Join us today on a brief journey through the history of Russian hats in film-making, spanning both sides of the Atlantic. Given their originality, style, and sheer beauty, it’s no surprise that costume designers often incorporate such headwear into their scenes. However, when a movie delves into Russian history and culture, it’s almost inevitable that Russian hats will make an appearance.
Let’s begin our chronological exploration with the 1962 drama, Taras Bulba. This film is loosely based on the renowned short novel by Nikolai Gogol, a pivotal figure in Russian literature. The film’s protagonist, portrayed by Yul Brynner, dons a traditional white Cossack papakha. This particular hat is crafted from sheepskin, resulting in a soft and natural texture. As a result, shade variations are quite common.
Fast forward three years, and we witness the first Hollywood screening of Doctor Zhivago. This drama is based on the acclaimed novel by the 1958 Nobel Literature Prize winner, Boris Pasternak. The film stars Omar Sharif and Julie Christie, who are seen wearing sheared sheepskin and fox fur Russian hats.
In 1969, the world introduced a new James Bond villain in the spy film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The infamous Ernst Stavro Blofeld, portrayed by Telly Savalas, sported a brown Astrakhan fur ambassador hat adorned with a matching collar, all set against a trimmed overcoat. This iconic look exemplifies the art of pulling off a truly sophisticated and elegant appearance.
Despite being filled with clichés, we can’t overlook Arnold Schwarzenegger’s role in the 1988 action film Red Heat. What was likely intended as a high-quality mouton policeman ushanka, appears more like a faux fur replica.
In contrast, the costume designers in 1990 did a much better job. Sean Connery, playing the role of a Soviet submarine captain, accurately portrayed the wardrobe of the highest-ranking Navy officers of the time. In The Hunt for Red October, he wore a mouton ushanka hat with genuine leather on the outer side, which was open-topped. This design is still used in the modern Russian Navy due to its suitability for humid environments.
Another version of Doctor Zhivago aired on television in 2002. In a British miniseries directed by Giacomo Campiotti, Keira Knightley donned a kubanka hat that looked even more striking. Her co-star, Hans Matheson, sported a hat resembling a classic Cossack papakha in style. As far as we can tell, sheared beaver fur was likely used instead of the traditional lambskin, which was appropriate given the setting in the Siberian territory.
That same year, K-19: The Widowmaker military drama premiered. Similar to Sean Connery’s portrayal a decade earlier, Harrison Ford plays a nuclear submarine captain. This time, he wears a Persian lamb trooper hat. While it deviates from the formally prescribed uniform, the hat is still an excellent choice for the cold and windy conditions encountered at sea.
Continuing our exploration of Russian hats in motion pictures, we examine the Russian Civil War drama Admiral released in 2008. In particular, Sergey Bezrukov, as General Vladimir Kappel, wears a traditional Cossack papakha hat. Crafted from black sheepskin, this appears to be a highly accurate reproduction. The same can be said about the entire movie. Anyone interested in this period of Russian history should definitely consider watching the film or the accompanying miniseries.
It’s impossible to list all instances of Russian hats appearing in motion pictures. Therefore, we conclude this piece with the 2012 adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. Keira Knightley looks even more stylish in a silver fox fur hat paired with a matching scarf.