The other Quartermain hat

[Mike K.]

Still looking for that new safari hat, but I haven't made a decision just yet (indecision may or may not be my problem). I just happened to watch the League of Extraordinary Gentleman this evening and stumbled upon what looks just about right. Very similar to the Quartermain hat of earlier movies, but this one with a single brim. I hope I don't spark a new debate on which is better: single or double brim, Connery or Granger.

 

[Hemingway Jones]

That is a whole lotta brim, Mike K. It looks good on Connery, but may be tough to pull off for the rest of us.

Still, if you like it, pursue it and track your progress.

 

[Russ]

Anything looks great on Sean Connery

I wish he hadn't taken his hat off so early in the movie! I have watched those hat scenes over and over; what a great look, hat, vest, coat, everything! As I recall the hat has a center dent.

The character in the original book is described as a timid man having a short beard and short grizzled hair, and being well past 60 years old when the King Solomon's mines story takes place. So Sean Connery definitely fits the description as far as looks. Of course the characters in the movie are VERY loosely based on the originals, but it's a fun movie all the same.

 

[Mike K.]

I can go to about 2.75 to 3 inches on the brim size. Anything bigger looks like a sombrero on me. This one looks to be about 3.5 inches, something to consider if I go with an Akubra military slouch hat. I'm currently scouting the web for something similar in appearance to this hat - basically a wide-brimmed fedora with pinched crown, olive or dark khaki, and a pugarree band (chin strap optional).

Does anyone have one of the old Banana Republic safari hats that can provide a brim size?

 

[Havana]

When I saw this thread, I thought you were finally addressing the greatest Allan Quartermain: Richard Chamberlain.

I believe his hat is an Akubra Angler. It has the three small vent holes on each size and is a dead ringer for Akubra's santone color. Getting a hat styled like Granger is okay. Mimicking Connery is fine for some. When you're really ready to go first class, step up to Chamberlain's definitive Quartermain.

 

[BellyTank]

...This one looks to be about 3.5 inches, something to consider if I go with an Akubra military slouch hat.

I think you'll find that this one's a fair bit wider-

B
T

 

[johnnycanuck]

Yes indeed it is a fine looking at. I quite liked it as well and was also disappointed that he lost it so early in the movie. The brim is a fair but wider then the Akubra "military", the crown is shaped more like a fedora, the edge of the brim is not bound as it is in the military. The felt looks a lot thicker. But keep in mind you can reshape the "Military" to have that shape of crown.

A few years ago a friend of mind gave me a old black beaver felt cowboy hat. Mangled to death crushed in a box for a few years so I took it and brought it back to life. Ended up being my camping hat. Easy to re-shape. But I did get it to look like the hat in question. so maybe a reshaped cowboy hat will achieve the look. Only thing is the colour. I don't recall seeing a cowboy hat that colour before.
Johnny

 

[jake_fink]

 

[johnnycanuck]

Good Day Mike.
You are still looking for a hat? well have you thought of the Akubra "Territory" in Khaki?
http://www.hatsdirect.com/cgi/products.cgi?view=14&returncat=Akubra+Hats&returnpage=0
Replace the hat band. Try it out and if you don't like the crown shape you can change it, and if you think it is to wide you can trim the brim down. Just a thought.
Johnny

 

[BellyTank]

Or if you have an excess of cash...

This page at Baron Hats-

http://www.baronhats.com/hunter.htm

B
T

 

[BellyTank]

Does anyone have one of the old Banana Republic safari hats that can provide a brim size?

There's one on eBay right now...

B
T

 

[Mojave Jack]

Good Day Mike.
You are still looking for a hat? well have you thought of the Akubra "Territory" in Khaki?
http://www.hatsdirect.com/cgi/products.cgi?view=14&returncat=Akubra+Hats&returnpage=0
Replace the hat band. Try it out and if you don't like the crown shape you can change it, and if you think it is to wide you can trim the brim down. Just a thought.
Johnny

Wow! That Territory has some brim! I was thinking along those same lines when I saw your post, Johnny, though I hadn't seen the Territory.

For my money, the Akubra slouch hat is the way to go. Although the Australian Army is best known for the slouch, it was actully issued to all the Commonwealth troops. A lot of units had their own distinctive bashes, like the lemon squuezer bash that the New Zealanders favor (sheds rain better). You can occasionally see a c-crown bash and a few others in historic photos (See the Australian Federal Police slouch at the Digger History site. Just don't put a Women's Land Army bash on it!

I gotta say, though, Sean Connery sure made that hat work! I'd like to see your hat if you go that route, Mike.

 

[Pilgrim]

That's "Quatermain", folks, with no R before the T.

"The proprieties will be observed on all occasions."
- Barry Fitzgerald, The Quiet Man.

 

[Russ]

Chamberlain's Quatermain, Redford's Finch Hatton

When I saw this thread, I thought you were finally addressing the greatest Allan Quartermain: Richard Chamberlain.

This is the first nice thing I've read about Richard Chamberlain's Allan Quatermain. Most of the reviews out there on the internet are downright scathing. Assuming you are not being tongue in cheek, I might just rent his two DVDs just to check out the clothes, and see if there are not any other redeeming elements.

Robert Redford's hat in Out of Africa is a great candidate for this type of hat (he wears several hats during the movie, but this is the one he wears when he first appears). I bought an Akubra Colly, regency fawn, in hopes of finding something similar, and was very pleased. I think its high crown makes it look much better and closer to the movie hat than Baron's version. Of course, it does not come with a pugaree.

Here's a photo of me wearing it while sketching last year before I trimmed 3 centimeters off the brim. The brim is still plenty wide, believe it or not. This is one huge hat.

 

[Mike K.]

I'll get the pics posted as soon as I get the right hat...definitely have narrowed down the field. Already found the perfect safari jacket to go with it (having sold my old one years ago).

 

[Havana]

Hey Russ, Not to divert the thread here but I need to make it more clear that my comments about Chamberlain as Quatermain were intended to be a joke. His first Quatermain film is blissfully bad with tongue in cheek comments that make you groan out loud. It's actually entertaining as a bad film. The second film is simply pain on celluloid. Chamberlain admitted later that he only did the films to pay for his oceanfront Hawaiian estate. Watch at your own risk.

 

[BellyTank]

Coincidentally- I caught the Stuart Grainger King Solomon last night on TCM Europe- hadn't seen it in its entirity for many years.

I was impressed- liked it a lot.

B
T

 

[Russ]

Ah yes, I Should have known...

Hey Russ, Not to divert the thread here but I need to make it more clear that my comments about Chamberlain as Quatermain were intended to be a joke. His first Quatermain film is blissfully bad with tongue in cheek comments that make you groan out loud. It's actually entertaining as a bad film. The second film is simply pain on celluloid. Chamberlain admitted later that he only did the films to pay for his oceanfront Hawaiian estate. Watch at your own risk.

I may just watch them anyway since I've seen three Quatermain film interpretations so far and have read the book twice. From the photos of the movie on the web it looks like that hat is severely tapered. THAT might bother me a little.

I do wish they would make a movie based one the book a bit more closely. The movies barely scratch the surface.

 

[Mojave Jack]

Coincidentally- I caught the Stuart Grainger King Solomon last night on TCM Europe- hadn't seen it in its entirity for many years.

I was impressed- liked it a lot.

B
T

I rented that Friday night, too! I was surprised to see it in our video store, but there it was so I snatched it up. Actually, the only thing I didn't like was his hat! For the movie it was perfect; beat up, droopy, and with the bodies coming apart. I've seen people wear hats like that, but not here. Anybody have a favorite old hat that looks like Granger's?

After reading this thread I shot Art an e-mail about reshaping my slouch like Finch-Hatton's. Still waiting for a reply (hint, hint. Art? Art?) BT, thanks for posting those pics. I really like the telescope crown with the pinch. That is the perfect bash for my slouch.