Showing posts with label 50's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 50's. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Seven Year Itch (1955) – Movie《七年之痒》

No matter you’ve watched the movie or not, I bet you’ve heard of the scenario; you’ve seen the pictures: Marilyn Monroe (玛丽莲梦露) in a lovely white dress with a huge, fluffy skirt. She's standing over a subway grate, and when the underground train goes by, it sends the air up through the grate. Monroe's skirt billows upward, revealing her legs. She tries to hold down the skirt with her hands, but all the while she is smiling delightedly at the feel of the strong, cool gust. It is the iconic picture of Monroe, and this is the movie it came from.


A modern tale of insecurity, temptation, and redemption, a simple story, told through wondrous framings, comedic dialogue, and colorful daydreams: after being faithfully married for seven years, a New Yorker Richard Sherman (Tom Ewell) finds himself tempted to fool around while his wife and kid are away for summer vacation - he daydreams and fantasizes about The Girl (Marilyn Monroe玛丽莲梦露), a gorgeous model who has sublet the apartment above him; he thinks he’s come down with an inevitable disease - the seven year itch! The whole movie is about his dilemma and his wild runaway imagination. Torn between his fantasies about The Girl and his guilt over betraying his wife, Sherman eventually sees the wisdom of remaining a faithful husband.


The Girl is, in part, a figment of Sherman's imagination. She doesn't even have a name. Yet, Marilyn's ability to combine sexuality with a childlike innocence, plus the way her natural warmth and sincerity shine through her surface glamor, elevates the character of The Girl above the level of mere sex object.


Anecdotes


The classic shot of Marilyn Monroe's dress blowing up around her legs as she stands over a subway grating was originally shot on Manhattan's Lexington Avenue at 52nd St. on Sept. 15, 1954 at 1 AM. 5000 onlookers whistled and cheered through take after take as Marilyn repeatedly missed her lines. Marilyn's then disgruntled husband, Joe DiMaggio, was so offended by both his wife's exhibitionism, and the crowds slavering reaction to it, that their marriage effectively ended that night.


A John Kloss’ 1976 reproduction of the white halter dress, originally designed specifically for Marilyn, once was exhibited at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York as a time capsule.

Dresses

It is 50’s and everything was glamorous.

First encounter. In the hot summer in NYC, in this black and white polka dots dress, The Girl, Marilyn Monroe, breezes in like a heavenly mist.


Marilyn thought this dress went well with champaign. She left the shoulder strap untied when she came downstairs and asked Sherman to tie them up for her. Sherman was all dumbfounded and excited. It is a gorgeous dress, especially coupled with Monroe's voluptuous figure.


The original, distinctive, iconic Severn Year Itch dress: plunging neckline, beautiful shading of ruching and pleats. It is Monroe who instilled spirit in this dress. Nowadays, many American women like to play Monroe in this dress and the blond wig in Halloween parties. This dress has served as a source of inspirations for many fashion designers in generations. You can buy reproduction of this dress from market from under $100 to hundreds of bucks. Caution: You gotta have great figure and be creative to wear this dress or it is easy to be a victim of cliché. All in all, the bar set here is too high!


In bathrobe:


The silk outfit that I don't like. Looks tacky on average people. But the killing smile and teeth? Speechless.


Sleeping beauty:



Sherman's wife is just a minor role in this movie. She was sent away up in Maine for summer vacation. Even though she made appearance just several times. I actually liked her country style / vacation look: front tied gingham shirt and shorts.


And there is a thing called hay ride:

Sunday, March 16, 2008

High Society (1956) - Movie 《上流社会》

A hip, witty musical version of Philip Barry's The Philadelphia Story:


"Tracy Lord (Grace Kelly
格蕾丝·凯莉) is a rich Rhode Island socialite whose romance with neighbor and jazz musician C.K. Dexter Haven (Bing Crosby 宾.克罗斯拜) has broken up. Now she is engaged to be married to the stuffy but appropriate George Kittredge. But when a dashing journalist (Frank Sinatra) arrives to cover the society wedding, Tracy's initial desire to make life difficult for this interloper is complicated by her attraction for him. And things are made all the more complicated by Dexter Haven's refusal to give up on Tracy."

Jazz, haute couture, Newport and legendary Grace Kelly are many highlights of this great musical. I enjoyed the movie enormously. I know little about jazz. I have to say my enthusiasm to exploring jazz music was immediately kindled by the croon of Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong also his band throughout the movie. A jazzed-up version of the wedding processional at the end of the movie was a blast!


The movie was taken in scenic, elitist Newport, Rhode Island (罗德岛), which happens to be only 2 hours drive from where I live now. It is one of my favorite short excursions on east coast. The cliff walk and jazz festival are great weekend getaways. Among a lot of grand and beautiful things, I especially like the hydrangeas surrounding the walks and gardens during summer.





Tracy Lord is a snobbish, spoiled ice queen and perfectionist portrayed by GK. GK looked stunning and aloof in this character. This is also GK’s last film role. She was engaged to Prince Rainier of Monaco at the time. Actually, the enormous engagement diamond ring displayed in the film was her own, given to her by her Prince fiancé.



Now I invite you to enjoy every piece of delicacy of this musical:


Impeccable wardrobe
:


GK, as a fashion icon, elegant and inspiring, is goddess of fashion brand Hermès (爱马仕):
  • It was reported she used an Hermès scarf as a sling when she broke her arm.
  • The Kelly bag by Hermès, was renamed for Grace Kelly after she was photographed carrying one while stepping off a plane.
  • The classic head-cover of a silk scarf crossed under the chin and knotted at the side or nape of the neck is universally known as the "Grace Kelly".


GK pulled off this look fabulously. The whole outfit in camel revealed her understated elegance. The brown leather belt adds a bit equestrian look. The high light of the red scarf and shoes (Hermès?) are just right. In real life, GK’s style was a reflection of her own personality - genuinely lovely inside and out
:


The baby blue dress: the color combination blue and white,stripe and little bow ties add a preppy look to this extravagant haute couture dress.




Tracy unwraps Dexter's (ex-husband) wedding gift, the model of their honeymoon yacht, and fondly remembers the first few romantic weeks of her and Dexter's marriage
. This white swimsuit is a fashion master piece.


George (soon-to-be husband) interrupts her reverie to promise unfailing adoration of his "goddess." Upset that she might be seen as distant, Tracy demands that she be treated as a real woman
. George couldn't understand her feelings whatsoever.


A drunken Tracy takes Mike on a drive to tell him that his presumptions about the Newport upper class are unfair. The silk lining in colored stripes gives this otherwise plain white coat a delicious taste. And the yellow silk shirt dress is just right for pretty and lady-like Grace Kelly
.


Surprisingly enough, GK was spotted on a yellow brocade cheongsam旗袍 inspired robe here! Quite a few western movies stars tried on mandarin style dresses, I have to say Grace Kelly was one of the best to dress to the spirit.


The gray-over-rose chiffon gown appliquéd with rhinestones and pink and white embroidered flowers by Helen Rose Tracy wore at her bachelorette party. She once wore this dress on a visit to the White House with President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy.


The most glamorous and stylish wedding dress. Unexpected, tasteful and just gorgeous! "Watch out that first step, it is going to be a little bumpy!". The father said.


The crystals GK wore in this movie was Swarovski.


Jazz


High Society Calypso (Louis Armstrong)


Little One (Bing Crosby) - Crosby tosses off a sweet ditty for Tracy's s premature kid sister


Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (Frank Sinatra & Celeste Holm) - Sinatra and Holm take potshots at extravagant life style of the idle riches


True Love (Bing Crosby & Grace Kelly) – Kelly, in a flashback, recalls their honeymoon


You're Sensational
(Frank Sinatra) - Sinatra, smitten with Kelly, expresses his feelings

Samantha(Bing Crosby) – Crosby’s love song for Kelly


Now You Has Jazz (Bing Crosby & Louis Armstrong) – Crosby attempts, with Armstrong, to explain contemporary music


Well, Did You Evah? (Frank Sinatra & Bing Crosby) - The film's highlight of the fabulous and funny duet between Crosby and Sinatra, rich with sly comments on Crosby's famous fortune, and Sinatra's 'new' style of crooning


Mind If I Make Love to You (Frank Sinatra) – Sinatra’s love song for Kelly