Hollywood Hats of Fame

By Bennett Owen

It’s said the world is divided into men who can wear a cowboy hat and men who can’t.  Still, most of Tinseltown’s elite has donned one at least once in their careers and sometimes the headgear became just as legendary as the person wearing it. Even Fred Astaire got in on the act…

Credit: ebay

…although he probably should have stuck with the tails and top hat.  Cowboy hats have been an integral part of Hollywood since 1903 and what’s commonly referred to as the world’s first feature film, The Great Train Robbery.

Credit: Hollywood.com

The folks at ‘The Last Best West’ have replicated some of the most famous cowboy hats in movie history, right down to the sweat in the band if you desire. But be warned. If you go to the site, be prepared to spend some time because it is a treasure trove.  Here’s our personal short list of favorite Hollywood headgear:

Clint Eastwood – Pale Rider

Said to be a mockup of the original Stetson “Boss of the Plains” hat.  This preacher’s method of conversion was to shoot first and let God sort ‘em out.

Credit: fridaynightboys300

Money Quote: Coy LaHood: Do you imbibe?

The Preacher: Only after nine in the morning.

Brad Pitt – Legends of the Fall

Widely considered the movie that put Pitt on the A list. His role as Tristan has been described as ‘female Viagra.’ For my money the hat should have won an Oscar…

Money Quote: Samuel Ludlow: Still hung over?

Tristan Ludlow: Still drunk!

Credit: nadinejolie

Val Kilmer – Tombstone

Kilmer channels Doc Holliday in one of my favorite westerns.  The experts’ take on the hat:  “The fedora working to the crown suggests culture and education, and the left turn up on the brim infers a dangerous bent to his personality.” 

Money Quote: Why Johnny Ringo, you look like somebody just walked over your grave.

Credit: BeyondHollywood.com

Clint Eastwood – Outlaw Josey Wales

The hat might not quite fit the Civil War era but it sure does fit Clint’s head to a Tee.  Eastwood has said this is his favorite western and it certainly makes my top five.

Money Quote: Jamie: I wish we had time to bury them fellas.

Josey Wales: To hell with them fellas. Buzzards gotta eat, same as    worms.

Credit: alsolikelife

Robert Duvall – Lonesome Dove

Simply the best western movie, adapted from the best western book ever written.  Duvall’s hat actually started a western cowboy craze with the up front crease.

Credit: 317am

If you’re a My-West regular you’ve seen the following clip before and you’ll see it again. Humor me.

A Texas Legend

by Bennett Owen

Everything’s big in Texas and their heroes seem larger than life as well, spanning the gamut from Davy Crockett to Lance Armstrong. And now a Hollywood legend ranks among them as well…the mighty…the immortal…Robert Duvall.

Dave Rossman /For the Chronicle: Bob Schieffer and Robert Duvall with Lester and Sue Smith, chairs of "An Evening with Legend Robert Duvall and a Tribute to the Texas Epic Lonesome Dove"

He was the guest of honor Thursday evening (Feb. 23) as a part of the annual fundraising dinner to benefit the Texas Children’s Cancer Center in Houston.

Duvall is a native Californian but considers himself an honorary Texan based on his love of Tex Mex cooking.  But Texans revere him for his portrayal of crusty Texas Ranger Augustus McCrae in the western epic, Lonesome Dove.  Austin native, and CBS News personality Bob Schiefer interviewed Duvall, whose money quote for the evening was…”Let the English play Hamlet. I’ll play Augustus McCrae.”

Here’s a compilation of past honorees in the Texas Legends event…

More than 800 people attended this year…tables were going for up to $75,000 and the dress code was “Cowboy Chic”.  The fund raising drive netted nearly $9 million for the Children’s Cancer Center. 

This also allows me the opportunity to show my favorite scene from Lonesome Dove…the smirk of satisfaction on Duvall’s face at 1:38 is positively priceless.