Horrific Beards I Have Known and Loved

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Captain Dallas (Tom Skerrit)
Alien (1979)


I have long believed that Tom Skerritt’s moustache leads a secret life of its own independent of Tom Skerritt. I’m fairly certain that when Tom is asleep, his moustache is actually sneaking off to its other life as a happily married small business owner raising two kids in Missouri. When you add a beard to that moustache, well, I'm fairly convinced it could then take over the world, if it was so inclined, if it wasn't too busy doing its tax returns and helping the kids with their homework.

As Captain Dallas in Alien Tom Skerrit is the captain of the Nostromo, and how can you tell that he’s captain? Well, because of his coarse and rugged dependable captain’s beard, of course!

My favourite thing about Captain Dallas’ beard is that it is always appears to be just millimetres away from turning feral. For the most part it clearly asserts: ‘I am a god damn captain of a class M starship I haven’t got time for such trivialities as a regular shaving routine, I have buttons to press, a computer to talk to and a god damn galaxy to save!’, but, despite this just barely contained on the trimmed side of respectable appearance there is always the suspicion that at any given moment the beard could suddenly experience one infinitesimal, microscopic unit of growth and then all anarchy would ensue, and it’ll be all naked corridor running, guttural screaming, setting fire to stuff and redecorating the Nostromo in his own faeces.

Fortunately the Dallas beard doesn’t get time to reach critical growth and instead remains solid, reliable and authoritative, the kind of beard that you not only expect to be in charge of a spaceship, but you want it to be.

Although it didn’t end too well for brave, hairy Captain Dallas, his beard is still the kind of beard you want to have your back in any kind space/alien disaster type scenario, you want to cling to it and ride to safety amid its robust foliage. Tom Skerritt’s Captain Dallas in Alien I salute you!

Comments

  1. The Groundskeeper21 September 2010 at 01:47

    You have an odd mind.

    ReplyDelete
  2. R.Sterling Carody21 September 2010 at 02:00

    I really enjoy beards as well, but a mixture of laser hair removal in the 90s and Mrs. Voodoo's objections, I have no beard.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The Mike21 September 2010 at 06:01

    Amazing. I aspire to be that beard.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Matthew Coniam21 September 2010 at 08:08

    I see this is becoming a regular feature to fill the void left by Movie Psychic Monday.
    If so, I nominate the following face-huggers: James Brolin's in The Amityville Horror and Sylvester Stallone's in Nighthawks.
    (And isn't the best bit in Die Another Day when Brosnan's Bond shows up with that straggly, full-face masterpiece at the start? No, you're quite right. The best bit in Die Another Day is when Rosamund Pike and Halle Berry bitchfight with swords on a crashing plane. Second best bit, then.)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Viking Wolf Woman21 September 2010 at 08:19

    HYSTERICAL.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Matthew Coniam23 September 2010 at 13:42

    By the way, I'm madly jealous that I don't have a quote in your "I Rule" section.
    When Carfax gets up off its haunches and acknowledges your other recent awards I will deliberately write something quotable which I expect to take its rightful place under "I think your norks are awesome"
    You have been warned...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Will Errickson24 September 2010 at 01:32

    You knew this movie wasn't fucking around when it killed Captain Dallas. Those people were in for a *world* of hurt.

    Can't wait for more beards!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dr Blood25 September 2010 at 02:13

    If you turn the picture of Tom Skerrit sideways, his mouth looks like a growler. :P

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jinx27 September 2010 at 19:07

    Ooohh, loving all the beard love. You guys completely rule! Best comments ever!! And any more beard suggestions are very welcome, they all must be celebrated.

    Matthew, having a quote from you would make me so deliriously happy I'll probably explode. Say how funny I am. And clever. And pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Jenny Krueger7 October 2010 at 16:27

    hahaha this post reminds me of Kesha's song "Your love is my drug" when she says "I like your beard." :D

    ReplyDelete

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