Saturday, September 24, 2016

Cinema Wedding Gowns: I Married a Witch (1942)


I Married a Witch (1942) is a delightful film preceding the extremely popular Bewitched television series of the 1960s and early 70s. Starring Veronica Lake and Fredric March, it is about a witch who returns to life in order to fulfill an ancient curse on the descendant of a witch burner. The curse is that all male descendants will marry the wrong girl. Jennifer (Lake) takes on bodily form in order to make Wallace Wooley (March) fall in love with her on the eve of his wedding to Estelle Masterson (Susan Hayward). Hayward wears an exquisite wedding gown in this movie and it is the second gown in this series.


If Estelle doesn't exactly look happy at her wedding, it is because things keep happening to make them start over. First there's a hurricane, caused when Jennifer shows up at the Masterson home. Then Wally hears a gunshot and rushes back upstairs thinking Jennifer has killed herself. Finally Estelle goes upstairs to see what in the world is going and finds Jennifer and Wally kissing, this ending any chance of nuptials that day, and probably the future.

             

The costumes for this film were designed by Edith Head. I could not find any pictures of her original sketches to include. This dress is another vision in lace with a plunging illusion neckline, gathered bust-line, and full hooped skirt with tiers. The veil features large stand-up scallops around the face as well as scallops down the sides and bottom.

         

Here are some screenshots from the movie:

Looking happy for a brief moment



Wondering why the groom is running down the aisle.

The back of the veil.


The skirt in motion.
 
 

2 comments:

  1. Wow I love this blog post idea! :) I haven't seen I Married a Witch yet, but this certainly is a gorgeous wedding dress!

    Btw, I've nominated you for a Sunshine Blogger Award :) (I know, another one lol. But you deserve it!)
    https://thewonderfulworldofcinema.wordpress.com/2016/10/04/my-first-sunshine-blogger-award/

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! It's a fun movie and this month is the perfect time to watch it ;)

      Thanks so much!! I will try to get to it soon :)

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