MovieChat Forums > Live and Let Die (1973) Discussion > Hats off.

Hats off.

posted 9 years ago by nerd-470-402612
7 replies | jump to latest

Just a brief observation. Every James Bond movie usually has an opening sequence of circles ... and James Bond appears in one of the circles, firing a gun ... a signature opening for the films. But until "Live and Let Die," James Bond was always wearing a hat in that opening sequence. This movie is the first Bond movie where the opening sequence shows him NOT wearing a hat. In 1971's "Diamonds Are Forever," Bond does wear a hat in that opening sequence.

Art imitates culture (grin). Sometime in the late 60s and early 70s, the idea that a businessman should wear a hat fell out of favor culturally. And it's not likely to come back in style anytime soon.

P.S. I'm still waiting for one other idiocy to fall out of favor - businessmen wearing "sportcoats" and/or "ties." Neither a hat nor a tie serves any valid purpose and only serves to continue a tradition of silly conformity that makes no sense wardrobe-wise.

[–] vestdennis 8 years ago

All styles make a comeback, perhaps not in their original form. Hats will return at some point.

[–] sillyspaghetti 8 years ago

I'm such a sad bugger and have seen these so many times, I can identify which Bond actor is which, purely from the opening gun barrel sequence. Lol.

[–] andersb-36022 8 years ago

I think with the counter-culture in the mid-late 60s hats generally went out of style like you said which surprised me that Lazenby and Connery (in Diamonds are Forever) chose to wear it for nothing more than conformity is my guess. Roger Moore finally wiped the slate clean by 1973.

Hats are somewhat making a comeback as they are hip with the hipster crowd, especially the young entrepreneur who ironically doesn't want to conform to the old businessmen wear no hats culture of the last 45 years. Business suits are skinny and dapper now not bulky like before also. Sportcoats with open collars/no ties, etc..

On a side note: I hate how Craig did away with the traditional gun barrel sequence at the beginning breaking a long Bond tradition in the process. That sequence basically linked all the Bonds that came before him and now no more, it's just a snippet for the film's featured music credit.

[–] sillyspaghetti 8 years ago

Baron Samedi to his credit (and despite his scariness) does sport a good hat/cravat/suit combo in this when he shows the Death card to Solitaire.

[–] fallguye6011 8 years ago

How about that hat on the bed that scared Rosie Carver out the door. Just a hat belonging to someone with a very small head is all it was.

[–] liscarkat (18489) 5 years ago

OP is correct--the importance placed by many employers upon a silly piece of cloth tied around one's neck is pure idiocy. The sooner this ridiculous custom is discarded, the better.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Oh, there's plenty of conformity in 2020 that has nothing to do with suits or ties. I don't like wearing a suit and tie, but I wouldn't mind seeing folks dress with a little more self-respect, to be honest.