Film Fashion Friday: That Night in Rio (1941)

Welcome to week four of Musical Month here at Film Fashion Friday. This week's selection, That Night in Rio, comes from 1941 and has an all star cast, including Alice Faye, Don Ameche, and Carmen Miranda.

This film was pretty cute, plot-wise and very extravagant costume-wise. Don Ameche plays an actor who impersonated a baron, whom Ameche also plays. The actor is in love with Carmen Miranda, but also tends to have a wondering eye. Coincidentally, so does the baron. The baron is married to Alice Faye and you find out early in the film that the baron is having some money trouble, which this carries the plot. The story is cute, but nothing super special. There is, however some great early special effects where it appears that the baron and the actor are both on the screen at once, both embodied by Ameche. There are also some great musical numbers by Miranda. If you haven't seen any of her films, this is a great one to start with.

The costumes were designed by Travis Banton, who I have featured here before. Banton really has a keen eye for elaborate styles and that is apparent in this film. Since the film was released in 1941, I am assuming the great attention to detail on the over-the-top costumes was done in an effort to boost homefront morale. Regardless, I am really loving the zany skirts and hats worn by Miranda. While it may not be fully appropriate to dress like this on any day other than Halloween, you can still channel this look by wearing several bangles or several necklaces at one time, to add a little zest to your vintage dress. I am also loving Faye's hair-do that she dons while wearing the gold dress. I might just have to send a request into LisaFreemontStreet!! And gals, do take note of the second musical sequence; it is full of women dressed in their 1941 best.

This week's recommendation also comes from 1941, Moon Over Miami, starring Betty Grable and Don Ameche. While I have placed this film in the recommendation spot, I really should have featured both of these films as the "main" film for this week. It's just that good!! :)

Grable stars as a girl who impersonates a heiress in an effort to attract a rich man to support her aunt and sister, who are also in on the act, posing as Grable's maid and secretary. She ends up falling for two men, one who is actually rich and one who is putting on front like her. Can you guess who is lying??

As with That Night in Rio, Moon Over Miami's costumes were designed by Travis Banton and you can really see the similarities throughout. Every outfit is well put together and there are a lot of little details. Plus, how could a Grable film not be fashionable? :)

Next Friday is the last week for Musical Month. Please keep sending in your requests. :)

Emily

Film Fashion Friday: Tea for Two (1950)

***Sorry this is up SOOOO late!! I had it saved as a draft and never actually hit publish!!****

So the main film for this third week of Musical Month is Tea for Two (1950). I figured I couldn't have a musical month and not feature at least one of Doris Day's films! I really like this film for a variety of reasons, but mainly for its great songs, Doris Day's amazing voice, and great showgirl fashion. I don't know a whole lot about Doris Day and which of her films are the most popular, but I am assuming that most everyone has seen The Pajama Game, so I went with this film. The film tells the story of a rich heiress (Day) and her quest for making it on broadway. To do so, she bets her uncle $25,000, the amount needed for the show to go on, that she can go two whole days without saying yes. What Day doesn't know is that her uncle made some bad investments right before the crash, making him essentially broke. The film is told in flashback and is set in 1929. While the era is suppose to be the late 20's, this film definitely presents the fashion in a very late 40's early 50's style. Leah Rhodes designed the costumes and even though she wasn't able to capture a correct representation of the 1920's, I still feel she did a wonderful job. I especially love all the scenes with the showgirls in their practice clothes. I know I will be using their costumes as some of my summer clothing inspiration. Tea for Two is on on of TMC's Doris Day's box set and is currently an instant on Netflix.

My first recommendation is another Doris Day film, Love Me or Leave Me (1955). The film stars James Cagney alongside Day in a quasi-biographical account of jazz singer's Ruth Etting's life. As with Tea for Two, the film is suppose to take place in the late 20's onto the 30's, but the film's costume suggest otherwise. While I really adore Helen Rose, I do find that one fault with this film's portrayal of the past, although I find this to be the case with many films of the Classical Era and their representation of the past. Having said all that, Rose worked frequently in the musical genre and it shows in this film, with the use of dynamic colors and detailed showgirl costumes. Love Me or Leave Me is on DVD and is currently an instant on Netflix.

My second recommendation for this week is Down Missouri Way (1946). Being that this film was made by one of the poverty row studios, Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC), I had never heard of it until I was searching Netflix for some new films to add to my instant queue. Since it was only a little over an hour, I thought, why not watch it. It actually turned out to be quite good, especially for a poverty row production. The film stars Martha O'Driscoll as a college professor who lives on a farm. When a movie crew comes into town and is looking for a trained mule for their picture, O'Driscoll and her mule are thrown into the mix of a film production. The songs are nicely integrated into the film: the mule won't cooperate unless O'Driscoll sings to her first. From a vintage style perspective, this film holds a lot of inspiration, especially for the coming warmer months. I am really loving the farm look that is so nicely presented, mainly through O'Driscoll's maid. I am also digging the use of plaids and O'Driscoll's glasses. The costumes were done by a PRC costumer, Karlise, who had an extremely short stint in the film fashion world. Karlise only has eleven films to her credit, which is not surprising since many poverty row studios were only in business for a year or two before they ran out of money. Even with her short career, I still think her work on this film made it memorable and certainly worth watching.

Only two more musical posts!! :)

Emily

Film Fashion Friday: Orchestra Wives (1942)

Welcome to week two of Musical Month here at Film Fashion Friday! This week's pick comes from 1942 and stars Ann Rutherford and George Montgomery in Orchestra Wives. I just recently discovered this film and it has since become a fast favorite. If you are into 40s big band musical or are a fan of Glenn Miller, then this picture is for you!

Ann Rutherford stars as a hometown girl, Connie, that falls for Bill (Montgomery), the star trumpet player in one of the most popular bands. When the band travels to her town, Connie makes sure to make it to the show and ends up exchanging kisses with Bill. They then decide they should get married and there beings the real meat of the movie. Connie has a difficult time fitting in with the rest of the wives, making for a musical version of The Women (1939). All of this is inter-cut with the band numbers, all preformed by the Glenn Miller Band. At the conclusion of the film, you are also treated to a performance by the wonderfully talented Nicholas Brothers. If you haven't ever seen them dance, you are really missing out!

Earl Luick designed the costumes for this film and did a truly wonderful job capturing the everyday look of the early 1940s. The main female characters are dressed very much like we would have expected the middle class to have looked like. While their are some gowns, I feel that they are a bit tamer than one who expect a Hollywood starlet to wear to a premiere. I suspect that since this film was made in such a close time frame to the US's entrance into WWII that this could have effected the costuming slightly. Regardless, the main actress are stunning and a true inspiration for anyone looking to recreate a 40s look. And you can't forget the extras!! The extras are also worthy of looks during this film, especially at the big dance where we see a few swing dancers showing off their spectacular moves -- not to mention the great clothing, shoes, and hairstyles. I was really digging Ann Rutherford's hair throughout the entire film and may even try to recreate some of her signature looks in this role. I must say, Rutherford is quite adorable in this role and is definitely much more grown-up then her role as Carreen in Gown with the Wind (1939). Orchestra Wives is currently an instant on netflix and is available on DVD.

My recommendation for this week is Four Jills in a Jeep (1944), which is loosely based on Carole Landis' book of the same title. The book is based on Landis' experiences while touring Europe during WWII entering G.I.s. The book is really interesting and I haven't even made it through the whole thing yet! Four Jills doesn't just feature the four main girls, it also features Betty Grable, Alice Faye, and Carmen Miranda, all doing some kind of a performance. You definitely get a lot of bang for your viewing with this film. Some historians have noticed this as well and have noted that they feel this was 20th Century Fox's way of luring in a bigger audience because they felt the four main girls couldn't carry the film all on their own. While I see their point, I highly disagree. With the lovely Carole Landis singing, the stimulating dancing of Mitzi Mayfair, and the ever so witting comedy from Martha Raye, how could one not enjoy this film?

While Luick didn't have very long career in Hollywood, the costume designer of Four Jills did. Yvonne Wood worked in Hollywood for about forty years and Four Jills was only her second picture, although you wouldn't have ever known it. Wood also does an excellent job of presenting a realistic approach to dress in the 40s. It also helped that the girls were supposed to be on tour in Europe, so, naturally they didn't have their hair and make-up dressers at their disposal. Four Jills in on DVD and is also apart of the Alice Faye Collection Volume 2.

Look for week three's picks next Friday!

Emily

Film Fashion Friday: Cover Girl (1944)

Hello Darling Readers! Welcome to Musical Month for the Film Fashion Friday Series. I am so delighted to share my picks for this month. I love musicals, they are what got me into classic film. I can remember being a very young girl, no more than 7 or 8, watching some of the greatest musicals ever made. I am still a big fan today and thought what better way to welcome in Spring/Summer weather than some cheery and maybe a bit cheesy musicals!

My main pick for this week is Cover Girl (1944) staring Rita Hayworth and Gene Kelly. I seriously adore this film and if you haven't seen it, you need to put in on your Netflix instant queue. I love that the film isn't bombarded with musical numbers, yet the ones that are present are engaging and spectacular in regards to the filmmaker's choice of costuming and color. This time around, I was totally enamored with Eve Arden's head-wear throughout the course of the film, calumniating at the end of the film with the flowered wreath with attached hairnet. I gotta get me one of those!! :)

Anyways, the film tells the story of a Brooklyn showgirl, Hayworth, who want to make it big-time on Broadway. When she appears on the cover of a magazine, Hayworth is then torn between her genuine love for Gene Kelly and her big aspirations for being a top box office draw showgirl. The costumes designed by Muriel King, Gwen Wakeling, and Travis Banton showcase the eloquent look of the mid-1940s in the cuts and shapes of the gowns and suits worn by both Hayworth and her costars. This film also has a great selection of hats that would make any forties enthusiast envious!

^^Here's just a taste of the film, since there seems to be no trailer available^^

This week's additional recommendation is Top Hat (1935), starring Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. I am sure most of you have seen this classic, but on the off chance you haven't; here's a friendly reminder that this is a must see film. Ginger Rogers really has some of the most gorgeous 30s gowns and cute hair styles to boot.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at my picks. Check back next week for some more fantastic musicals!

Emily