MovieChat Forums > Days of Heaven (1978) Discussion > Did Gere win an Oscar for best hair?

Did Gere win an Oscar for best hair?

posted 11 years ago by starmarker
3 replies | jump to latest

He should have. It was spectacular. It was also completely wrong after the opening montage of genuine early 1900s photos set the tone for the film. After I saw that hair and Gere's pretty boy good looks now way could I believe him as a hot-headed Chicago factory worker shoveling coal into a furnace. We forgive so much in many of these 70s movies. (For example, improvised dialogue.) But that haircut on a man who is supposed to be a factory worker and migrant laborer in the early 1900s is absolutely ridiculous.

[–] franzkabuki 11 years ago

Improvised dialogue is something to "forgive"? Why on earth would that be? It`s no more inherently "right" or "wrong" than scripted dialogue (not to mention it wasn`t that terribly common back then to begin with). And what might these other difficult-to-forgive things be? Besides the hair problem, that is? Talking as we are of the golden age of American film, compared to which the current mainstream output is frankly pitiful; back then "they" may have gotten an occasional hairstyle wrong (or did they, now?), yet managed to get the less trivial matters right.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] gonemoab 11 years ago

And what might these other difficult-to-forgive things be? Besides the hair problem, that is? Talking as we are of the golden age of American film, compared to which the current mainstream output is frankly pitiful; back then "they" may have gotten an occasional hairstyle wrong (or did they, now?), yet managed to get the less trivial matters right.

You're talking about details large and small. If only this tragedy could be comprehensively discussed all around. But in touching on this particular existential nerve within the industry you've located the limit of this wobbly board, with the exception of the localized art communities about--and there the choir just preaches to itself. I gather your point.

If someone made a gladiator movie where the characters used any one unified accent instead of Aussie/Kiwi/and at least a dozen assorted (very fake) muddled UK accents I might watch it. (already suspended my disbelief that all Romans and Africans of the period spoke, uh, modified Elizabethan English.)

Beer--now there's a temporary solution ~ Homer Simpson

[–] HarryPowell 11 years ago

At least don't blame Malick. It's well documented that Gere refused to have a 'period' hair-cut. Which was idiotically vain and selfish if you ask me.