The Zippo on screen: an impressive career

The filmography of the Zippo lighter could make a Brad Pitt or a Sean Connery pale in comparison. With some 2,000 roles to its name, it leads the field of “actors’ props”, behind cars and jewellery. That record helped to make the accessory widely known.

From a fairy tale to a future mapped out

The Zippo lighter made its first film appearance in the 1950s. James Dean, in Rebel Without a Cause and Giant, carried his lighter like a genuine luxury accessory. The impact was immediate, carried by a leading screen figure of the day. Like any actor, the Zippo lighter had to audition for the part in question. And the advantage of being famous is that there is no need to apply: directors come to you. In other words, Zippo has never had to spend a penny to see one of its lighters appear on the big or small screen.

Notable appearances

From the blockbuster to the small independent production, the Zippo entered cinema through the back door. Over 75 years, it has held many roles, sometimes even key ones in which it was the means of survival or the answer to a desperate situation. In 1953, the Zippo lighter cemented its fame in the hands of Donna Reed, lighting Montgomery Clift’s cigarettes in From Here to Eternity. It still appears in significant films today, such as Constantine with Keanu Reeves.

The Zippo lighter, a mark of quality

Of all the brands on the market, the Zippo lighter is the one that appears most often on screen, and that is no accident. Its flame is well regarded by those who use it, and the wide range of designs means that everyone can find a style of their own. The lighters are also given as gifts to film crews on some productions. Sturdy, well drawn and widely used on set, the Zippo had all it needed to become a fixture among smoking accessories.