Masonry in Cinema: Part II
In August of 2017, we published an article that explored the presence of Freemasonry and Masonic symbolism in cinema! Based on your comments on the article, there are a vast number of references that were not included in the first article. We decided to look for more of these references and put together a "sequel" list!
Our final instance of Masonic symbols in pop culture does not come from a feature-length film, but rather from a four and a half minute long music video released in 1991. In the video for the song It's Tricky by the hip-hop group Run-D.M.C., a member of the audience that is being swindled by Penn and Teller can be seen wearing a 33° hat for the Southern Masonic Jurisdiction. It is unclear if anyone involved in the production of the song or video was a mason, or if they simply thought the hat was stylish and decided to have it in the video.
In August of 2017, we published an article that explored the presence of Freemasonry and Masonic symbolism in cinema! Based on your comments on the article, there are a vast number of references that were not included in the first article. We decided to look for more of these references and put together a "sequel" list!
One of the most common replies we received was The Man Who Would Be King (1975) a movie starring Michael Caine and Sean Connery. The film is based on a short story by Rudyard Kipling who was a mason himself. Caine and Connery play characters named Peachy and Dan, respectively, both of whom are 3° Masons. You can see this through their conversations and the Masonic symbol that Sean Connery can be seen wearing on his robe, which is pictured above.
Another film with Masonic references is the 2010 remake of the Western classic True Grit. The film, which originally starred Bro. John Wayne in the 1969 film, alludes to the main character, Mattie Ross’, father being a mason. When Ms. Ross is going through her father's possession, a Square and Compass pendant can be seen near the middle of the pile. Additionally, when making arrangements for her fathers funeral, Mattie is clear that he should be buried in his Masonic Apron. If we look at the book this movie is based on, we learn that her father was a member of Danville Lodge.
Our final instance of Masonic symbols in pop culture does not come from a feature-length film, but rather from a four and a half minute long music video released in 1991. In the video for the song It's Tricky by the hip-hop group Run-D.M.C., a member of the audience that is being swindled by Penn and Teller can be seen wearing a 33° hat for the Southern Masonic Jurisdiction. It is unclear if anyone involved in the production of the song or video was a mason, or if they simply thought the hat was stylish and decided to have it in the video.
Are there more references or allusions to Freemasonry or Scottish Rite in pop culture that we missed? Feel free to let us know, and your suggestion may make it into a future article on the subject!
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The Bodies of the Scottish Rite, sitting in the Valley of Boston, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, acknowledge and yield allegiance to the Supreme Council, 33°, of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America, whose Grand East is in Lexington, Massachusetts.