Fedora from Last Best West

Fedora

Fedora & Town Hats

In 1882, Victorien Sardou wrote a play called Fedora for the biggest actress of the day, Sarah Bernhardt.

When the play debuted in America, Princess Fedora wore a low-crowned, creased and pinched, small brimmed hat and a fashion trend was born.

By the 1920s and 30s the Fedora was adapted for menswear, and became a crucial part of a mans wardrobe.  It was associated with the tough guy image portrayed by the gangsters, and perpetuated in the films of the day.

We don’t think it is a stretch to say that the classic shape of the fedora crown is the most common crown style seen today. Not only is the fedora a popular hat style, but even smaller brimmed hats can be found using a crown similar to the fedora, as well as several classic cowboy hats styles like our Doc Holiday, Tristan, and the Professor.

You’ve worn the rest – now own the best!

Glenn Ford in, The Big Heat.

Glenn Ford in one of his best roles is dynamite as the crusading detective Dave Bannion, in 1953s classic film noir, The Big Heat.

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The Big Heat

A film noir classic from 1953

Fritz Lang’s classic detective movie, The Big Heat, is a not only a film treasure but also a clever and engaging detective movie.

Glenn Ford stars, and look for a young Lee Marvin in one of his early roles as mob toughie, Vince Stone. Here’s some great movie dialogue as Bannion starts nosing around a suspicious murder.

Dave Bannion: You know, I’ve been meetin’ your kind every day for ten years… scared rabbits that never see anything. You wouldn’t stick out your big, fat neck for anybody, would you?

Mr. Atkins: That’s the truth, but it’s my big, fat neck. So now, if you’re through talkin’, I’ll get back to work.

Dave Bannion: I ought to… [Bannion makes a threatening move…]

Mr. Atkins: That won’t change my story. Cops get paid to take risks – I’m not. You see, I’ve got a wife and kids too.

Bogart

Bogart is Philip Marlow in
The Big Sleep. (1946)

Robert Mitchum

Robert Mitchum shines as Lt. Duke Halliday in The Big Steal (1949)

Here are a few other famous fedoras from “The Big” detective movies of the 40s.

Like the Bannion fedora from The Big Heat, classic fedoras have a fairly consistent style to them.

The crown is generally around 5 inches at its highest, and the snap brim is somewhere between 2 1/4″ and 2 3/4 inches in width. Sometimes wider.

As you can see from the pictures, the front crown pinch can vary, as can the dip of the front of the brim. If you wish different dimensions than those of any of our standard hats, we will confirm them when we confirm your production details once your order comes in.

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Bogart

A classic fedora from the legendary Bogart film, Treasure of the Sierra Madre.

Treasure of the Sierra Madre

Bogart adventure film from 1948

One of our all time favorite films, this hat is a new version of the ratty top that Bogart sports as the living-on-the-edge adventurer, Fred C. Dobbs.

Here’s some memorable dialogue, as the gold fever eats up Dobbs.

Bob Curtin: Wouldn’t it be better, the way things are, to separate tomorrow, or even tonight?
Fred C. Dobbs: That would suit you fine, wouldn’t it?
Bob Curtin: Why me more than you?
Fred C. Dobbs: So you could fall on me from behind, sneak up and shoot me in the back.
Bob Curtin: All right, I’ll go first.
Fred C. Dobbs: And wait for me on the trail? To ambush me?!

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Gene Hackman

Oscar winner, Gene Hackman, as no guff NY Detective, Popeye Dole

Pork Pie

Naturally enough this style of hat got its name from its resemblance to a pork pie.

These small brimmed hats were first seen in the mid 1800s and were a popular British town style hat.

In America they were worn by many soldiers during the American Civil War, and sailors still refer to their white caps as Pork Pies.

Nowadays this style is favored by many musicians, including jazz and blues players, and can sometimes be seen on the heads of stars like Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp. In 1971, Gene Hackman’s portrayal of Pork Pie wearing, tough guy detective, Popeye Doyle got him the best actor Oscar for The French Connection.

  • Big Heat Handmade Fedora

    $355.00$770.00
    Big Heat Handmade Fedora Hat - our take on Glenn Ford's fedora from The Big Heat. {1953} The Big Heat features great fedoras in almost every scene, and this is our take on the Dave Bannion hat.
    • Crown: 5" inches
    • Brim 2 3/4"
    • Hatband: 2" Black grosgrain ribbon and bow.
    • Crown: Fedora
    • Brim: Hand shaped snap brim, with front dip. Bound
    • Color: Granite
    • Personalized with your name inside the crown
    • Hatband not sold separately
  • Fred Dobbs Classic Fedora

    $355.00$770.00
    The Fred Dobbs classic fedora - our version of the classic fedora from the Bogart film, - Treasure of the Sierra Madre. (1948) One of our all time favorite films this hat is a new version of the ratty top that Bogart sports as the living-on-the-edge adventurer, Fred C. Dobbs. A classic movie fedora from the last best west shown here in our rich charcoal color.
    • CROWN: 5 inches
    • BRIM: 2 3/4 inches
    • Hatband: 1" Grosgrain ribbon and bow.
    • Crown: Fedora
    • Brim: Snap Brim, hand shaped
    • Color shown: Charcoal
    • Personalized with your name inside the crown
    • Musician Favorite
  • Rigby Reardon Fedora

    $355.00$770.00
    Rigby Reardon Fedora - our version of the hat from Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid. {1982} Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid may be the cleverest movie in the history of film. This was the first film that cut in classic film scenes and legendary film stars into the plot and dialogue of the story.

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    • Crown: 5"
    • Brim 2 3/4" inches
    • Hatband: 2" Grosgrain ribbon and bow.
    • Crown: Fedora
    • Brim: Snap Brim, hand shaped Open
    • Color: Black
    • Personalized with your name inside the crown
  • Frenchy Custom Fedora

    $355.00$770.00
    Frenchy Custom Fedora. Our take on Paul Henreid’s, Victor Laszlo fedora from Casablanca. (1942) The movie was put into wide release on January 23 1943, and at the Academy Awards of 1944, won 3 Oscars, including Best Film, Director, and Screen Play. Casablanca is perhaps the greatest example of film noir and the use of lighting and shadow is compelling. The scenes are brilliantly staged, and the dialogue is second to none.
    • Crown: 5 inches
    • Brim 2 3/4"
    • Hatband: Black 1" Grosgrain ribbon and bow.
    • Crown: Fedora
    • Brim: hand shaped snap brim with black Bound edge
    • Color: Sand
    • Personalized with your name inside the crown
    • Musician Favorite
  • 4 Corners Fedora Hat

    $355.00$770.00
    4 Corners Fedora Hat - Our Cavalry Fedora We decided to put our own twist on a fedora, and imagined what an old west cavalry trooper might like to wear on furlough. Bowlers are certainly one choice, but we imagined something a little different.
    • Hatband: 2" Grosgrain ribbon and bow.
    • Crown: 4 corner cavalry
    • Brim: hand shaped Open
    • Color: Silver Mist
    • Personalized with your name inside the crown

  • Big Heat Handmade Fedora

    $355.00$770.00
    Big Heat Handmade Fedora Hat - our take on Glenn Ford's fedora from The Big Heat. {1953} The Big Heat features great fedoras in almost every scene, and this is our take on the Dave Bannion hat.
    • Crown: 5" inches
    • Brim 2 3/4"
    • Hatband: 2" Black grosgrain ribbon and bow.
    • Crown: Fedora
    • Brim: Hand shaped snap brim, with front dip. Bound
    • Color: Granite
    • Personalized with your name inside the crown
    • Hatband not sold separately
  • Cimarron Custom Movie Hat

    $355.00$770.00
    Cimarron Custom Movie Hat - Our version of the Yancey Cravat hat from the 1931 best picture winner. This is a very versatile hat style. The crown is a modified tycoon with a big kettle curl and roll to the brim. Musicians seem to favor our Cimarron Custom Movie Hat, and it looks great with a good suit of clothes. Performers hat, Dress Hat, or wear it on the range and impress the critters. What more do you need in a hat!
    • Crown: 4 1/2" inches Modified Tycoon
    • Brim: 3 1/2" Kettle Curl, hand rolled
    • Color Shown: bone
    • Hatband: 1" Grosgrain ribbon and bow.
    • Personalized with your name inside the crown
    • Musician Favorite
  • Pinkerton Custom Town Hat

    $355.00$770.00
     Pinkerton Custom Town Hat hand made by the last best west During the Victorian Era {1837-1901} this short top hat was one of the more common hat styles worn throughout the English speaking world. We have made the Pinkerton Custom Town Hat with everything from a 3 1/4" crown (musician) to a full 6 inch top hat. If you have specific crown and brim measurements, just enter them in the PRODUCTION NOTES below, as you build your hat order. This style also looks dynamite on women, and as a STEAM PUNK hat!
    • Crown: 4" inches Texas Straight
    • Brim: 2 3/4" Hand Shaped Bound
    • Hatband: 1 1/2" satin with bow.
    • Color: Black
    • Personalized with your name inside the crown
  • The General Town Hat

    $355.00$770.00

    The General Town Hat - Short Crown, small brim this design goes back to the mid to late 1800s – and was a favorite hat style during the American Civil War. Striking looking hat, it looks extremely good on women.

    • CROWN HEIGHT: 3 1/2"
    • BRIM: 2 1/2
    • Hatband:1 1/2" chocolate brown satin ribbon and bow with matching bound edge.
    • Crown:Texas Straight
    • Brim:Hand Shaped Bound
    • Color shown: Sahara in 20X beaver fur felt
    • Personalized with your name inside the crown

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