat, place in the hall closet, put on his comfortable jacket with the patches on the elbow? Business attire included a hat for all the men in those great series like Make Room For Daddy (Danny Thomas), Bachelor Father (John Forsythe). Television has and still does reflect current mores and the movies. Just when the baseball cap in reverse became a la mode is hard to fathom and not so becoming.
As children growing up in the 1950s my sister and I loved spending time in the ladies hat department when shopping with our ever elegant Mother in I. Magnin, Bullocks Wilshire, Saks 5th Avenue where all the lovely chapeaux were on display on special holders. We would politely try them on like we were models and pretend to be (and really were) pretty.
The cinema has often promoted if not dictated fashion trends from the broad shoulders of Joan Crawford and strong female characters (e.g. Mildred Pierce) to the beret worn by Faye Dunaway in Bonnie & Clyde, and of course foot shuffling Diane Keaton as Annie Hall with her floppy broad rimmed hat. Claire Trevor, Academy Award® winning actress of “golden age” (Best Supporting for Key Largo), was known for hats she wore in decades of films, that was a special commentary about her on Turner Classic Films.
A sampling of films that feature hats to consider, and a list follows of more to seek out:
Adam’s Rib (USA, MGM, 1949, 101 min., dir. George Cukor
Happily married husband and wife attorneys, prosecutor Adam Bonner (Spencer Tracy) and defense lawyer Amanda Bonner (Katharine Hepburn) face off in court in a “battle of the sexes” when she represents Doris Attinger (Judy Holliday) who attempted to kill her infidel husband Warren Attinger (Tom Ewell) and Adam is the D.A.
Their perfect marriage is disturbed due to their continuing arguments outside the courtroom. As a conciliatory gesture Adam gives Amanda a very “fancy” hat that comes back to haunt him when she provides it for her client to wear in court. More comic tension from neighbor Kip Lurie (David Wayne) who covets Amanda regales with the original Cole Porter song “Farewell Amanda” that was Academy Award® worthy, though no nod. Screen writers are husband/wife duo Garson Kanin and Ruth Gordon were nominated for Oscarâ for Best Screenplay. Golden Globe® nod for Holliday.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041090/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Borsalino (France/Italy, Adel Productions, 1970, 125 min., R, dir. Jacques Deray)
In 1930 in Marseille, France gangster Roch Siffredi (Alain Delon) is released from prison and searches for his former girlfriend, Lola. (Catherine Rouvel) He finds her with another gangster Francois Capella (Jean Paul Belmondo). The men fight over her though become friendly and form a partnership, fixing horse races and prizefights.
They are contacted by a lawyer who works for the two crime bosses that control all the organized crime in Marseille who suggests the duo should seize control of Marseille's fish market. They succeed but they become too ambitious and try to take control of the meat market whose leader tries to have Capella and Siffredi killed but they succeed in killing him instead. The hoods establish themselves as the new bosses of Marseille's underworld. Capella decides to leave Marseille but is killed by an assassin. Siffredi then decides to leave Marseille himself.
Based on real-life gangsters Paul Carbone and François Spirito, who collaborated with Nazi Germany during the occupation of France in World War II.
Note: The Borsalino (Italian) hat has often been linked to underworld characters, and seen many movies, though probably best remembered in the final scene in Casablanca (WB, 1942) when Rick (Humphrey Bogart) wears his with distinction.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065486/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Easter Parade (USA, MGM, 1949, 103 min., dir. Charles Walters)
Dancing duo Don Hewes (Fred Astaire) and Nadine Hale (Ann Miller) the toast of New York. Nadine wants to a career on her own and ditches Don, who is also enamored of her, bestows her with gifts including an exquisite hat for upcoming Easter parade. He’s angry and says he can take any dancer and make her a “star” and chooses Hannah Brown (Judy Garland) who he sees performing in local bar/café. After much coaching they are successful that Florenz Ziegfeld wants to book the act, however because Nadine is starring in the Ziegfeld Follies, Don declines. He’s now in love with Hannah, though it’s strictly business and Hannah assumes he is still in love with Nadine. In meantime Don’s pal Jonathan Harrow, III (Peter Lawford) has fallen for Hannah, though Nadine makes a big play for him. Romance prevails and the famous Irving Berlin song “Easter Bonnet” culminates the film with parade of beautiful lades in gorgeous hats and of course Astaire in “top hat” (no tails!). You’ll want to sing along!
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040308/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Mad Woman of Chaillot (USA, Commonwealth United Entertainment, 1969, 132 min., G, Brian Forbes)
Eccentric and idealistic slightly mad Countess Aurelia (Katharine Hepburn) believes that good must prevail over evil. She takes a political position against the corrupt powerful leaders of late 19th century Paris by putting them on trial with “unwashed masses” as the jury. Supporting cast includes Charles Boyer, Yul Brynner, John Gavin, Richard Chamberlain, Edith Evans, and Oscar Homolka. The Countess is epitome of chic in the most amazing “chapeau” that’s her trademark accessory. Very entertaining film.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064621/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3
More movies (alphabetical) order to consider that feature hats: (& so many more to consider!)
The Bishop’s Wife (will be featured in Feb. article)
Blondie’s Holiday (Blondie recycles and trims hats to make extra money)
Bonnie & Clyde (beret)
Bye Bye Birdie (Fez in dance number like “Shriners”)
Goldfinger (“killer hat”)
Harry Potter (‘sorting hat”)
Indiana Jones (as much his identity as the “whip”)
The Maltese Falcon ( &“noir” mysteries)
McClintock (and other Western” genre with iconic John Wayne)
Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone starred and made “deerstalker” cap famous)
Singin’ In The Rain (rain hat, 20s “cloche”)
The Quiet Man (hat at the race that Mary Kate puts out and no one picks up)
Thomas Crown Affair (original with Steve McQueen/Faye Dunaway the bowlers like Magritte painting)
Zorro (Tyrone Power starred with Linda Darnell; his unique hat and her ladies Mantilla)
Re: National Hat Day
Stephanie Mardesich, a native of San Pedro from a family who arrived in the harbor area over 100 years ago. An alumna of U.S.C. School of Cinematic Arts; founder-director of the LA Harbor International Film Festival; credited journalist and public relations consultant, she launched "Cinema Stephanie" film critique blogette in 2017. More recently, she created "Eclectic Culture" lifestyle stories and reviews blog. She is also co-producer with Jack Baric (S.P. native and R.P.V. resident) of the oral history project Stories of Los Angeles Harbor Area: For Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (SOLAHA) - Volume II debuted in March 2020
