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"Actor's Watch" focuses on watches worn by actors in movies, television, etc.
For this 19th installment, we would like to focus on films set in the "turbulent America" of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
*Source: https://www.thenation.com/
In the 1960s, the power of "the ever-victorious superpower America" began to show signs of fading as the Vietnam War became bogged down and President Nixon resigned. Reflecting the dark mood of the times and the resulting distrust in politics, Hollywood also began to shift away from its previous happy ending fare of "dreams and hopes," "good triumphs over evil," and "sweet romance" to anti-war and anti-establishment films that became popular among young people.
Let's take a look at what kind of watches will appear in films set in this era.
Easy Rider
Easy Rider (1969)
"Easy Rider" is a masterpiece of American New Cinema that symbolically depicts how two hippies who set out on a nomadic journey on a custom motorcycle in search of freedom have their freedom taken away by "conservative America."
*Source: https://www.theguardian.com/
Peter Fonda , who plays the main character Wyatt in this movie, wears a Rolex GMT Master . This prototype solid gold model without crown guards has been seen wearing it in off-shots, and is said to be Peter Fonda's own favorite watch.
*Source: https://www.rolexmagazine.com/
*Source: https://www.rolexmagazine.com/
The film's journey begins with Wyatt, played by Peter Fonda, tossing off his watch and proclaiming, "Nothing holds us back," as he hops on his custom motorcycle. However, this is clearly a different watch from the Rolex seen in the previous scene.
*Source: https://digilander.libero.it/
He probably couldn't just throw away his beloved gold Rolex. I can understand that feeling.
Deer Hunter
The Deer Hunter (1978)
The Deer Hunter is a human drama that depicts how a good-natured young man from the American countryside is mentally eroded by his war experiences and is ruined without being able to return to his normal life. Although the film is set during the Vietnam War, there are almost no battle scenes, and instead the "abnormality of war" is depicted by the prisoners of war who are forced to play Russian roulette and are driven to the brink of mental breakdown.
In this movie, Robert De Niro , who plays the main character Michael, wears a Rolex Sea-Dweller (Ref. 1665) . The rugged diver's watch suits his muscular arms, which are appropriate for his role as a master deer hunter.
*Source: https://timeandtidewatches.com/
*Source: https://timeandtidewatches.com/
Speaking of Robert De Niro, in the 2011 film "Killer Elite," he plays an assassin called "The Hunter," and the Rolex Submariner he wears is believed to be either Ref. 5512 or Ref. 5513 .
*Source: https://timeandtidewatches.com/
Perhaps De Niro has a strong belief that the watch a "hunter" should wear should be a Rolex diver's watch.
All the President's Men
All the President's Men (1976)
The 1972 "Watergate Scandal" was a scandal that uncovered illegal break-ins and wiretaps at the Democratic Party headquarters. "All the President's Men" is a non-fiction film that depicts the struggle of Bob Woodward, a journalist who uncovered the truth of the incident despite obstruction from the White House and investigative agencies, and forced President Nixon to resign.
*Source: https://productplacementblog.com/
In this movie, Robert Redford , who plays the role of the real newspaper reporter Bob Woodward, wears a Rolex Submariner. It is said that the watch was borrowed from Bob Woodward himself and used for filming, although this is not known for certain.
Full Metal Jacket
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
"Full Metal Jacket" is a Vietnam War film directed by Stanley Kubrick, director of "A Clockwork Orange." In pursuit of realism, Kubrick casts former Marine Corps drill instructor R. Lee Ermey as Sergeant Hartman, who trains new recruits using terrible insults and corporal punishment.
*Source: https://www.smh.com.au/
Ermey was originally called in to act as the drill instructor, but the intensity of his training was so overwhelming that he quickly decided to act in the role himself, resulting in one of the most memorable training scenes in war film history.
There are no particularly notable watches featured in "Full Metal Jacket."
So why did we bring this up? Because R. Lee Ermey is a huge Rolex enthusiast .
*Source: https://www.rolexmagazine.com/
The fact that Ermey, who served in the Vietnam War and became an actor while battling PTSD after his discharge, trusts and loves Rolexes clearly shows how Rolex is the "ultimate practical watch."
summary
From the late 1960s to the early 1970s, even though there were many movies that reflected the bleak and dark mood of the world, the number of opportunities for Rolex to appear in movies never decreased. From its overwhelming support and popularity, you can see that it is a watch that does not care about the trends and mood of the world.
Rolex is a watch that anyone can wear with confidence in any era. Its position is likely to remain solid for the time being. It might be a good idea to look for a watch based on absolute peace of mind.
see you!