Fountain Pens In Your Favorite Films Movies & TV Shows! 

This is unrelated to the subject, but some of my fellow subscribers would appreciate knowing that Sunday 16 June is Bloomsday - 120 years from the day Joyce's Ulysses was set. I cannot afford a trip to Dublin, but I plan to dress in some Light Academdemia, with a pen, a commonplace journal, and Garber's Edition of the book and drink Jamieson at my local Irish themed pub.

Fun video! It’s still up! The opening scene of “Inglorious Basterds” where Col Hans Landa pulls out an ink well and fills his pen (which I assume is a Pelikan or Mont Blanc) going about his genocidal business with fashion and efficiency is just so compelling and repulsive!

The new Ripley on Netflix was great. Loved the black and white. And the Montblanc does look like a 149 in that one.

I also get stoked when Marty writes the letter to Doc in the first back to the future… I think it’s still a mystery as to what kind of pen it is.

In the John Nash pen presentation clip you shared, when there are four black pens on the table, I'm almost certain the three non-Montblanc pens are Cross Radiances. Radiances were only about $20 and would have been readily available on the market when A Beautiful Mind was produced. The double-banding on Radiance's cap was modeled after its big-brother Cross Townsend -- and I think we see a Lustrous Chrome Townsend appear on the table a few seconds later. I have many Cross Radiance and Solo pens in my collection and I've enjoyed writing with all of them. Despite their low cost, they were shockingly good-writers, and they apparently looked enough like expensive pens that they were slipped into that movie scene.

When I saw the montblanc on the Netflix show Ripley, I immediately wondered how many other people would know what fountain pen it is. I’m happy that it has been mentioned. Thank u Hemingway Jones

This short film you've created needs to be included in your Dark Academia playlist! Chef's kiss.

What fun! What a great video. If anyone wants to place fountain pens before me on a tabletop I'm available. That pen from "Ripley": wow!

Since I just bought a Montblanc 149 while I was in Italy, my favorite was A Beautiful Mind. I adore that movie. Such an interesting, informative and entertaining video. You always go that extra mile in filming these, thank you.

I cannot afford a Montblanc fountain pen 149 Meisterstück - but I have rediscovered the pleasure of writing with these classic writing instruments that are: a pen (point B and BB) - A beautiful object + liquid ink + beautiful paper or good notebook in a beautiful binding - all (re)starting with a Lamy - other will say that a Bic ballpoint pen will suffice - that it is a useless luxury or that luxury is useless - a waste of time and money - useless pride - we will also say that it is an attitude, a posture, a spirit of seriousness or definitiveness that one adds to a moment in one's life or to one's entire life and to one's work or art

Ever since I got serious about fountain pens as a collection, I always try to figure out what the pen is when I see one. Just today I was reading an article that used a photo of a Parker Jotter signing a piece of paper. The sight of the nib and part of the section was enough to identify it for me!

I just remembered…the first thing that got me interested in fountain pens was the movie, “Needful Things”. Actor Max Von Sydow’s character, Leland Gaunt, was writing with what looks like a Visconti pen. The second thing, was that I also had some mathematics professors who used fountain pens. One of my favorite professors kept a Montblanc in the pocket of his jacket.

The Talented Mr Ripley was the only one of these films I saw. I probably noticed the pen but forgot about it. When it comes to fountain pens in film, the first thing that comes to mind for me is a certain Three Stooges short: The one where they destroy a luxury hotel room. The hotel manager instructs the house detective to keep an eye on them. Curly notices the detective peeking through the keyhole, pulls out a fountain pen with a lever filler, sticks the nib in the keyhole and moves the lever, squirting ink in the detective's eye. Moe approaches Curly and says, "What's going on?". Curly says "I just dotted his eye!".

Well executed, most enjoyable video. That scene with the Professors giving a pen as a sign of recognition and honor was touching.

Have you seen the original film adaptation of the Talented Mr. Ripley? It's from 1960, called "Plein Soleil" or "Purple Noon", and the movie also opens with a Montblanc Pen, which is interesting because I don't think that Highsmith specified "Montblanc" in the book, but it seems pretty settled in everything that followed. I think she simply referred to it as "the black fountain pen with gold initials" or something similar. Nice work on the video... I enjoyed it!

The iconic opening scene of Inglorious Basterds also features a fountain pen. A pen being filled even, if I’m not mistaken.

I agree, not a 149. John Nash and I had the same advisor at CMU (Nash was a graduate student at Princeton, undergraduate at CMU). Nash's advisor at CMU was later my PhD advisor.

Great choice of films, containing the most beautiful appearances of fountainpens in cinematic history. Not a fp but imho worth mentioning: In the second film of the matrix trilogy, as neo meets the "architect" in person, the latter uses a remote in a room full of tv screens. The prop for that "remote" is a LAMY swift rollerball.😅

HJ - You've got the only fountain pen related RU-vid channel that I'll watch any more. You've spoiled us!

Great video, thanks HJ! I do prefer the montblanc 146 in The Talented Mr Ripley. The way the characters use it is much more natural than Ripley alone blandishes 'his' 149 in the recent series, and makes it a part of their lives. Moving scenes where teachers bring fountain pens to their old colleague as a testimony of their respect, yeah!

This episode brought to my mind "Casino", which probably has the most famous scene with a pen as a key object. It is not a fountain pen, but a "nice" ballpoint pen, that Nicky Santoro uses as a weapon in a bar fight.

Wow these are movies/shows I've not seen ... so cool when a fountain pen appears!!! This video was pure fun and so awesome!!! ✒️📺

The Infiltrator with Brian Cranston has a fountain pen scene in which his character used a silver and white fountain pen to mark a ledger. I think it is a Montblanc Meisterstück Solitaire.

Well, Andrew Scott and the 149 win my votes! I love them both! Seeing that Montblanc so many times over the course of the RIPLEY series convinced me someday I “need” that ginormous writing instrument! Great video, once again, with excellent editing and detail. Lovely to watch!

Hi. Just wonderful Hemingway, just perfectly wonderful.🤗 Cheers from Australia.🦘

Outstanding work, T-man. Very enjoyable and brilliantly executed marriage of fountain pens and cinematic endeavor. 10 on the "art" and information scale, my friend.

Fabulous video. I miss the Hannibal series. I remember what a great episode that finale was, but I forgot about that scene.

According to the Thomas Harris books, Hannibal Lecter was a descendant of the Visconti family in Europe. It would have been something to have him write with the unrelated Visconti fountain pens. Tippi Hedren used a fountain pen in The Birds. Charlie Brown used one in The Peanuts Movie.

Thank you Hemingway for what is one of your best videos! I certainly find the pen ceremony to be so moving. More such please.

Ha, Ha from the opening I thought finally someone is going to review the zero G pen in the Pan Am shuttle in 2001, sigh, alas. Great video as usual and 3 films I didn’t expect nor know anything about. I guess I will have to check out “A Beautiful Mind. Sorry this is so late, I did see the video as soon as it aired, but just getting around to commenting. Thanks

I totally agree with "A Beautitful Mind". The first scene was a great set-up, as you point out and combining his aged appearance as symbolizing his struggles with the fountain pen ritual was enough for an Oscar.

Many film nior movies have scenes showing a character writing a quick note with a fountain pen.

Nice video! My favorite fountain pen in a movie is still going to be the Last Crusade's the-pen-is-mightier-than-the-sword scene.

Besides the Ripley productions you mentioned, in a future episode don’t forget the 1960 French film adaptation PURPLE NOON, with ALAIN DELON as Ripley. That was an excellent one directed by René Clemént. There’s at least one scene that I recall where Ripley is forging Greenleaf’s signature either on a check or hotel registry with (what’s supposed to be, and perhaps really is) a fine fountain pen. There may be other such shots. There’s a famous scene in which he’s practicing the forgery on a wall over and over, but I think that’s with a marker. Thanks Hemingway!

I've only ever seen A Beautiful Mind, but it's been years and years since I've even thought about it. it was one of my favorites when I watched it. I'm going to have to watch it again soon! The Talented Mr. Ripley was a movie I always heard was good, but I'd never seen. Going to have to check it out or the Netflix show. great video Hemingway!

That was such a fun episode! Last night I was in our local watering hole with my wife, sitting at the bar and journaling with my Pilot Custom 743 SM. The bartender exclaimed, “Oh my goodness! Is that your handwriting!? It looks like something out of the movies! I wish I could write like that. Would you write a letter to my mom for me?” Now, how could I refuse?

Beautiful video Hem. Just racing home from Britain I’ve been thinking about a favorite film of mine: 84 Charing cross road. More about books than fountain pens… but a vibe I believe you and Helen would both love.

Moominpappa was writing his memoirs with a nice looking fountain pen in the Japanese 90s anime series.

Wow. Great vid !! lol. After having lost my entire pen collection I could use a bunch of folks putting pens on my table ! 😂😂. What a shame it's not an actual tradition. It should be. ❤

Thank you for another wonderful video. I always enjoy your productions and look forward to watching them! 😊

I’ve not watched the third mention, but the first two are great. Max Von Snowden’s character in Three Days of the Condor used a Montblanc 149. Could have been a bic though the way he used it.

Excellent! Top Notch! Pleasing in every way! Bravo, Tim, Bravo!🎉

Hope this Video gets a complete series. I am enjoying it. Also loved your exploration on our favorite writer's weapons of choice! EDIT: That S. T. Dupont is magnificent!

Thank you for such a great episode. ❤

always enjoy this themed vids, HJ. pls continue this... tq. greetings from Malaysia.

I have watched this video a few times. It is stunning! Your descriptions really draws me into the movies!

For sure, Ripley had me lusting for that pen when I don't consider myself a Mont Blanc girl. I think Andrew Scott has something to do with it. Hannibal is EVERYTHING! Of course, Mads Mikkelsen played the best version of the eponymous villain. I adore him in everything he has done so far. Thank you for this video. Finally, someone on the youtube fountain pen community addressed that Ripley effect....cos it is real...

How inspirational, awakens the artiste.. love attention to detail, with style and quality displayed. You have made me want to watch all these films. I have a MB 145 from what i can see, i think you are correct in your observation. Having a look at some films from the 50s and 60s with an eye for fountain pens would be fun, and perhaps Sean Connery Bonds perhaps. Evokes warm feelings of the finer things in life. All the best H.J.

Excellent!!!

Huge video, interesting from the content point of view. But I have to thank you again because your videos have such quality and subtlety, always with the right and just word, a narration so kind and well expressed that they are a delight to watch.

Hello HJ. Wonderful video. The series, Hannibal was definitely my favorite. I owe the DVD's and have watched it many times. The elegance and sophistication of this series is second to none. Once again, you have proven to be the most imaginative pen person on U tube. Keep them coming my friend.

I haven't seen any of these movies but your video makes me want to!

A lovely, well put together video!! Bravo! From this English major who started writing the diss. with two Watermans. Have you seen the film _Love in The Time of Cholera_? Writing letters is a huge part of that film; I don't recall whether fountain pens were used (or some earlier equivalent), though.

Great video, one of my favorites 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I don’t know if anyone else mentioned this, have you seen the movie, Candy, from 1968? I admit that I didn’t finish the movie. Maybe 15 minutes in, Richard Burton used a black fountain pen. I couldn’t tell what it was.

Thank your for your wonderful pen videos!

A great video! I really enjoyed the new series of Ripley. That pen was such a big part of the movie. The series on Hannibal looks interesting. Thanks for the cool video!

WONDERFUL! This was a great video! That pen ceremony, is just SO awesome! Even if it is not real, what a moment! Have to watch that movie, now! A funny story. . .not long after I received my Pelican M800, I was watching an episode of Murder She Wrote, and someone had stolen Jessica's favorite pen. . .It was never opened, but it was a Pelikan, either the M800 or M1000! I was stoked! Another episode, she was visiting a friend in New Mexico and lost her pen. She meets a local Native American guy (who is also the local Sheriff) out in the desert, and when he leaves, there is the Pelikan lying on the rock on which he was sitting. She picks up the pen and kisses it! I had seen those episodes before, but never noticed what the pen was until I saw the green with black stripes on the barrel!

SPECTACULAR! right down to the music and closing credits. LOVE THIS! Such attention to detail throughout! I had forgotten about the pen ceremonies being the most touching part of "Beautiful Mind" (and how young Crowe looked back then.) 'bella penna" INDEED! Everything here is bella 💯 Thank you so much... you've earned another SUPER THANKS!

I was anxious to look at this video. I loved everything about it. I love to see how some of us are particularly careful in how we dress and choose our tools to work with each day. You did a wonderful job, and i thank you. To me, everything was thoughtfully and precisely done.

That was fun! Thanks for finding fountain pens in movies and TV.

Great selections of various pens. I particularly enjoyed the calligraphy. I am hypnotized when I watch. Thank yoso very much. It took a lot of energy and work to put this video together and I appreciate your effort.

Loved this Video. Probably your best yet. I loved how you edit the picture. I felt “there” during each of those scenes enjoying the beauty of the Pen.

Montblanc pens are beautiful. Vintage all the way. Never seen a beautiful mind.

I think it’s a MB146 in “Ripley”. Giving a fine pen/pen set for a graduation gift has been a fairly common practice, probably more so in past years than more recent times. But the tradition still lives on! I did not see the Hannibal Lecturer movie you mentioned, but I think I’ll see if I can. Thanks for another great video!

The movie that always stood out was mentioned in your video, A Beautiful Mind. I really was sad when I found out that wasn’t an active practice because I found it so charming! Great video!

What a beautiful video movie clips and fountain pens HJ you have out done yourself, love,love this!!

So well done, Hemingway! I never watched Hannibal and now I really think I should!

Yes, great video! Fountain pens and handwriting in film are great topics. Thanks, HJ!

Good sleuthing, Sherlock! Lovely video, very much enjoyed the outro as well. Thanks.

I can see why you are so proud of this video. Very professionally done! It is quite a work of art in its own right. Bravo!

I like these videos. Keep up the great work! Also - are you going to the Pelikan Show in Sept in Boston?

I have a MB 144/Classique, which is quite slender in my hand. Based solely on what is shown on screen, I would have to say that he’s probably using a 146. I’m no expert, of course, and my pen is second hand, so I can’t be certain.

Really enjoyed this video! Fountain pens always look so elegant on film. I must watch A Beautiful Mind, it's the only one I haven't seen. I would certainly love to be bestowed with all those pens, but I also can't help but wonder if they've got backups. I'd hate to give away my Montblanc! I keep thinking of getting a 149, but I think I might try out the Jinhao first to see if I like such a large pen.

Excellent excellent video,thanks.

Glad that Princeton had the respect to give John quality fountain pens. If it was up to the fountain pen community, you would see a lot of ballpoints given out to co-workers, smh. I would give away a Jotter.

Thanks for this wonderful video! I'll have to try to see Hannibal, since it is a show I've not seen despite seeing Silence of the Lambs on opening night. A Beautiful Mind is the movie with the best use of fountain pens in my opinion. That touched me when I saw the film at cinema.

For a MontBlanc clone, I think the Yongsheng 630 in one of the Black Piano Fence window options would be just as good if not better in the banding.

Thanks for the recommendations!

Really good video! I have to go watch A Beautiful Mind now!

Brilliant video !

I just watched Three Thousand Years of Longing last night. Near the end, when we see Tilda Swinton's character finishing a sketch in her journal with a fountain pen, I knew the pen nerd community could tell me what it was. Sure enough, reddit concluded it was a Lamy Scala, which was one I had never heard of. It is a gorgeous film, btw.

Great job HJ👍

First comment! Awesome video! I'll have to watch Hannibal now.

Great video!

Can you do a comparison video of a vintage Conklin Crescent Filler and the modern Mark Twain series Crescent Filler. It would be great for if you do another famous author’s pens video.

I’m not giving away my 149 to someone at work😂😂😂

Pianists always try to guess what piano is being used, same for guitarists. Serious clothing people are trying to guess designers. I’m always trying to read the title of any book in view. And so it goes.Good set designers know that some people care about the details.

My fav is A Beautiful Mind. It and Proof take me back to uni where I endeavored to achieve an understanding if 'dif e.q.' And a couple of friends who were diagnosed with bipolar or schizophrenia at that time. The stress of academics was a huge challenge for some of us. Would Nash give up his accomplishments for a 'healthy' mind? I don't know. Like the movie Proof, Nash showed that brilliance can toe the line with mental instability. The scene with the pens is epic. I wish it actually happened. Each pen scribed brilliance and all that was touched by the character Nash. Such a touching scene. But Ripley I have to disagree. Jude Law is easier on the eyes. I never noticed the acting... ever. I feel better about my 146 now. We might have something in common, me n Jude. 😂

Just watched Three Days of the Condor. Three minutes in, can you identify that pen? Probably a Monteblanc.

Nice video, HJ!

HJ : I understand that the man sitting with Russel Crowe ( playing the part of John Nash) was, in fact, the real John Nash!

Although FPs are central neither to the plot nor to character development, they turn up regularly in the Netflix series "The Crown". It is just that each and every scene in which a FP appears would have looked ridiculous featuring anything other than a FP..

_ Love your work!

A more mundane use of a fountain pen in television (after they'd went out of fashion, mainstream) would be by Peter Falk as Columbo. Not to mention all of the vintage movies in the 1920s through the 1950s. 😉

may not be a fountain pen but the pen in "sell me this pen" in the wolf of wall street is striking for me. It is gorgeous.

I need to watch A Beautiful Mind. It's the only book in my entire life that I have dnf'd and I have tried to read it 3 times.

I agree the beautiful mind is my favorite part. One film that shows a fountain pen is The Iron Lady. The scene where Margaret Thatcher is writing the mothers of the fallen of the Falkland Islands.

I have a question, has anyone seen a Parker Sonnet fountain pen in any movies?

At the beginning of Three Days of the Condor, a man is checking off the names on a list of those to be killed and he uses a Mont Blanc 149. Impressive but probably impractical; although assassins can have taste, I suppose.