Wow. Who knew Warren Beatty had been so gorgeous?! He is still a hansome older gentleman but when he was younger...well, I just don't know of any male actor today who is as attractive. It is not only his looks but Beatty is such a gifted actor - it is this that also makes him so appealing.
Robert Redford
After I saw "This Property is Condemned", which is a film made in the 50's with Natalie Wood and Robert Redford and based on the Tennessee Williams play, I was completely obsessed with Robert Redford (the young Redford!) Wowza he was HOTT! Some compare to him Brad Pitt and I have to say there is resemblance but Redford was way more handsome.
Gabriel Adrian was THE fashion designer of the 1930s and well into the 40's golden era of film history. His beautiful gowns, specially designed for each star and film, have graced the beauties of Joan Crawford, Jean Harlow, Norma Shearer, and Greta Garbo. I would venture to say many of today's designers, if they are quality at all, would know of Adrian, as he was known only by "Adrian."
This is one of my most cherished coffee table books http://www.amazon.com/Gowns-Adrian-The-Years-1928-1941/dp/0810908980. In every popular 1930s movies you will see, Adrian...if it was a worthwhile film in my humble opinion, will feature this talented and gifted designer. He was on contract exclusively for MGM the most powerful and glamorous studio of its day in the 30's.
Here are a few of my favorite Adrian gowns in some of the films his work was featured.
China Seas (1935), Jean Harlow
It was difficult to find pictures online of this spectacular dress. Here is a YouTube video where you can see it in action a little better. How lovely is this? I love the beautiful sleeves and how they attach so lightly to the silk. Just gorgeous! Not hard to see how many designers of today get their inspiration indirectly or directly from Adrian.
The Bride Wore Red (1937), Joan Crawford
The actual red dress was a character of its own in this movie. I found this photo online of the dress, where it was displayed in an exhibition at a fashion museum in NYC. I would die to go to an exhibit of "Gowns from the Golden Age". There have been some such exhibits that include a gown or two but none exclusively devoted to the fashion, interestingly enough. I suppose it is because the gowns are so hard to track down. I think many of the gowns are owned by private collectors. I hope so! I would hate to think of any of those beautiful gowns being stuffed in a chest, covered with dust, eaten by moths in some Hollywood archive. Ugh, just the thought upsets me! At least the gowns live on in the films.
Dinner at Eight (1933)
Adrian also designed all the beautiful gowns worn in Dinner at Eight. I wrote about this film starring Jean Harlow in my Jean Harlow post. Here is a video featuring some of the gowns from the film. I especially love the dressing gown with the huge feathery sleeves. I would wear that now seriously! What girl doesn't like to feel glamorous while she is getting ready for any evening out? :)
Before there was Marilyn Monroe, there was Jean Harlow. In fact, one could say there would be no Marilyn Monroe had there not been a Harlow. Jean Harlow is the original blonde bombshell. She was one (if not THE) top film starof the 1930's. Her trademark platinum blonde hair caused a sensation and soon women were emulating this style. Marilyn Monroe was enamored with Jean Harlow and grew up watching her movies over and over when her mother would leave her all day at the local movie theater. Their acting styles are very different, with Harlow being more sassy and Monroe the soft-spoken sexpot. However, they both exuded an innocence in their demeanor that came so natural and rarely has this combination of innocence and sex appeal ever been so personified as with Harlow and Monroe.
Both stars also succumbed to tragic deaths. Harlow died at the young age of 26 from kidney failure. Harlow was working up until her death and she was the quite the trooper, never missing a day of work. She was working on her last film, Saratoga, with her good friend Clark Gable and he noticed how bloated she was and sweaty during a scene. It was he who insisted they stop shooting and she get rest. A few days later Harlow died in the hospital. There wasn't a sound on the MGM lot for 3 hours it was said after her death was announced. It shocked the nation and was a tragic loss. Fortunately Harlow's vitality and talent lives on in her films. Here are some of my favorite Harlow films:
Dinner at Eight (1933)
Harlow really stole the show in this star-studded film. Nobody can do a hissy fit and tell someone off like Harlow! In reality, the star stated that she was actually quite opposite of her screen image, saying she was "handicapped by a very even temperament." I still like to think of her as having a bit of a temper like in her films though! Here are a few videos I like capturing scenes from the movie. I will likely do a few posts on Jean Harlow, as she is my favorite actress aside from Joan Crawford.
Suzy
This was one of the first (and few) films that Harlow does not play comedy. I love this film and it showed that she was also a quality dramatic actress. She was so touching in the film. Lovely.
Love this song "Did I Remember?" Yes, that is Cary Grant as her co-star!
Wife vs. Secretary (1936) c0-starring Clark Gable and Myrna Loy
