Most Hated Ugly Hats ever...

[akaBruno]

I bring this up after trying to fix a hat for a bud. It's a cabella's crushable. He hated the way the sides flipped up on the brim and nothing I tried could keep the buggers down. On top of that the crown was so short that it couldn't even afford a pinch, so I took it out. So after all the washing and stretching, forming etc. I'm thinkin it's lookin good, fittin better. But, what does it remind me of? That hat that James Caan wore in Eldorado. The hat that every character in the movie made fun of.

Hell, I'll wear it. Perfect for a real hot day. I can just soak it down, pop it on my dome and be cool.

BRUNO

 

[Pilgrim]

"My name is: Alan Bourdillion Traherne" (Caan)

"Well, no wonder he carries a knife!" (Mitchum)

One of the great short exchanges in a B western.

(And I got the name spelling from the Internet Movie Database.)

 

[warbird]

"My name is: Alan Bourdillion Traherne" (Caan)

"Well, no wonder he carries a knife!" (Mitchum)

One of the great short exchanges in a B western.

(And I got the name spelling from the Internet Movie Database.)

I agree about the exchange. But I wouldn't call any movie with John Wayne at that time a B movie in the least. Every John Wayne movie at that time was a first run first rate movie.

 

[Pilgrim]

Well, shucks, I'm as big a Duke fan as the next guy - and at age 56 I grew up on his films.

Answers.com defines a B Movie as: B picture, n. A movie produced on a low budget, originally made to accompany the main feature in a double billing.

By that definition, you're right, once he got past the 1939 film Stagecoach, Wayne made very few B movies (although there were some I'd classify that way). I checked a filmography of his, and would you believe he made almost 70 films BEFORE Stagecoach???? Many of those early films were indeed B movies.

And granted, every John Wayne film was a first-run event when it came out - but still, some of Wayne's films are clearly much better than others.

I have never felt that Rio Bravo (1959), El Dorado (1966) or Rio Lobo (1970) were top-rung films (although I thought Rio Lobo was the best of the lot). They're all about sheriffs trying to control a town, and the first two are pretty much interchangeable. Also, I didn't think The War Wagon, The Train Robbers, Cahill US Marshall, McQ or Brannigan were among his stronger films....although some of those are among the films I do like to watch.

What I really enjoy in the older Westerns is the great characters and interplay between them. That's one thing that makes the John Ford pictures great - the relationship between the characters was really the key.

But at ANY rate, if the hat in question looked anything like Caan's hat in El Dorado, I agree that it definitely needed remedial work!!

 

[warbird]

Pilgrim, I don't know if they still have it, but a year or so ago you could get well over half of those John Wayne B movies made before Stagecoach in a box set of DVD's from Wal Mart. I think it was 4 or 5 DVD'd for $12.

You might want to check it out just to add it to the library.

 

[Mark G]

Pilgrim, I have to disagree with you on "Rio Bravo". I think it's up there with Wayne's best films. Much better than the re-make Eldorado.

 

[Pilgrim]

Actually, I really enjoyed both - I just kept getting them confused. it took me until the late 80's to remember which was which!

How can you NOT like a western with Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson (Colorado) in it, much less singing a duet? Top off with Walter Brennan (Stumpy) and it's a hoot. And none of them wore a funny hat like Caan.

I'd classify them as among the "good" movies Wayne made, but not among his best as films. But I sure won't argue with those who place them higher.

Data point: my daughters are 18 and 19 and don't think much of Wayne's movies, but both of them really enjoy McClintock, one of his best western comedies.

 

[akaBruno]

Yea McClintock is one of my favorites too.

Back to ugly hats...

I'll nominate Jed Clampett.

BRUNO

 

[Dr Trinidad]

I have always loved James Canns hat in that movie. The perfect riverboat gamblers hat. I use a Top Hat in the medicine show I perform, but will always love that hat!

 

[jamespowers]

Pilgrim, I have to disagree with you on "Rio Bravo". I think it's up there with Wayne's best films. Much better than the re-make Eldorado.

I agree. Every time the darned movie comes on I have to sit down and watch it. :eusa_clap The all star cast was much better than that of the later movie.
Although I watch the later movie as well. Caan's gun in that movie is hilarious and The Swede is actually a fine artist.

Regards,

J

 

[Mark G]

The song that Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson sing, "My Rifle, my Pony and Me" is the same theme that was used in Howard Hawks "Red River". I just love that.

 

[Mark G]

Oh yeah and back to the thread Wayne's hat in "Rio Bravo" is pretty ugly too, in a great way.

 

[mingoslim]

Pilgrim, I have to disagree with you on "Rio Bravo". I think it's up there with Wayne's best films. Much better than the re-make Eldorado.

Yeah . . . I am a fan of Rio Bravo as well.

 

[jamespowers]

The song that Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson sing, "My Rifle, my Pony and Me" is the same theme that was used in Howard Hawks "Red River". I just love that.

I have that song on my computer. You can see the hat and hear the song at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzW1-BqYmew
I can see what you mean about the hat. The brim turned up in front like that just doesn't cut it.

Regards,

J

 

[jamespowers]

I forgot to include the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKrAUoD5dtc

 

[plain old dave]

I have that song on my computer. You can see the hat and hear the song at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzW1-BqYmew
I can see what you mean about the hat. The brim turned up in front like that just doesn't cut it.

Regards,

J

I like a hat turned up in the front, but then I might just have been in one too many reenactments....

 

[jamespowers]

I like a hat turned up in the front, but then I might just have been in one too many reenactments....

Aw, come on. Even the trailer says its a beat up hat.

Regards,

J

 

[Mark G]

Thanks for the song, made my day,

 

[jamespowers]

Thanks for the song, made my day,

I am glad I could do it.

Regards,

J