Tagged: Con Man
Robert Redford’s Gray Suit in The Sting
Robert Redford as Johnny Hooker in The Sting (1973).
Yesterday was the 77th birthday of BAMF Style favorite Robert Redford. With a resume including the Sundance Kid, Jay Gatsby, Three Days of the Condor, Havana, and – of course – The Sting, Redford provides plenty of material for sartorial BAMFery.
Vitals
Robert Redford as Johnny Hooker, small-time Depression-era grifter
Chicago, September 1936
Film: The Sting
Release Date: December 25, 1973
Director: George Roy Hill
Costume Designer: Edith Head
Background
The Sting has always been one of my favorite films and was one of the first to convince me to wear suits more often. Continue reading
Rusty’s Airport Attire in Ocean’s Thirteen
Brad Pitt oozes cool as “Rusty” Ryan in Ocean’s Thirteen (2007) in Vegas’s McCarran International Airport. Hey, Sopranos fans – am I crazy or does the guy sitting behind him look exactly like Meadow’s friend Noah from season 3?
Vitals
Brad Pitt as Robert “Rusty” Ryan, casino heister and hotel manager
Las Vegas, July 2007
Film: Ocean’s Thirteen
Release Date: June 8, 2007
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Costume Designer: Louise Frogley
Background
Possibly still smarting from Danny’s remark about “Ted Nugent’s shirt” at the end of Ocean’s Eleven, Rusty has relatively toned down his attire for Ocean’s Thirteen. I say “relatively” because he still wears white suits and shirts that reflect better than most mirrors, but it is also primarily solids, with a subtle stripe thrown in occasionally.
For much of Ocean’s Thirteen, and especially the final scene, Rusty embraces the summer climate and wears a lot of bright earth tones. It is a very cool look and, as usual for Brad Pitt, is risky for the standard layman to execute successfully. However, Rusty’s confidence and – dare I say – swagger work in his favor and even Roman Nagel has to admit early on that Rusty “has style”. Continue reading
Sinatra’s Dark Gray Ocean’s Eleven Suit
Today marks the sad anniversary of 15 years since the death of the legendary Frank Sinatra. To pay tribute to the man, here is another installment from the original Ocean’s Eleven.
Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean in the original Ocean’s Eleven (1960).
Vitals
Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean, smooth-talking con man and casino heister
Las Vegas, New Year’s 1960
Film: Ocean’s Eleven
Release Date: August 10, 1960
Director: Lewis Milestone
Costume Designer: Howard Shoup
Tailor: Sy Devore
Background
A great suit is great not just only for looking good but also for its versatility. In several key scenes in Ocean’s Eleven, Sinatra wears a sharp gray suit, the same suit seen in the iconic Rat Pack poster of all five members standing in front of a sign for the Sands in Vegas. What makes this suit diverse is that Sinatra’s character, Danny Ocean, wears it for both a night at the casino and the funeral of an old buddy.
In an interesting reversal, the original Ocean’s Eleven is actually darker than the modern remake. According to Frank Sinatra, Jr., in the DVD commentary, Danny and his men were to charter a plane, flown by one of the “eleven”, and get the stolen money out of Vegas successfully. Unfortunately, the entire group would then be killed in a plane crash.
Other than the irony, there’s not really much that is very funny about this ending. After it was decided that no one really cared for it, an alternate ending was developed. The new ending still featured death, but only one compared to eleven. This sort of black comedy was not very common in 1960, and the Rat Pack handled it perfectly. They would be the perfect guys to defy cinematic conventions and say, “Fuck it. Someone’s gotta die for this movie.”
What’d He Wear?
Sinatra wears a dark gray wool suit, tailored for him by the legendary Sy Devore. Continue reading
Clooney hits A.C. in Ocean’s Eleven
Today is the 52nd birthday of George Clooney, a guy who typically tops the lists of modern men’s style icons.
George Clooney at the tables as Danny Ocean in the 2001 Ocean’s Eleven remake.
Vitals
George Clooney as Danny Ocean, paroled con man and casino heister
Atlantic City, Spring 2001
Film: Ocean’s Eleven
Release Date: December 7, 2001
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Costume Designer: Jeffrey Kurland
Background
For all of the fanfare he gets as an icon of men’s style these days, I’m a little surprised it took me this long to write something about Mr. Clooney.
The 2001 remake of Ocean’s Eleven needs little introduction. As one of the very few remakes widely considered to surpass the original in terms of quality (although the Rat Pack is a lot of fun to watch in their 1960 version), Steven Soderbergh’s heist film paved the way for a number of similar heist films to pop up in cineplexes throughout the early 21st century, most notably The Italian Job and the rest of the “Ocean’s Trilogy”. Continue reading
Paul Newman’s Brown Glen Plaid Suit in The Sting
January 26 would have been the 88th birthday of award-winning actor, director, race car driver, salad dressing mogul, and all-around great guy Paul Newman. To pay tribute to one of the greatest American entertainers, BAMF Style presents Newman from one of his greatest scenes ever in one of the greatest movies ever.
Paul Newman as Henry Gondorff in The Sting (1973).
Vitals
Paul Newman as Henry Gondorff, alias “Shaw”, ex-grifter getting back into the “big con”
Chicago, September 1936
Film: The Sting
Release Date: December 25, 1973
Director: George Roy Hill
Costume Designer: Edith Head
Background
The Sting, directed by George Roy Hill, has long been one of my favorite films and likely began my interest in the sartorial arts, as discussed in an earlier post focusing on Robert Redford’s character, Johnny Hooker. The characters run the gamut of 1930s fashion, from skid row to black tie, assisted with the expert eye and hands of costumer Edith Head, who won an Academy Award for her work on the film.
This sequence contains one of my favorite scenes in movie history, greatly due to Newman’s performance as con man Henry Gondorff showing up “drunk” at a poker game where he meets and subsequently out-cheats his mark. Continue reading
The Sting: Robert Redford’s Russet Striped Suit
Robert Redford as Johnny Hooker in The Sting (1973).
Vitals
Robert Redford as Johnny Hooker, small-time Depression-era grifter
Joliet to Chicago, September 1936
Film: The Sting
Release Date: December 25, 1973
Director: George Roy Hill
Costume Designer: Edith Head
Background
Four years after their successful pairing in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Paul Newman and Robert Redford met up once again for The Sting, a 1973 crime-comedy about two con men (“grifters”, in the film’s and Jim Thompson’s parlance) who team up to take down a brutal syndicate big shot against the backdrop of the corruption of 1930s Chicago.
But before all of that, Redford finds himself flush with money after conning a mob numbers runner. He struts into a store armed with his $4,000 and leaves with a bold striped suit. Continue reading
Dino’s New Year’s Eve Tuxedo in Ocean’s 11
Vitals
Dean Martin as Sam Harmon in the original 1960 Ocean’s Eleven.
Dean Martin as Sam Harmon, lounge singer and part-time casino heister
Las Vegas, New Year’s Eve 1959
Film: Ocean’s Eleven
Release Date: August 10, 1960
Director: Lewis Milestone
Costume Designer: Howard Shoup
Tailor: Sy Devore
Background
Much as Dean Martin was seen as Frank Sinatra’s second-in-command in the Rat Pack, Martin’s character Sam Harmon was the right-hand man to Sinatra’s Danny Ocean in the original Ocean’s Eleven. When the film was remade forty years later, Dean Martin’s Sam Harmon became Brad Pitt’s Rusty Ryan, who matched Martin’s sharp-dressed style with classy suits and sport jackets.
However, Pitt knew to stay away from the territory Dean Martin was known for: his tuxedos. Continue reading
Rusty Ryan’s trip to Florida
As the weather continues to cool down, some people may choose to head south for their holiday celebrations. If this applies to you, take an example from Brad Pitt’s Florida suit in the Ocean’s Eleven remake. Happy 49th birthday, Mr. Pitt.
Brad Pitt as “Rusty” Ryan in Ocean’s Eleven (2001).
Vitals
Brad Pitt as Robert “Rusty” Ryan, hustler and casino heister
St. Petersburg, FL, Spring 2001
Film: Ocean’s Eleven
Release Date: December 7, 2001
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Costume Designer: Jeffrey Kurland
Background
Disclaimer: Reading the tips on this article will not make you look like Brad Pitt, nor will women treat you like you are Brad Pitt. However, it may give you a few steps in the right direction when emulating the great style that defined Ocean’s Eleven. Continue reading
Sinatra’s Black-on-Charcoal Suit in Ocean’s 11
Today in 1915, the world welcomed the birth of Francis Albert Sinatra. To commemorate what would have been Frank’s 97th birthday, here is another focus on the original Ocean’s Eleven.
Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean in Ocean’s Eleven (1960)
Vitals
Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean, smooth-talking con man and casino heister
Las Vegas, New Year’s 1960
Film: Ocean’s Eleven
Release Date: August 10, 1960
Director: Lewis Milestone
Costume Designer: Howard Shoup
Tailor: Sy Devore
Background
Although not as technologically savvy (and sometimes quite cornier) than its 2001 remake, the original Ocean’s Eleven is a classic piece of nostalgia that transports viewers back to the good old days of guys in good suits drunkenly enjoying themselves in Vegas while blowing through countless broads, dames, and cigarettes.
The plot is basic: a team of eleven guys will rob five casinos on New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas. We already covered Sinatra’s gray specked sport coat during the planning phase. During the actual execution, Sinatra dresses a little sleeker, with a sharp dark suit and silk tie. Continue reading
Sinatra’s Gray Sportcoat in Ocean’s Eleven
Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean in the original Ocean’s Eleven (1960)
Vitals
Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean, smooth-talking con man and casino heister
Beverly Hills, December 1959
Film: Ocean’s Eleven
Release Date: August 10, 1960
Director: Lewis Milestone
Costume Designer: Howard Shoup
Tailor: Sy Devore
Background
65 years ago today on October 30, 1947, the city of Hoboken, New Jersey, celebrated “Frank Sinatra Day” in which the star—at the height of his early fame—was welcomed and regaled in his hometown. In honor of the original “Frank Sinatra Day”, here is Sinatra in the original Ocean’s Eleven.
Like the 2001 remake starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt, the original Ocean’s Eleven was essentially bout eleven guys that you’d want to hang out with having fun in Vegas while trying to rob a few million dollars and wearing sharp suits. The remake both complies with modern casino security and takes advantage of recent filmmaking techniques to show the men pulling off a slick heist. Continue reading
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