Friday, March 1, 2024

Save the Date! 7th Annual FASHION IN FILM OF TCMFF at Hollywood Heritage Museum 4/17

 

The theme of the 2024 TCM Classic Film Festival (TCMFF) is "Most Wanted: Crime and Justice in Film" and that is just some of what will be shared in the 7th annual Fashion in Film of TCMFF event!


Wednesday, April 17
Fashion in Film of TCMFF 2024

Hollywood Heritage Museum
7:30 - 9:00 pm

Tickets: $15 for Hollywood Heritage members/$25 for non-members
Click here to purchase tickets

Fashion in Film of TCMFF 2024 will delve into the stories behind the style of films featured in the festival's programming. As always, you will enjoy beautiful images from the movies accompanied by a conversation about film history, backstories of the stars, costume and fashion designers, and proof of their ongoing influence.

Costume design helps establish character in film and is often integral to plot lines as well. In addition, many of the actors and actresses were close with their costume designers, so you can get insights into their lives along with the evolution of their style.

Movies I'll discuss at this year's event include everything from The Mad Miss Manton (1938) to the neo noir Chinatown (1974). Attendees will also enjoy a costume exhibition in honor of MGM's 100th anniversary.

More details to come as festival programming continues to be announced!


Barbara Stanwyck (far left, above) in The Mad Miss Manton (1938)
and Faye Dunaway and Jack Nicholson in Chinatown (1974)


This event is not officially affiliated with the TCM Classic Film Festival. 
If you wish to purchase tickets or have any questions about the event, please contact the Hollywood Heritage Museum.

Thursday, January 4, 2024

Featured in Box Set Celebrating Columbia's Centennial and HIS GIRL FRIDAY

 

Happy New Year! 2024 is the 100th anniversary of Columbia Pictures and I'm excited to announce I have my own featurette included in a 4K boxed set that will be released February 13 to celebrate the studio's centennial. I spoke about His Girl Friday (1940) and its costume designer Robert Kalloch. It's a fascinating story with many layers (in more ways than one).

Of course Kalloch's contributions to Columbia don't end there. As the studio's head costume designer from 1932 to 1940, his work also included the equally iconic wardrobe in It Happened One Night (1934) along with Twentieth Century (1934), The Awful Truth (1937), and Holiday (1938).

As you know, I always love showing the ongoing influence of classic film and its costume design. If you watched The Morning Show this past season, Jennifer Aniston wore a pinstripe suit from Dolce & Gabbana for her character's final power move. Of course its origins are courtesy of Kalloch and Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday.

The limited-edition box set features other Columbia Classics through the decades, such as Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967), Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), and Sleepless in Seattle (1993)Click here to see the full list of films and all the extras that are included in this new collection. Because of the new release, I appeared on The Extras podcast with Steven Smith to discuss everything from the early days of Columbia Pictures to exploring even more of what makes His Girl Friday so great.


Kalloch's style story for Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday 
starts with this striped coat and coordinated hat


His Girl Friday's iconic pinstripe suit has inspired countless others in film and fashion,
including the Dolce & Gabbana suit Jennifer Aniston wears in the climax of The Morning Show



Kalloch designed many celebrated wardrobes in film for Columbia including (clockwise from top left)
The Awful Truth (1937), Holiday (1938), It Happened One Night (1934), and Twentieth Century (1934)

Friday, September 15, 2023

September's Conclusion of FILM NOIR STYLE Series at the American Cinematheque

 

Thanks to all who came to the final event in my Film Noir Style series for the American Cinematheque! It was such a pleasure meeting so many new people and spending time with good friends through the series - and all of it because of our shared love of film noir. Much love to Jeff Mantor and Sean Hathwell of the Larry Edmunds Bookshop for all their support through my events. And thanks to Ryan Marker, manager of the Aero Theatre, for being such an incredible host. I can't wait to return.

And a BIG thanks to Theresa Brown who flew all the way across the country from NYC just to see my closing event and Jane Greer in Out of the Past (1947) on the big screen. These events just reminded me yet again what makes our film family so special. I love you all.


For my "Post-War Years" event, I chose a white DKNY dress with blue polkadots and a sweetheart neckline in honor of Rita Hayworth's opening costume from Jean Louis in The Lady from Shanghai (1948). I paired my dress with raspberry patent pumps and a white patent purse.


On screen as the audience entered the theatre


The beginning of my presentation and the
six films noir I covered in the "Post-War Years" event



A couple pics from the audience courtesy of attendee Scott Plissken



With my partner in crime Jeff Mantor of the Larry Edmunds Bookshop (above)
and Aero Theatre manager Ryan Marker (below)



Theresa Brown flew all the way from NYC just to attend my event (above)
and the wonderful Monica Banken (below) attends so many of my events



I was so thrilled that Kevin was able to attend my events this year
and meet so many members of my film family


Theresa stayed and played around Santa Monica for two days, visiting many of the historic places I recommended to her. After my event, we just had to take her to Guido's restaurant in West LA since it was a favorite haunt of Hollywood luminaries like director Michael Cimino (The Deerhunter).


Until next time!

Monday, August 21, 2023

You're Invited! FILM NOIR STYLE Concludes 9/10 with "Post-War Years" and OUT OF THE PAST


On Sunday, September 10, my 4-part Film Noir Style series at the American Cinematheque comes to a conclusion with The Post-War Years 1947-1950. After my presentation, we will screen Out of the Past (1947) starring the mysterious Jane Greer and featuring costumes by Edward Stevenson.
 

Sunday, September 10
The Post-War Years and Out of the Past (1947)

2 pm presentation and screening

Aero Theatre
Santa Monica, CA

Click here to purchase tickets

In the fourth and final event of the Film Noir Style series, I will discuss and present the historical context of the time, dramatic changes that happened in both fashion and film after World War II, and the backstories of 6 films noir from the era - Dead Reckoning (1947), Lady in the Lake (1947), Out of the Past (1947), The Lady from Shanghai (1948), The Asphalt Jungle (1950), and Sunset Boulevard (1950).

You can see photos from the first two events in the series Before the WarThe War Years, and the Year of Transition 1946 on the site.


See you soon!

Saturday, August 19, 2023

July was a Celebration of 1946 FILM NOIR STYLE at the Aero

 

Thanks to all who came to my third Film Noir Style event for the American Cinematheque - "The Year of Transition 1946"! Everyone said they had a wonderful time and it was such fun celebrating the peak year of film noir style. Gilda, The Killers, The Postman Always Rings Twice, and The Big Sleep are all among the iconic film noir that premiered that year and continue to be highly influential on fashion.

Seeing Ava Gardner in The Killers on the big screen was extraordinary. Every actor is pure perfection in it and you can't get much better than its cinematographer Woody Bredell.

As always, much love to Jeff Mantor of the Larry Edmunds Bookshop for supporting me and another book signing.

See you Sunday, September 10 for the final event in the Film Noir Style series - "The Post-War Years 1947-1950" with a screening of Out of the Past (1947)!


I wore a red Dress the Population sheath with a sweetheart neckline, 
a signature 1940s design detail that Vera West incorporated into one of Ava's costumes in The Killers.
 And I paired it with leopard Sam Edelman pumps and a red patent vintage purse.




Starting by sharing the five film noir that I would discuss at the event


Signing books once again with Jeff Mantor of the historic Larry Edmunds Bookshop



See you September 10 for "The Post-War Years" and a screening of Out of the Past (1947)!

Saturday, July 8, 2023

You're Invited! FILM NOIR STYLE Continues with "Year of Transition 1946" and THE KILLERS

 

On Saturday, July 29, my 4-part Film Noir Style series continues at the Aero Theatre with The Year of Transition 1946. After my presentation, we will screen The Killers (1946) starring the sensual Ava Gardner and featuring costumes by Vera West.
 

Saturday, July 29
The Year of Transition 1946 and The Killers (1946)

2 pm presentation and screening

Aero Theatre
Santa Monica, CA

Click here to purchase tickets

In the third event of the Film Noir Style series, I will present and discuss the impact of the end of World War II on the home front along with the backstories and iconic style of five film noir from 1946 - The Killers, Gilda, The Postman Always Rings Twice, The Big Sleep, and Notorious.

You can see photos from the first two events in the series Before the War and The War Years on the site.


See you soon!

Friday, June 30, 2023

Last Weekend was Filled with War Years' FILM NOIR STYLE at the American Cinematheque

 

Thanks to everyone who came to last Sunday's Film Noir Style "The War Years" event at the American Cinematheque! The Aero Theatre had a very full house - even more than the first event in the series - and the responses to both my talk and book have been wonderfully overwhelming.

I loved that fact that several people who saw my intro to The Philadelphia Story for Last Remaining Seats came to hear an even more extended version of my presentations! In addition, many new people came who had been following me for years and were finally able to attend an event. And seeing Laura on the big screen? Just WOW.

As always, a big thanks to Jeff Mantor of the Larry Edmunds Bookshop for being by my side and doing all the heavy lifting (literally).

Next up - "The Year of Transition 1946" with a screening of The Killers (1946) on Saturday, July 29. Visit the American Cinematheque's site for tickets.


For "The War Years," I chose a black Donna Morgan sheath dress 
that featured signature design elements from the 1940s, 
especially the keyhole and sleek minimal silhouette


I paired my dress with a black 1950s lizard embossed leather handbag 
and bright blue snake embossed d'orsay pumps


With my partner in crime Jeff Mantor of the Larry Edmunds Bookshop 
as the theatre opens its doors


The welcome screen for the event


Opening my talk
with the six films featured in the event



Celebrating the importance of the Aero Theatre during World War II


I was delighted that some friends were able to come to the event, 
including the warm and wonderful Monica Banken
and author Sloan De Forest



See you July 29 for "The Year of Transition 1946" and a screening of The Killers (1946)!

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