John Travolta says his round glasses and berets at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival were a deliberate homage to old-school auteur filmmakers as he promoted “Propeller One-Way Night Coach,” which stars his daughter Ella Bleu Travolta. Hours earlier, he was surpris
When John Travolta stepped into the Cannes spotlight in 2026, it wasn’t just his smile that caught attention. It was the look: round glasses and a series of different colored berets as he promoted his directorial debut, “Propeller One-Way Night Coach.”
The actor. 72. has become used to being recognized on red carpets. but at Cannes the style landed like a message—one he now says he intended to send. In an interview shared Monday. Travolta explained that he dressed to impress by “channeling the look of an auteur filmmaker. ” framing the moment as part costume. part craft.
“I said, ‘I’m a director this time,” Travolta explained. “’You’re an actor, play the part of a director, look like an old-school director.’”
He said he looked up pictures of old-school directors from across decades—“the twenties. thirties. fourties. fifties. sixties”—and decided that the berets and glasses were the right visual shorthand. “I thought, ‘That’s what I’m doing. I’m doing an homage to being a director. so I’m going to play the part of being a director.’”.
In Cannes, the look also served a practical purpose. Travolta said the black, white, navy and brown berets helped him remember where he was when he looks back. “I’ve been around for over 50 years doing movies. but I can’t tell. when I look back. the difference between the events. ” he said. Now. he added. “I’ll know — ‘Oh. that was Propeller One-Way Night Coach. that was Cannes. that’s when I won the Palme d’Or. ’ and I’ll have a vividness of it.”.
That Palme d’Or moment came before his film’s world premiere Friday. The festival’s artistic director. Thierry Frémaux. surprised Travolta with the Honorary Palme d’Or ahead of “Propeller One-Way Night Coach.” Wearing a white beret. Travolta appeared visibly moved as he clutched his chest while accepting the award. “This is beyond the Oscar. I can’t believe this. This is the last thing I expected.”.
“Propeller One-Way Night Coach” is written, directed and co-produced by Travolta. The story is based on his own 1997 children’s novel of the same name. The film follows a young aspiring pilot named Jeff and his mother as they embark on a cross-country journey to Hollywood.
Travolta’s 26-year-old daughter, Ella Bleu Travolta, stars in the movie as a flight attendant. The film will begin streaming globally on Apple TV later this month.
Travolta also leaned into the flying theme in a very literal way. He has had his pilot’s license since he was 22, and he flew his own plane to the movie’s premiere while wearing a navy beret, as shown in a video he shared on Instagram.
There was a clear through-line from the berets to the award and back again: Travolta wasn’t just dressed for Cannes—he was trying to mark it. The look served as an homage. a memory cue. and then. almost immediately. a backdrop to the surprise recognition that turned a film promotion into something closer to a milestone.
John Travolta Cannes Film Festival Honorary Palme d'Or Propeller One-Way Night Coach Ella Bleu Travolta Apple TV Thierry Frémaux film director debut
Wait so he wore berets because he’s doing “homage”?? Seems like just fashion to me lol.
I don’t get it. Cannes is like… serious film stuff. Why is he dressing like a professor from a movie? Also his daughter in it? Nepotism vibes.
The article says he was surprised when he stepped out into the spotlight but then it’s “deliberate”?? Like which one is it. I think he forgot what he wore and then made up a story.
Berets and round glasses = auteur? Next thing you know everyone’s gonna start directing by putting on a hat. Also it says he “won the Palme d’Or” which I’m pretty sure didn’t happen??