The crafts of hat-making and filmmaking have been closely intertwined, ever since the Birth of Film in the late 19th Century. Hats were in their heyday at the time, as the exciting new medium of the motion picture captured and immortalized numerous facets of American life, including daily fashions, of which the hat was an essential component. Although their influence have lessened over the decades, hats still remain an important part of American culture, and consequently its movies. In this series, I will detail movies that possess a strong association with hats, starting with a childhood favourite.

The 1930s and ’40s were a particularly notable era as movies had transitioned to sound, and the fedora was the most popular men’s hat in America. It was during this time that two wide-eyed kids grew up, addicted to Saturday matinee action-adventure serials like Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, and Zorro to name a few.

Years went by, and the two boys became men, but they never forgot those old movies that were a part of their youths. As budding filmmakers in the ’60s, they honed their skills at film schools, far removed from the glamour and corruption of Hollywood. In time, they were called upon to help save Hollywood from itself, and they did. One of them went on to make Jaws, the other Star Wars. After the smash success of their pet projects, they decided to collaborate on a film that hearkened back to those beloved old movies. They knew they had to set it in that time period. So, what would an action/adventure hero from the ’30s look like? Well, he’d have to be strong-jawed and strong-willed, a hit with the ladies, and with film being largely a visual medium, possess a keen fashion sense. And what better way to satisfy all these requirements than by adorning him with an elegant yet strong brown fedora? Add a bullwhip, and the actor Harrison Ford, those are fairly important ingredients, and lo, Indiana Jones was born.

The fedora gave Indy a handsome look, but it also made him a distinctive silhouette, recognizable instantly. The brown differentiated the hat and Indiana from the gangsters and detectives of the old movies, and perfectly captured the character’s ruggedness and spontaneity. It demonstrated that he was concerned with details, but when rules needed to be broken, he would not hesitate. Perhaps unwittingly, he reflected the personalities of his makers, who were themselves academically trained in film school, yet who needed to bend and break rules to get their movies made. Such was the case with Raiders.

The brown fedora has become an icon, a symbol of Doctor Jones. It epitomizes the character and everything he stands for. It is bold, brave, adventurous, and good. It’s beaten up and has had its share of spills, but it keeps on going. It is reliable, dependable, and unflinchingly stubborn. It is Indiana’s most prized possession, even more than the priceless artifacts he hunts on a regular basis. He just doesn’t know it, or at least won’t make that admission. There have been several instances where he has nearly lost it, but he never does. It would be like losing an arm, or a brain. He feels vulnerable, naked without it, and when he wears it, he is stronger, more powerful, able to take on any challenge, be it Nazis, cult leaders, or snakes.

In paying homage to the movies and hats of their childhood, the two filmmakers introduced the fedora to a new generation of film buffs and fashionistas, who have taken this classic accessory and integrated it into their own styles and wardrobes. Popular with men and women of all ages, the fedora endures, evolving to suit the particular tastes of an era, but at the same time referring to that classic epoch that was its pinnacle. Indiana Jones endures in the same way, for he is an evolution of the ’30s action/adventure hero, updated for modern times, while staying true to his roots.

Tags: Edie Hats, Fedora, George Lucas, Indiana Jones, Movies, Silver Screen, Steven Spielberg