Directors: John & Faith Hubley
Release Date: September 21, 1964
Rating: ★★★★★ ♕
Review:
One of directors John & Faith Hubley’s quintessential shorts,’The Hat’ is one of the most beautiful anti-war films ever made.
It’s an extraordinary blend of beautiful design, modern animation, improvisation and politics.
When a border guard accidentally drops his hat across the border, he and his enemy colleague argue about it and about war in general. Surprisingly, this is an improvised dialogue between jazz musicians Dizzy Gillespie and Dudley Moore, who also provide the film’s great jazz score.
The film’s leisurely speed is refreshing, its painted backgrounds of a snowy landscape are beautiful, the painted looks of the characters highly original, and its vivid animation by veteran Shamus Culhane stunning. All these aspects mount to a great and essential animation film. A classic.
Watch ‘The Hat’ yourself and tell me what you think:
‘The Hat’ is available on the DVD ‘Art and Jazz in Animation’
4 comments
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November 25, 2011 at 23:47
Chris
You can find The Hat on YouTube.
September 14, 2011 at 23:06
Leigh James
thanks for the pointer 😀
September 14, 2011 at 19:45
Leigh James
is it possible to get this film anywhere? I remember it fondly and would like to show my pupils, but have been unable to find this on the internet
September 14, 2011 at 22:18
Gijs
It’s available on the DVD “Art & Jazz in Animation”. Unfortunately, it has been out of print for a long time, and it is currently being sold for ridiculously high prices.
http://www.amazon.com/Art-Jazz-Animation-Dizzy-Gillespie/dp/B00000I20B/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1316031424&sr=1-1