The Last Run: Harry’s Navy Flannel Jacket
George C. Scott as Harry Garmes in The Last Run (1971).
Vitals
George C. Scott as Harry Garmes, washed-up expatriate getaway driver
Portugal, Spring 1971
Film: The Last Run
Release Date: July 7, 1971
Director: Richard Fleischer
Wardrobe Supervisor: Annalisa Nasalli-Rocca
WARNING! Spoilers ahead!
Background
The Last Run is a relatively obscure crime flick from the early ’70s that starred George C. Scott, fresh off of his Oscar-winning turn in Patton, as a retired Bogart-esque criminal living the easy expatriate life in Europe à la Hemingway when he is called back for the proverbial “one last job”. Of course, anyone who’s ever seen any movie ever knows that “one last job” is never quite as easy as it sounds, and our aging protagonist finds himself facing more than he bargained for when driving escaped killer Paul Rickard (Tony Musante) and his girlfriend Claudie Scherrer (Trish Van Devere) across Portugal and Spain into France.
Based on a recommendation (and the gracious gift of the film itself on DVD!) from Craig, a frequent and astute blog commentor, I was immediately enthralled by The Last Run and paid it tribute with a Car Week post in December 2015 that focused on Harry Garmes’ brown leather jacket and rare BMW 503 roadster. Today’s post breaks down Harry’s look as he speeds through the final leg of his last run.
What’d He Wear?
This outfit is more “business casual” than Harry’s brown leather jacket, dark turtleneck, and khakis from earlier in the film. Harry wears a navy blue single-breasted jacket constructed from soft woven flannel.
Harry Garmes in his zone: behind the wheel of a fast car.
Harry’s navy sportcoat has notch lapels, a welted breast pocket, straight flapped hip pockets, and a long single rear vent that reveals the jacket’s tan lining when blown up by the wind. Each of the distinctive mitred cuffs has a single functioning button, dark blue plastic just like the two in the front.
In case you’re worried that this is a spoiler… uh, Harry has an unfortunate incident with a vat of red paint. Poor Harry!
Harry pairs the sport jacket with a pair of gray wool flat front slacks with side pockets and jetted back pockets. He wears a black leather belt – likely the same from his other outfit – through the belt loops. The trousers have plain-hemmed bottoms with a short break.
Harry crafts a booby trap to ward off his pursuers.
On the second day of Harry’s drive with Paul and Claudie, he wears a light gray acrylic long-sleeve polo shirt, which closes at the neck with two black plastic buttons beneath the large collar. There is also a single button on the inside of each elasticized cuff at the end of the shirt’s long sleeves. The welted pocket over Harry’s left breast also closes with a button. Like the cuffs, the waistband is elasticized.
Harry is stuck sharing a hotel room with Paul and Claudie.
For their final day on the road, Harry swaps out the polo for a cream cable-knit turtleneck jumper. The ribbed wool sweater appears to be a soft variation like cashmere, a luxurious choice that would make sense for an aging career criminal living out his retirement.
Most men wouldn’t choose cashmere for a grease monkey session, but Harry Garmes doesn’t stand on ceremony.
Although he wore desert boots for his first day on the road, Harry opts for different footwear here that fits better with the rest of his outfit. Harry sports a pair of black leather monk strap ankle boots with a single strap on each that closes over the outside through a brass buckle. He also wears black socks.
Harry checks out the BMW.
Perhaps unfortunately, The Last Run clearly shows us Harry Garmes’ underwear of choice: white Jockey briefs with a thin gray stripe around the waistband.
More fortunately, we also get some great shots of Harry’s stainless watch, worn on his left wrist with a steel bracelet. It has a large round silver dial with two sub-dials, and at least one commentor on this blog has stated their belief that it’s an Omega.
Although Harry’s watch and booze leave some speculation, The Last Run makes it clear that our hero prefers Marlboro: the preferred cigarette for American badasses for more than 60 years.
Harry’s only other accessory is the plain gold wedding band that adorns the third finger of his left hand.
Go Big or Go Home
Despite his German car and Spanish gun (a Star Model B, though it’s based off of the very American M1911A1 pistol design), Harry Garmes remains rooted in the grizzled yet honorable cynicism that defined so many great American anti-heroes drafted by Hemingway or portrayed by Bogart. He’s totally abandoned any semblance of hope or religion as he hurdles toward the end of the road on what he knows to be his last run, contently behind the wheel of his prized 1957 BMW 503 convertible.
Henry chauffeurs Claudie to the end of the road.
How to Get the Look
Harry dresses up a little more for his last few days with his guests, showing how a guy can still look nice even when spending the bulk of his time in the driver’s seat.
Harry Garmes proudly stands beside his BMW.
- Navy blue flannel single-breasted 2-button sportcoat with notch lapels, welted breast pocket, flapped hip pockets, mitred 1-button cuffs, and long single rear vent
- Light gray acrylic long-sleeve polo shirt with 2-button placket, buttoned welt pocket, and elasticized cuffs with single inner button
- Gray wool flat front trousers with belt loops, side pockets, jetted back pockets, and plain-hemmed bottoms
- Black leather belt
- Black leather monk strap ankle boots with brass buckles
- Black socks
- White cotton Jockey briefs
- Stainless wristwatch with round silver dial, 2 sub-dials, and steel bracelet
- Gold wedding ring
In cooler weather (or, in Harry’s case, a bullet-flying romp by the sea), a chunky cream cashmere turtleneck sweater would be a great alternative to a polo.
Do Yourself a Favor and…
Buy the movie
Man you read my mind with this post. Love how he dresses down a sports jacket and slacks with the long-sleeve polo and sweater. One question – do you have any idea what the weave is for the trousers? I would have thought that flannel trousers would generally be worn with a flannel sports jacket but the trousers don’t seem to be flannel in the screen caps.
The watch COULD be a 1960s Omega Seamaster chronograph. I’m only about 80% certain, so I wouldn’t put any money on it. So many chronos of that era had similar styling, but the bracelet on George C’s watch has that familiar bead-of-rice pattern.