Ever wondered about the origins of Indiana Jones' iconic fedora? It's a question that dives into the heart of a beloved film and the fascinating details behind its creation. Let's embark on a journey to uncover the man behind the hat!
In Steven Spielberg's 1989 adventure, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, we're transported back to 1912. A young Indy, portrayed by River Phoenix, is on a Boy Scout expedition in Utah. While exploring caves, he stumbles upon treasure hunters who've unearthed the Cross of Coronado – a historically significant artifact. Indy attempts to seize the Cross, leading to an exciting chase involving horses, jeeps, and a circus train.
After narrowly escaping, Indy returns home, only to find the sheriff and the treasure hunters. The leader of the treasure hunters, a dashing adventurer, is wearing a fedora. Played by Richard Young, this character, after a brief encounter, places his fedora on young Indy's head.
In the film's credits, this character is simply called "Fedora," a nod to his distinctive headwear. The fedora itself was quite a fashion statement for the time, as it wouldn't become a mainstream accessory in America for another decade.
But here's where it gets controversial... The character's name, initially nameless, was later expanded in various sources to become "Garth."
Interestingly, Fedora/Garth was conceived as a sort of "Indiana Jones, Mark 1." Both characters share similarities: Richard Young bears a resemblance to Harrison Ford, and even sports a facial scar. Both wear leather jackets, and, of course, the same hat. The fedora, invented in the 1890s, was named after a play called "Fédora" and adopted by the lead actress Sarah Bernhardt, a symbol of women's rights. So, Indiana Jones, a symbol of masculine might, wears a feminist garment.
The character was primarily known as "Fedora" for years. The name "Garth" entered the Indiana Jones lexicon by accident. In 2008, author Ryder Windham referred to the Fedora character as Garth in an updated novelization of Last Crusade. This suggests that Windham wasn't using the original screenplay but a transcription of the final cut.
And this is the part most people miss... The Lucasfilm website explicitly denies the name "Garth." They state that the character was only ever named Fedora.
However, the name "Garth" has appeared in officially licensed novelizations and even in subtitles of official Blu-ray releases.
Curiously, the character has one additional (unofficial name) thanks to a very obscure German Indiana Jones novel called Indiana Jones und das Verschwundene Volk or Indiana Jones and the Lost People, by German author Wolfgang Hohlbein. In that book, Indy recalls the hunt for the Cross of Coronado from his youth, and says that his foe introduced himself as "Jake." This, however, is the only time the character has ever been called Jake.
So, what do you think? Is he Fedora, Garth, or even Jake? Share your thoughts in the comments below! If you're a fan of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, be sure to check out our oral history of the film's memorable climax!
