Inspired by the classic pork pie worn by
Gene Hackman in "The French Connection"
Order "The Popeye Doyle" Now
http://www.baronhats.com/pd.htm#ord
“Do you pick your feet in Poughkeepsie?”
With that one off-the-roof line, "Popeye Doyle" slammed into our
consciousness like a rear end collision. Like Bogart's " Rick" in
Casablanca, or Clint Eastwood's "Dirty Harry", Gene Hackman is
forever forged in our minds as the one and only New York Police
Detective Popeye Doyle. Though everyone from Steve McQueen
to Jackie Gleason was offered the role, it is one of those great bits
of movie magic fate that Gene ended up with it.
"The French Connection" was a ground- breaking film in every way imaginable.
Directed by then 32 year old William Friedkin, and written by Ernest Tidyman
(with a little help from legendary director Howard Hawks!), and based on Robin
Moore's true story novel, "The French Connection" broke virtually every rule in
the movie making book. A great movie is one that has a scene that forever
stays in your mind... yet "The French Connection" has a dozen! The "bar bust"
in the beginning (where the now famous "Poughkeepsie" line is first heard coming
from Popeye to a bewildered suspect); to the excruciating ironic inner-cutting lunch
scene between the fancy warm New York restaurant with the French Drug Dealer
Fernando Rey, and Popeye's cold piece of pizza while on stakeout on the freezing
New York street just outside; to, of course the famous car chase, which would
change the course of screeching tires forever.
By the way, the car crash at the intersection was unplanned! The man whose car
was hit had just left his house a few blocks from the intersection to go to work and
was unaware that a car chase was being filmed. Fortunately, these were much less
litigious times, and all the producers had to do to make him happy was pay to repair
his car!
The film went on to win five Oscars® in 1971, including the Best Picture Oscar and
one for William Friedkin's original and intense direction. In a year that produced
"The Last Picture Show" and "A Clockwork Orange", this film's win makes it even
more impressive!
But with all the great direction, writing, editing, and acting... let's face it: What would
"The French Connection be without "Popeye's" famous porkpie hat! Patterned after the
hat that the real "Popeye", Eddie Egan, wore (Eddie, who plays their over-heated Captain
in the movie refused to give up his real hat, and they had to make reproductions), this
porkpie immediately went into "movie hat history". We have made many a porkpie.
From Buster Keaton's, to Johnny Depp's, they are a style of hat that instantly makes
a statement. You have to be a real original to wear one. You have to know who you
are, what you want, and give not a rat's hiccup what anyone thinks of you. If you're
independent, a bit iconoclastic, a strong believer in your individuality, and someone
who takes no "guff" from anyone, especially those in authority... the "Popeye Doyle"
is your hat! "
Inspired by this classic hat from a classic movie, we have created the "Popeye Doyle".
To get just the right stingy brim open telescope shaping we use specially made 100%
Fur Blanks from Europe. These Dark Brown bodies, are then specially treated so we
can create that infamous porkpie "pinch" in the front. The hats come with the over-sized
matching grosgrain ribbon hatband (with the billow-buckle style bowing), a custom
leather sweatband, silk-satin lining, our Lifetime Guarantee, and a Certificate of Authenticity.
We offer it in 100% Dress Weight Fur Felt, or 200XXX 100% Beaver. You can order the
"Popeye Doyle" in one easy payment, or check below for our special FlexPay three
monthly payment program. There's no fee or interest for this service.
Crown: 4” Telescope
Brim: 1 3/4” Urban stingy with Porkpie pinch
Hatband: 2” Grosgrain with billow-buckle bowing
The hat comes in a the original brown, however if you
want it in a different color please e-mail us. mailto:mail@baronhats.com
Original Source:
http://www.baronhats.com/index1.html
Go to the Miscellaneous Photos page
Go to the Collectibles page
