Most guys who are making the movies, want you to look different than the cowboy hats of today. And to stand out, so as to be better identified.
I've reserched hats quite a bit. There were all kinds and the ones that were turned up were turned up over the right eye, so that the guy didn't have a brim in his way when he was shooting a rifle.
When you were far from town, you'd wear what you had, but when you got to town, you'd buy a good new one.
Check out the hats in Russel and Remington pictures. Russel painted what he saw. If he painted it, thats the way it was.
As far as I can find, the crowns were the first part of the hat that got shaped, with a flat brim that took on it's own shape with use.
The flat brim was to protect you from the elements. Not like today, when most can get in a pickup or tractor cab.
Robert Duvals hat in the movie, was off, by a few years, IMHO. But, he can ride a horse. And I thought the other guy did pretty good, considering he's a plane mechanic.
:wink: