Cinema Wedding Gowns: Arizona (1940)

This post was one of the more difficult ones to put together because I had over 40 screenshots to choose from due to Jean Arthur wearing today's wedding gown for several scenes and the dress itself having so much detail.

We will start with some full-length shots.

It's difficult to know how to describe this gown. There are tiers and ruffles and lace and possibly some beadwork. The skirt is gathered and wonderfully full with beautiful movement. 

Jean Arthur appeared on the cover of the September 1940 issue of Arizona Highways wearing the wedding gown (sans veil). There was also a six-page spread about the film. You can view the entire magazine here! Click the download symbol to view a pdf of the magazine. This is the clearest picture of the gown I could find and it also shows the hem and tiers really well. It could easily look too fussy but somehow doesn't.

In this shot we get an excellent view of the waist and bodice detail. Note the lacework "stripes: on the bodice under the collar section, sleeves, and going down the skirt. 

This shows the "stripes" on the skirt a little better. 

The dress has a scoop neckline with drop shoulders and balloon sleeves.

Another shot. If you're wondering why Jean Arthur doesn't look too happy it's because right after the wedding William Holden has a gunfight scheduled. I have to say, she's taking it much better than I would have ;)

The veil doesn't look historically accurate to me but I love it so much. The lace is exquisite. 

She wears it almost as if it were a shawl.

It comes down to a point on the sides.

On most women the bow could look silly but Jean makes it work. Such a pretty curled updo!

Another look at the bow as well as her beaded choker.

Just because ;) *swoon*

Spoiler: He survives the gunfight.

Cinema Wedding Gowns: Joe MacBeth (1956)

This installment of Cinema Wedding Gowns takes a look at what one wears to marry the right-hand man of a prominent mobster - that also happens to be based on a Shakespeare play.

It's just a quiet afternoon wedding with no guests - and the groom has already missed his wedding multiple times due to his *clears throat* job. A simple midi-length sheath in ivory satin is satisfactory.

A fingertip length tulle veil attached to a beaded hat frames the face nicely and helps soften an angry face when he's late. Again.

A dramatic, beaded, stand-up collar should also help... maybe

Cinema Wedding Gowns: The Man from Colorado (1948)

Today's wedding gown is worn by Ellen Drew in her disastrous marriage to Glenn Ford in the 1948 film The Man from Colorado. 

The film is set just after the Civil War so the gown reflects the fashions of that time with a pleated full skirt and pointed waist, long sleeves that extend past the wrist, and a row of buttons all of the way up to the small pointed collar. It is made of a heavy ivory satin. Notice the glove on her right hand. The long tulle veil (draped over her arm) is attached to a floral headpiece that looks a little more 1940s than 1860s. 

Fluttery lace sleeves have been added over the long sleeves for a unique look. There isn't a great view of the back but it looks like it may be similar to a shawl but attached. I wonder if this dress was worn in a previous film sans the lace detail. It would be a great way to recycle the costume while giving it a new look. Note the drop earrings.

Recycled Costume Roundup - July

Long time no see!! Spotted several recycled costumes this month so I finally sat down and put together a post. 

The Movies! channel had a commercial for Ida Lupino movies they were airing this month and I instantly recognized this unique gown from The Man I Love (1946) as one I had saved on pinterest on another actress.

Here it is seen in a publicity photo on Alexis Smith. I wonder if she wore it in a movie? She was five inches taller than Lupino so if she did it may not have been shown full length. 

~♥~♥~♥~

First up, I was skipping through The Merry Andrew (1958) to take screenshots of a wedding gown and, in doing so, happened to spot two Esther Williams costumes!

This swim cover-up cape from Bathing Beauty (1944) is one of my favorite film costumes, so I instantly recognized it on a rack of circus costumes!

The bright pink and black and white striped costume looks familiar too...

In the wedding gown scene, I spotted this red sparkly bathing costume from Million Dollar Mermaid (1952) on an extra. 

~♥~♥~♥~

Whenever I watch an RKO movie I keep an extra sharp eye out for recycled costumes, so when I watched Maisie was a Lady (1941) I was rewarded with five!

First was this extra in a very short scene wearing one of Jeanette MacDonald's gowns from Sweethearts (1938). I was actually surprised I spotted this one!

In the same scene, I recognized this gown as being the same worn by Joan Crawford in Susan and God (1940). As I was looking on pinterest for a picture of it to share on Twitter, I was reminded of other costumes in the movie, which I then also spotted in Maisie was a Lady. 

They both appeared in a breakfast scene. There was another dress of Crawford's:

And one worn by Rita Hayworth:

The last one was a set of matching gowns worn originally in Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937), which I shared in my very first Recycled Costume Roundup (a year ago!). I updated that post (scroll almost to the bottom of the post).

I hope you enjoyed this post! Have you spotted any recycled costumes this month?

Recycled Costumes from "The Fallen Sparrow" (1943)

This month we have a special feature on recycled costumes originally worn by Maureen O'Hara in The Fallen Sparrow (1943) - apologies for the lack of recycled costume posts lately. I started a new job where I'm on the computer all day so the last thing I want to do in my free time is stare at a computer...

These stunning outfits were created by Edward Stevenson, head designer for RKO.

Worn by the hotel proprietress in The Falcon in Mexico (1944).

Worn by Jean Brooks in The Falcon in Hollywood (1944).

Worn by Jean Brooks (center) in Two O'Clock Courage (1945) and 

for a publicity portrait of Anne Jeffreys. I absolutely love this gown!

Worn by Laraine Day in Bride by Mistake (1944), a remake of The Richest Girl in the World (1934). 

Bette's Hats & Reviews: The Big Shakedown (1934)

Bette's first film of 1934 was The Big Shakedown. She only references it sarcastically in her autobiography, The Lonely Life: "They needed me desperately for such historic milestones as The Big Shakedown and The Man with the Black Hat."

The first hat is only on the screen long enough for the Justice of the Peace to say "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. That'll be $2." You can see a better shot of the hat here.

Bette Davis has little to do but look attractive as an ingenue, the wife of the chemist (Charles Farrell).

~ Picturegoer Weekly, March 3, 1934

The only advantage Bette Davis enjoys is that she is not on much and so does not bore as often. 

~ Variety

Farrell and Miss Davis are not at their best.

~ Film Daily

I wonder if this photo is from a scene cut from the film? It says it's from The Big Shakedown.

Bette's Hats & Reviews: Bureau of Missing Persons (1933) + short

Bette's final film of 1933 was Bureau of Missing Persons with Pat O'Brien and Glenda Farrell. The only mention she makes of it in her autobiography, The Lonely Life, is that making that film made her realize why movie stars elected to go on suspension. She wears two hats.

Bette Davis does well.

~ The New York Times

They are still trying to make a sexy star out of Bette Davis when your reviewer is still pretty certain that she would be a whole lot better off if they let her be the sweet girl that she probably is.

~ The New Movie Magazine, Oct. 1933

Bette also appeared in a short titled Just Around the Corner, advertising General Electric household appliances! You can watch that gem below. 

She wears one hat in the short at 8:05. It's really too blurry to screenshot.