The Dig

Log in

SmokingPipes.com Updates

New Cigars




PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

Status
Not open for further replies.

STP

Lifer
Sep 8, 2020
4,104
9,547
Northeast USA
Ok ok ok, if you're going to twist my arm... I do have a few criticisms.
So, it's a movie about a woman that hires someone to just do some digging. He throws a tantrum about his wages, he refuses to dig where she wants him to, and he runs off at the drop of a hat only to be coaxed back in with ego boosts. And, they started so many story lines and never closed a single one of them.
Was that married archeologist gay?
Did she just go sleeping around with everyone?
Did that guy who went to war live?
Did they just leave that plane in the water like that?
Why did Basel never have kids? He acted like it was a big deal.
When did that sick woman die? before or after it went to the museum?
What tobacco did Basel smoke? Was it a Lakeland? They never showed how Basel stored or carried his tobacco!! Did he use Mason Jars?
How did Basel check the air in his tires?
What happened to that boy?
Did Basel sleep in that trailer?
Where did the horses go after they dropped off that trailer?
What was in those other mounds? Did anyone ever check?
Would the beer in that hotel be a craft beer? Did they use hops?

Damnit movies like this drive me nuts. And, Basel was never pictured wearing a hat like the actor wore. He always wore a slouch. Why did they chose to show him in the Indiana Jones hat?
I could never figured out why Basel wore a suit and tie all day to dig holes. Attire was still pretty formal in Suffolk in 1939. Maybe that’s all he own... but at least take the tie off.
 

sablebrush52

The Bard Of Barlings
Jun 15, 2013
19,623
44,833
Southern Oregon
jrs457.wixsite.com
I could never figured out why Basel wore a suit and tie all day to dig holes. Attire was still pretty formal in Suffolk in 1939. Maybe that’s all he own... but at least take the tie off.
I think the dress underscores Brown's view of himself as more than a mere digger, maybe not a full fledged archeologist, but someone who hass a greater level of expertise than a digger.
 

STP

Lifer
Sep 8, 2020
4,104
9,547
Northeast USA
I think the dress underscores Brown's view of himself as more than a mere digger, maybe not a full fledged archeologist, but someone who hass a greater level of expertise than a digger.
It was said in jest, but yes, Basel Brown was an archeologist, as well as an amateur astronomer. Wearing a suit and tie restricts movement and may pose hazardous while working in the field. I wear a suit and tie too, but dress accordingly when conditions dictate for said reasons... as many do, including archeologists. It doesn’t minimize a level of expertise, but serves more as common sense. Who knows, he might have been able to avoid... or freed himself when buried by the collapsed wall of dirt if not for his attire. Lastly, his suit and tie had little impact on validating his credentials. It certainly had no influence over Guy Maynard, who relegated him to the role as an excavator, aka, “digger”. Remember, he wasn’t even recognized for the work at Sutton Hoo until 2009, which was 32 years after his death. So I doubt that a suit and tie made any difference, perceive expertise or otherwise... and I concur w/your two quotes ? ?
 
  • Like
Reactions: ofafeather

karam

Lifer
Feb 2, 2019
2,341
9,012
Basel, Switzerland
I think the dress underscores Brown's view of himself as more than a mere digger, maybe not a full fledged archeologist, but someone who hass a greater level of expertise than a digger.

That's very possible. Overall I think it's accurate of the period, you can see it in Greece as well in old photos around that time, suit tie and hat (ALWAYS HAT outdoors), any kind of writing job, small stall vendors, greengrocers. Hell I recall farmers wearing a shirt and jacket to the fields when I was little and that's not too long ago. Academics too would go

I just recalled Nikolai Vavilov, one of history's greatest botanists, sadly being brought down by bonkers socialist ideology, and Trofim Lysenko's ambition (can read his story here, the villain Lysenko's agricultural policies resulted in famine and millions of deaths), he travelled to do research in some of Russia's most inhospitable places wearing a three-piece suit.

As for his tobacco, I'd wager he smoked his village tobacconist's own blend, nothing fancy, nothing named. All too possible to be something similar to Gawith's stuff, after all it's real working class tobacco at heart, nevermind what we've made it to be nowadays. Ropes for miners to chew for example in lieu of smoking in a pit, plugs for sailors etc. Interesting fact, the British Parliament still has a snuff box for use by MPs. I doubt many use it, but it's fun that it is there!
 

beefeater33

Lifer
Apr 14, 2014
4,063
6,119
Central Ohio
Interesting fact, the British Parliament still has a snuff box for use by MPs. I doubt many use it, but it's fun that it is there!
The U.S. Senate chambers still has 2 snuff boxes as well. One for the Democrats and one for the Republicans. They haven't been used in decades but they keep them filled with snuff out of tradition.
Also the Senate floor still has 2 spittoons for tobacco chewers to spit in........... Former Senator Herman Talmadge was the last one to spit in them, in 1981............ interesting stuff for sure.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.