Walter White’s pork pie hat on Breaking Bad served as a practical prop to prevent the actor from getting sunburn due to his bald head.
Breaking Bad concluded in 2013 after its five-season run on AMC. Despite this, the one-of-a-kind series has remained binge and rewatch worthy for many fans in the years since its conclusion.
In light of this, many fans of the show look for details that they may have missed or symbolism that they might have overlooked during their initial watch, like Walter White’s hat and its symbolism in the narrative.
As it turns out, the pork pie hat was less a metaphorical tool, and more of a practical prop to prevent lead Bryan Cranston from experiencing sunburn as he was bald in the first few seasons of the show.
Why is Breaking Bad so highly rated?
When Breaking Bad premiered on AMC in January 2022, the series invariably changed television forever.
The series was premised, “A high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer turns to manufacturing and selling methamphetamine in order to secure his family’s future.”
The protagonist, Walter White, was an antihero, who only became more ruthless, money-hungry, and selfish as the series progressed, instead of more altruistic.
This premise was one that was never seen on television, along with the consistent visual aesthetic, character arcs, and plots, which makes Breaking Bad one of the best television series in the history of television.
Breaking Bad: What does the hat symbolise?
The first time the pork pie hat appeared in Breaking Bad was in season one, episode seven titled “No Rough-Stuff-Type Deal.”
Walter White wore the hat when he met with Tuco when he and Jesse delivered the drugs. Upon wearing the hat, he also subsequently came up with the name of Heisenberg.
As such, it was believed that the hat symbolised the dichotomy of the two characters – Walter the father, husband, and science teacher; and Heisenberg the drug pin. But in actuality, the hat served as a practical prop for Bryan Cranston.
This is as the actor had to cut his hair for the role, as it was stated in the narrative that Walter White had cancer and needed to undergo radiation and chemotherapy, which often results in hair loss.
However, the series had many location scenes that were shot in the scorching sun. As such, in order to prevent the actor from experiencing harsh sunburn, the costume department devised a practical solution by making Cranston adorn the hat for these scenes.
The series also went on to laden the hat with references from pop culture references. Particularly, the 1971 Academy winner film, The French Connection.
Relating Breaking Bad and The French Connection
The French Connection is a classic crime film that follows Detective Popeye Doyle, who is in pursuit of the wealthy narcotics dealer that he never catches.
Gene Hackman, who plays Detective Doyle, also wore a pork pie hat, which is coincidentally strikingly similar to the one that Walter White wore.
Moreover, Breaking Bad continued to drive the relationship between the two projects which share a similar premise when Hank compared himself to Detective Doyle, which was interesting, as it was highlighted that Detective Doyle never actually caught the narcotics dealers he was pursuing in the film like Hank did in Breaking Bad.
Bryan Cranston confirms having the hat
Walter White’s pork pie hat was made by the Goorin Bros, who profited from the use of the hat as they released a limited range of the hat, which has since sold out.
Bryan Cranston, who played the role of Walter White has confirmed that the hat and sunglasses that he wore on the show were gifted to him by the show.
Moreover, the actor affirmed that the props, which have since become an iconic silhouette in the printing of merchandise, are his most “prized possessions.”
A look at the origins of the pork pie hat
The pork pie was introduced as a millennial fashion statement through Breaking Bad in the 2000s, but the hat’s history dates back as far as the 1830s, where it was believed to have been typically worn by American and British women.
Moreover, its universal popularity is believed to date back to the 1930s and 1940s, as the shape changed slightly, and it became an accessory that was worn to match with the outfit of the day.
As such, during this time, the pork pie hats were customised and designed in the same material as the outfit worn by the wearer. More specifically, the African American community of the 1940s.