'SERPICO" FEDORAS'

[hatflick1]

I had not seen 'Serpico' in a number of years. It is indeed a hatflick. Pacino dons any number of hats, to include a great fedora at the very end where he sits with his dog on the curb.
Meanwhile, all around him in a seventies New York, men are depicted as wearing various vintage fedora styles, many looking like decades earlier.
Anyway, here's a photo of the real Frank Serpico...in a fedora.
http://images.google.com/imgres?img...svnum=10&um=1&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&sa=X

 

[fatwoul]

It seems a little sad to have a series of painting dedicated to "Americans Who Tell the Truth", as if it is a rarity with you guys; as if a truthful American is note-worthy. Seems a bit cynical on the part of the artist.

I really like that painting of Serpico, though, and there are some other nice depictions of truthful hat-wearers - Walt Whitman's eyes are quite haunting in his painting, and Jim Hightower's lighter hat makes him look more friendly. Having said that, Utah Philips' fed almost looks like it was painted on as an afterthought, but I think it might be the angle or the contrast. It's growing on me.

Nice site. Very interesting.

 

[indycop]

It seems a little sad to have a series of painting dedicated to "Americans Who Tell the Truth", as if it is a rarity with you guys; as if a truthful American is note-worthy. Seems a bit cynical on the part of the artist.

I really like that painting of Serpico, though, and there are some other nice depictions of truthful hat-wearers - Walt Whitman's eyes are quite haunting in his painting, and Jim Hightower's lighter hat makes him look more friendly. Having said that, Utah Philips' fed almost looks like it was painted on as an afterthought, but I think it might be the angle or the contrast. It's growing on me.

Nice site. Very interesting.

Truthfulness is a rarity with many folks I deal with. When I was young and in the army I was a true blue american. I still am but when I see (or I guess deal with would be more appropiate) the younger generation 18 to 20 or so, I fear for the future of this country.

Serpico was actually required learning in the academy when I went.

 

[fatwoul]

Truthfulness is a rarity with many folks I deal with...

Granted, but to be fair you are exposed to a disproportionate number of crooked types as a part of your work. I may be naive, but I suspect the average person (of any nationality) is pretty honest.

Maybe I am confusing truthfulness with forthrightness. On our little island we're kinda famous for being reserved in our opinions, etc. Maybe when the painted says "Americans Who Tell the Truth", they mean something along the lines of "Americans Who Say What Others Were Afraid To".

 

[indycop]

Granted, but to be fair you are exposed to a disproportionate number of crooked types as a part of your work. I may be naive, but I suspect the average person (of any nationality) is pretty honest.

Maybe I am confusing truthfulness with forthrightness. On our little island we're kinda famous for being reserved in our opinions, etc. Maybe when the painted says "Americans Who Tell the Truth", they mean something along the lines of "Americans Who Say What Others Were Afraid To".

Actually since I left the sheriff's office and now work for the state at a local police department, I am exposed to the future of america:eusa_doh: . I see on a daily basis that self discipline and responsibility are no longer taught at home.

 

[fatwoul]

OK, well then good luck when you're an old person. They will steal your shoes off your feet while you sleep. lol

Anyway, this is all off topic. We're supposed to be talking about the paintings. Sorry, hatflick.

 

[surely]

Truthfulness is a rarity with many folks I deal with. When I was young and in the army I was a true blue american. I still am but when I see (or I guess deal with would be more appropiate) the younger generation 18 to 20 or so, I fear for the future of this country.

fftopic: Yes, I can say too, "Truthfulness is a rarity with many folks I deal with" and have dealt with over the past 40+ yrs. and I too "fear for the future of this country.
But its not because of the younger population you deal with. For me its been some individuals in the middle to top levels of business and gov'tal organizations that have trouble with the truth and who pose the greatest danger.

 

[Mark George]

Fatwoul,

Please be disabused of the concept that the people depicted are all exeplars of truthful Americans. The website might better be called, "Americans with whom Robert Shetterly agrees." Or, to paraphrase Robert Heinlein, "One man's truth is another man's belly laugh."

But, a nice hat there on Serpico.

 

[nulty]

Management in Business is built on lies. The lies are told first at the top of the organization then as the lie slinky's down the toady chain it is continually repeated by each subsequent toady. It occurred to me today as I left the golden presence of my divine immediate manager that I had been lied to at least 3 times in a 10 minutes conversation. Meaning that I had probably been told more like 17 lies , so clever are these managers in their deceptive ways.

That's why I like fedoras. When I'm wearing a fedora I don't care if someone tells me a lie. Shame on them......

 

[nulty]

Actually since I left the sheriff's office and now work for the state at a local police department, I am exposed to the future of america:eusa_doh: . I see on a daily basis that self discipline and responsibility are no longer taught at home.

Not to remain totally fftopic: but this subject is close to my heart. Sadly for much of Americas future the homes they come from cannot be defined as any kind of home I would recognize

I worked in juvie detention and did many 2am intakes of PINS and runners from cooperative and interested Sherrif's patrols. Sometimes the kids were just glad to know they'd be getting a bed...

 

[indycop]

Not to remain totally fftopic: but this subject is close to my heart. Sadly for much of Americas future the homes they come from cannot be defined as any kind of home I would recognize

I worked in juvie detention and did many 2am intakes of PINS and runners from cooperative and interested Sherrif's patrols. Sometimes the kids were just glad to know they'd be getting a bed...

Most of the ones I deal with haven't had to deal with anything remotely hard. Half of these kids cars cost more than my house.[huh]

 

[nulty]

Ah..a different set of problems and twice as frustrating......

Keep a hat on my Friend!

 

[surely]

Most of the ones I deal with haven't had to deal with anything remotely hard. Half of these kids cars cost more than my house.[huh]

fftopic:
Yeah, that's true. There are too many rich parents who buy off their kids with expensive toys. They get so spoiled they become rotten!...

Now that you have worked at the local and now state level, how do you find the truthfulness of people through out the organization. I mean, do you know of examples of people who work for gov't and who bend the truth for their own purposes?

 

[indycop]

fftopic:
Yeah, that's true. There are too many rich parents who buy off their kids with expensive toys. They get so spoiled they become rotten!...

Now that you have worked at the local and now state level, how do you find the truthfulness of people through out the organization. I mean, do you know of examples of people who work for gov't and who bend the truth for their own purposes?

When i was a deputy there was a lot of corruption talk about the sheriff. As for the general working cop its the typical extramarital stuff and alcohol problems. I guess it goes with the stress. For me other than carrying my weapon , when i'm off I leave work at work. I don't spend all my time with people that I work with, I spend it with my family. Where I work now being a small department, For the most part everyone is ethical and honest. The worst thing is that rumours run rampant in policing. I don't make that much money where i'm working but I have maybe a quarter of the stress I used to have. I don't dread going to work so I can't complain.

 

[deanglen]

Hats. Hats. Hats.

dean

 

[surely]

Indycop, thanks for the straightforward reply. If I remember right Serpico was fighting against corruption within the force; its amazing he has survived. Maybe its his hat of invincibility.

Thanks dean for the redirection.

 

[indycop]

Indycop, thanks for the straightforward reply. If I remember right Serpico was fighting against corruption within the force; its amazing he has survived. Maybe its his hat of invincibility.

Thanks dean for the redirection.

I wonder If somebody could make a bullet proof fedora ? maybe replace the lining with kevlar!lol

 

[metropd]

I wonder If somebody could make a bullet proof fedora ? maybe replace the lining with kevlar!lol

very well redirected.

As for Serpico I watched the movie first when I was into uniforms, before police uniforms lead to my passion of fedoras and mens suits. So I vagualy remember the fedoras but I do remember the plethora of NYPD 8-point caps and double breasted tunics.

When I become a police officer I think I'll stay in patrol, to much bureaucracy in the brass and to much of convoluted morality in plainclothes.... so much so its not worth wearing a fedora instead of a uniform. Indycop your thoughts or just pm me I would love to continue this conversation without it being off topic.

 

[indycop]

Sadly I think that traditional police hats will be relegated to formal occasions only. The old cops are going to retirement rapidly and taking tradition with them. Most new ones don't like traditional stuff, it's all about the latest and greatest. I am guilty of that myself.
Metropd I guarantee you that you will not want to be a patrolman for an entire career. If you get a chance to try a specialty then take it. It will only make you more well rounded and a better officer.
OK Back on topic and off my soapbox. Doesn't NYPD Still wear the traditional leather police jackets also? That must look good with the hat.

Metropd PM sent.

 

[fatwoul]

Fatwoul,

Please be disabused of the concept that the people depicted are all exeplars of truthful Americans...

Noted, Mark, but I wasn't actually expressing an opinion on whether the people shown actually were "truthful", but rather that someone called them so, and what other expression might have carried less negative implication when considering its absence.

Of course everyone has their bias, which is why I wouldn't think about commenting on the actual value of each or any person on that website, partly because I don't know enough about any of them, and partly because I know that politics is a subject FLers try to avoid these days.