The Movie as Muse

Hollywood offers an untapped wealth of inspiration and it's no doubt the design world takes notice. I recently presented several interior designers with the question "What film(s) have influenced your designs?" and received a variety of insightful -- and witty -- answers that reflect something I have always known -- we all want to live in a movie set.

Known for her timeless classic designs, interior designer and President of Mark Hampton Inc. Alexa Hampton fittingly selected period films such as Gosford Park (2001) and Brideshead Revisited (2008).

Gosford Park

Brideshead Revisited

Charlotte Moss chose the 1958 musical Auntie Mame with Rosalind Russell (which also features some memorable costumes and witty banter with her bff Verna Charles)...

Charlotte also selected the 1956 classic Giant with Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson (who portray the Texas cattle family known as the Benedicts) and loved how the rooms--much like the characters -- changed over time. The film was shot on location in the tiny town of Marfa, Texas and the massive painting which hung in the Benedict's home can now be seen in San Antonio's Menger Hotel if you are ever in the area.

Nora Marra of Nora C. Marra Inc. in Chicago was inspired by the dressing table and bed linens of Manderlay in Rebecca (1940).....

Rebecca's Bedroom sketch (note the wonderfully patterned ceiling)

And finished set...

as well as the film Philadelphia Story (1940) with its "glorious interiors and french doors that open to terraces in every room." She also chose the sets from The Thin Man series "with its endless fabulous cocktail shakers and serving carts." The photo below with the Hollywood - codes - appropriate twin beds is from After the Thin Man (1936) and the fabric is very reminiscent of an eighties Alan Campbell design.

After the Thin Man and its wonderful use of symmetry

Philadelphia Story with James Stewart and Katherine Hepburn

and the chintz filled interiors and greek key border lined fireplace

Author, interior and home furnishings designer Celerie Kemble also chose Philadelphia Story as well as HBO's recent Grey Gardens with its wonderful replication of the famed Grey Gardens of East Hampton.

Grey Gardens House is an exact copy of the original

on Lily Pond Lane

The living room in better days

Ironically Philadelphia designer and Chelsea House antiques owner Shannon Eldredge did not choose Philadelphia Story, selecting a film I have not seen -- The Grass is Greener (1958) with Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, Jean Simmons and Robert Mitchum.

Interior designer extraordinaire Jonathan Adler picked one of my favorites Pillow Talk (1959). He notes, "Doris Day plays an interior designer and her apartment couldn't be more chic. I particularly love her color scheme -- it's mostly grey and white but with pops of jewel tones. I often think about that palette when I design."

Pillow Talk and its Manhattan interiors

Rock Hudson and his gadget-laden bachelor pad

Adler also mentioned a film I had not thought of before -- the 1971 comedy A New Leaf with Elaine May and Walter Mathau. He loves the "deluxe suburban interiors" and "wants to live on Mathau's estate with its oriental rugs, chesterfield sofas and priceless antiquities mixed with Pop Art and mod lighting."

He also referenced another of my all-time favorite campy films -- X, Y and Zee (1972) with Michael Caine, Elizabeth Taylor and Susannah York (and not to be confused with another Taylor classic, The VIP's with Richard Burton). The film was shot in London, very swinging sixties and in Adler's words a "go-go Baronial Style that's uniquely English." Unfortunately, all I could find was this photo of La Liz and a glimpse of her decadent roman bar....it's so sixties.

Photo Credits: Margaret Herrick Library, Universal Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Paramount Pictures, BBC Films, HBO Films, USA Films, Warner Brothers and MGM.

Valentino: The Last Emporer

Whoever came up with the phrase "The Emperor has no clothes" certainly did not know Valentino.

Fashion designer Valentino Garavani (a.k.a. Valentino) is known for his legendary styles, combining the best of Paris couture with Italian fabrics and workmanship. He began his career in l959, launched a collection in 1962 which led to one of the largest haute couture and ready to wear empires in the world.

The feature length documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor has been out for some time and is making its way throughout the country. Rich in beauty, steeped in couture and ladened with pugs, the film offers a portrait of the man who has dressed everyone from Jackie Onassis to Gwyneth Paltrow. The style of the film has been compared to one of my favorite Italian flicks, La Dolce Vita (1960) and offers a glimpse into both his personal and business life and everything in between. Vanity Fair writer Matt Tyrnauer is the film's director.

For those of us who have not seen the film, producer Frederic Tcheng was very nice to share with me these images. Eventually Valentino will be out on DVD and will be a "must have" for any collection. Check the website for schedules and don't let this one get away....Bruno you can see any day.

The legendary designer with his models

His beloved Pugs travel everywhere

The opulent use of the color red (known as rosso Valentino) is a signature in a Valentino design

The film culminates with a retrospective/ extravaganza celebrating his 45th year in fashion at the Ara Pacis Museum in Rome. Marking the end of an era, the ceremony was certainly fitting for an Emperor.


Photo credits: Frederic Tcheung/Acolyte Films

Four Legged Stars

While there is no discounting the cinema's power to make a star, we often forget our four legged friends have enjoyed their time on the big screen as well. From Lassie and Flicka to Babe, Beethoven and Benji, we have laughed, cried and given the spike in spotted dog adoptions after 101 Dalmations, we have been influenced as well.

Here are a few of the famous and infamous feline, canine, equine and dare I say swines to grace the silver screen:

Lassie Come Home (1943) Pardon the pun but the beloved baby boomer television show was on the tail of the hit book and films. This particular version starred a young Elizabeth Taylor and Roddy McDowell and a canine actor named Pal as Lassie.

My Friend Flicka (1943) and Flicka (2006). The original starred yet again Roddy McDowell and quite the tearjerker. Watch at your own risk.

Old Yeller (1957) Yet another four hanky tearjerker film with fifties/sixties television icons Fess Parker and Chuck Connors.

The Cat From Outer Space (1978) Another animal film starring Roddy McDowell (!!!) with only a script that Hollywood could dream up.

Asta in the Thin Man series: Wire haired terrier made famous (think pre-Frasier) in the Thin Man detective series with Myrna Loy and William Powell. Shown below is The Shadow of the Thin Man (1941).

That Darn Cat (1965 and remake 1997) Hayley Mills in the original and Christina Ricci in the remake (somehow McDowell must have slept through the casting call) star in this Disney romp about bank robbers and a "mischievous cat." Isn't that a redundant term?

Any cat in a James Bond movie -- A white cat is always seen being stroked in the lap of a villian (seen below is SPECTRE's chief Blofeld) as he plots Bond's demise. The cat never has a name and looks pretty miserable.

Cat in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) The infamous scene where Audrey Hepburn dumps him out of the taxi and into the night's rain would draw all sorts of ASPCA complaints today. Thankfully she came to her senses.

101 Dalmations (1996) Was there ever a better contrast to Cruella de Vil? The childhood book comes to life on the screen not once (1961) but three times (also 2003 when they go to London), sparking in an interest in not only dalmation puppies but anything with a black and white design. Glenn Close as Cruella practically steals the show.

Benji (1974-2004) The poodle, schnauzer and cocker spaniel mix became a television and film sensation, no doubt spawning millions of namesakes across the country. The story lines were pretty similar to Lassie as he was always helping someone overcome something.

For the Love of Benji (1977)

Beethoven (1992-2008) The slobbering St. Bernard named after famed composer Ludwig Beethoven was the focus of six films. Can't blame Hollywood for cashing in on a good concept.

Babe (1998) is the l995 Australian film about a cute little pig with an identity crisis who wants to become a sheep dog. I defy you to order bacon again after seeing this film.

Legally Blonde One and Two (2003): Her pomeranian Bruiser (played by Mooney) was as much a fashion accessory as well as beloved pet.

and last but not least, Marly and Me (2008): I am sure it was a cute movie but no way was I sitting through a movie where the animal has to be put to sleep. Thankfully for the producers book lovers and audiences felt differently and the story was a huge hit.

Owen Wilson, Jennifer Anniston and one of 22 Marley the dogs

used in the film

Dogs and horses (National Velvet, International Velvet, Phar Lap, Seabiscuit and the list goes on and on) seem to fare better in Hollywood than cats who are almost always cast as ominous (The Black Cat), fearful and hissing or even X-rated (remember Felix the Cat?) Perhaps it's a conspiracy or their personalities...ever try to get a cat to pose?

Many thanks to friend and designer Nora Marra for this week's blog suggestion and sorry I never got Binky an agent as I could have been a great stage door mom.

Photo Credits: Fox 2000, Paramount Pictures, MGM, ABC, Walt Disney Pictures and 20th Century Fox, Dressed: A Century of Hollywood Costume Design (Harper Collins).

Tony Walton, Michael Jackson and The Wiz that Was

While we are on day five of the no-doubt-it-will-be-tabloid-torrid-soon Michael Jackson news cycle, I thought I would feature some little seen images from what I hope were his happier days.

Emmy, Tony and Oscar winning production, set and costume designer Tony Walton (All That Jazz, Mary Poppins and Broadway's Pippin just to name a few) shared with me his Oscar nominated set and costume work for the 1978 film The Wiz. The film was the adaptation of the hit Broadway musical of the seventies and the African American version of the L. Frank Baum classic The Wizard of Oz. Directed by Sidney Lumet, it featured Diana Ross as Dorothy, Nipsey Russell as the Tinman, Richard Pryor as The Wiz and a young Michael Jackson as The Scarecrow. Lena Horne (Lumet's now former mother in law) played Glinda the Good Witch. (And yes, I thought it was Glenda all these years too).

Walton's sketches for Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow

Tinman Sketch

Sketch for the Cowardly Lion

I was fortunate to work on the publicity for the film although all I can remember was the

great party held at the World Trade Center (which was the location for many of the film's Emerald City scenes). Universal spent a record $24 million on the production, making the movie the must expensive musical made up until that time. Studio execs were worried Ross was too old to effectively play Dorothy and rumor had it she won the coveted role by promising to deliver the pop sensation as The Scarecrow. Sadly Jackson's dance skills were never fully utilized in the film (of course this was pre-Moonwalk days). And even sadder for his fans, he had only one solo number, "You Can't Win" which was at the film's end.

Ross, Russell and Jackson on set

Jackson as The Scarecrow

The multi-talented Walton (one of the most charming men you will ever meet and former husband of Julie Andrews) designed the sets along with Philip Rosenberg, creating a yellow brick road out of Congoleum at the Astoria studios in Queens. Apparently the flooring company came out with a style called Yellow Brick Road in their collection shortly after the film premiered. Many of the film's special effects were created with matte paintings (as evidenced by the Manhattan skyline scenes below) by the Hollywood master Albert Whitlock (no relation!).

Photo Credits: Tony Walton, Universal Pictures.

A side note: While it has been quite a week for notable passings, I have to mention my beloved cat of fifteen years who passed away over the weekend. Binky had hyperthyroid disease for the past five years, a condition which is treatable but eventually leads to kidney disease, heart failure etc. If your animal is losing weight rapidly, I urge you to get him/her checked immediately and begin treatment. The disease is possibly caused by the chemicals found in fabrics and carpet -- I guess all these years of Binky hanging around my interior design office took its toll on him. His passing has certainly taken its toll on me!

Binky 1994-2009

Sixties Cinema Style: Lisa Perry

One of my favorite fashion designers is Lisa Perry. Her look is contemporary yet Jackie O with a twist and reminds me of one of my all time favorite design periods in film history, the sixties.

It's as if Perry channelled Doris Day, Audrey Hepburn,  a touch of Julie Christie in Darling (1965), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)  and a dash of Faye Dunaway in Thomas Crown Affair (1968). Her interiors and color palette personify sixties mod in every sense of the word and notes people often remarked  "This is where Barbarella meets Austin Powers" of her 2002 NYC apartment.

Perry's Dining Room interior, 2002

Perry's beachfront house, present day

Simple yet bold colors are the hallmarks of a Perry interior

Her sixties inspired room complete with shag circular carpet

 Saarinen inspired sets from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey

The Chicago native is said to be an aficionado and collector of sixties vintage couture (particularly Courreges, the iconic designer whose look was a mix of couture and sci fi) and grew up in a house filled with Saarinen and Marimekko. Schooled in textile technology -- and no doubt osmosis as her family owned a textile company --  the fashion designer has completely modernized the crisp primary colors and three dimensional shapes of the sixties into a timeless collection for our closets as well as our homes. 

Perry's  Block dress

and Op Art A line from the 2009 collection

Style icon and legendary actress Audrey Hepburn

Givenchy's sketches for Hepburn in Charade (1963)

Faye Dunaway and Steve McQueen in The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)

Doris Day and Rock Hudson in Pillow Talk (1959)

Julie Christie on set with director

John Schlesinger in Darling (1965)

Perry's flagship store in New York's Soho

For more on Lisa Perry, check out her website here.

Photo Credits: Lisa Perry, Vogue Living Houses Gardens People, Margaret Herrick Library, 

MGM, United Artists.