Skip to content
Cigars in Movie: A Powerful Prop. EGM Cigars

Cigars in Movies: A Powerful Prop

The use of Cuban cigars in movies is never-ending! There are plenty of iconic scenes and characters in Hollywood that have involved the great commodity. Although it’s more than just a prop – with its never-ending list of connotations, they provide a deeper meaning to the viewers. The media take hold of the ideologies people place on the world of cigars and use them to create a picture. It seems that placing a good old smoke in an actor’s hand greats a whole new persona for their character, whether it’s power or danger – or another one of the common themes associated with cigars. So, for today let’s take a trip to Planet Hollywood and explore the connotations attached to cigars and the power they hold on the big screen. 

Al Pacino Smoking a Cigar. EGM Cigars

Al Pacino Sparking Up a Smoke.

“THE ULTIMATE SYMBOL OF POWER FOR DECADES”

POWER PROP – Cigars have been the ultimate symbol of power for decades! With many brands such as Cohiba Cigars originally being created purely for the enjoyment of those in power – they firmly established their place on a pedestal. There were times when they were completely exclusive to people of high diplomatic status. Take the Trinidad Funadores Cigar for example – it was created as a gift for political leader Fidel Castro and remained unavailable to the public for years. They symbolise someone’s status in an instance and this is certainly used as a way of harnessing a character’s power in a film. Think about the classic Mafia films ‘Scarface’, ‘The Untouchables’ – the list goes on. You’ll always spot a cigar – the Mafia and Cigars sort of go hand-in-hand in movies. Why? It perfectly portrays the sense of power these mobster characters have.

Brian Cox as Winston Churchill. EGM Cigars

Brian Cox as Winston Churchill.

“AN INTEGRAL PART OF THEIR IMAGE”

ICONIC IMAGE – There are many famous cigar smokers and some of which are so iconic there are films all about them! Let’s look at the avid Romeo y Julieta Cigars fan and the inspiration behind the classic Romeo y Julieta Churchills Cigar – Winston Churchill. He left a giant footprint in history and is recognised as a cigar-smoking icon in the world of Habanos. So, there’s no wonder he’s appeared in many films! When it comes to people like Churchill, who were barely seen without a stogie by his side – a cigar will inevitably make an appearance in the film. It’s an integral part of their image and therefore a must-have part of the character’s costume. 

Gordan Gekko in Wall Street. EGM Cigars

Michael Douglas as Gordan Gekko in Wall Street.

“PENULTIMATE SYMBOL OF BUSINESS SUCCESS”

SERIOUS BUSINESS – Now on to the Hollywood version of the corporate industry. Cigars commonly appear in films focused around successful businessmen and the white-collar world, which is not surprising considering the history behind cigars and businessmen. Since cigars have this luxury tag – they’ve become the penultimate symbol of business success. In films like ‘Wall Street’, this association helped portray the character Gordan Gekko as the self-satisfied persona.

“BREAKING THE NORM”

EMBLEM OF REBELLION – There’s a clear portrayal of smoking to be rebellious, in the entertainment industry. It’s often looked at as a taboo subject and we are generally taught to stay away from it from a young age. This means naturally it tends to give the characters a rebellious image, as they’re breaking the ‘norm’. 

That’s some of the most common symbols cigars are used for in movies – as you can see it’s more than just a prop. It provides a deeper insight into the persona of each character at one glance! We’re sure all this talk about smokes is driving your cigar palate crazy – so head over to our Cuban cigar shop to browse a wide selection of Cuban cigars online. Not sure which ones to pick? Check out our Cuban cigar blog for some top picks: 

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published..

Quick Shop