Cinema Wedding Gowns: Honeymoon (1947)

 

Honeymoon (1947), starring Franchot Tone, Shirley Temple, and Guy Madison, is a movie about a soldier on leave and his girl who have planned to meet in Mexico City to marry and spend their two day honeymoon there. As usual, nothing happens the way it's supposed to, with the groom's flight being cancelled and neither having a way to contact the other. That's were Franchot Tone comes in, as the American Consul who tries to get them married before Madison's leave is over, or rather, as the poor guy Temple keeps coming to with her problems and creating problems for him in return.

 

 

The couple never is actually seen on their honeymoon, as the film ends with them finally getting married in the back yard of Tone's fiancé's house. The entire gown is never shown either. The only "full" glimpse is what is featured on the posters for the film. I did however find this photo that someone uploaded on Pinterest, saying it was their grandmother wearing the "Shirley Temple dress from Honeymoon." My guess is the dress was either sold in stores or perhaps even released as a pattern.

 

 

As you can see, the dress is crafted entirely of lace, with a sweetheart neckline, fitted bodice, long tapered sleeves that are gathered at the shoulder, and a full gathered skirt with peplum. The promotional photos below show the dress on Temple.

 

 

The fingertip length veil is scalloped tulle with appliqued flowers and leaves attached to a head piece covered in small flowers. The bouquet is comprised of small flowers and roses with ribbons hanging from it.

 

A good look at the sleeves.

 

Here are some screenshots from the actual movie:

As you can see, Franchot Tone is very happy that they are finally married.

Countdown to the Oscars: 1934

1934 was a big year for the movies. William Powell and Myrna Loy hit the screen and became everyone's favorite married couple in the first of six 'Thin Man' films. Shirley Temple became America's little darling. It was also the year of It Happened One Night. Starring the King of Hollywood, Clark Gable, and Claudette Colbert, this picture, which was filmed at Columbia, considered a 'Poverty Row' studio, was a runaway hit, winning all five of it's nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor - Clark Gable (unfortunately he beat out William Powell in The Thin Man), Best Actress - Claudette Colbert, Best Director - Frank Capra (his 2nd nomination, first win), and Best Writing Adaptation. You can watch Gable and Colbert accepting their awards here.

             

 

Frank Capra

Fun Facts:

• The script was turned down by Myrna Loy, Carole Lombard, Fredric March and Robert Montgomery, who said it was the worst thing he had ever read. Colbert accepted on a promise of a doubled salary and short shooting time.
• When Clark Gable took off his shirt and revealed that he wasn't wearing an undershirt, sales of that item plummeted.
• Gable was sent to Columbia to do this picture as a punishment.
• Gable gave his Oscar for It Happened One Night to a child who admired it, telling him it was the winning of the statue that had mattered, not owning it. The child returned the Oscar to the Gable family after Clark's death.

• Colbert did not think she had a chance of winning, as she considered the film the "worst picture I've ever made." In fact, she was boarding a train when her win was announced. The train was held for her while she was quickly brought back to accept her award.
• Held the honor of being the only film to win Best Picture, Actor, Actress, and Director for 41 years until 1975 (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest).

My favorite scene is when Gable's character teaches Colbert's character how to hitch a ride.

The Academy Awards ceremony was held in February (as it is today) on the 27th, 1935, at the Biltmore Bowl of the Biltmore Hotel. The host-presenter was Irvin S. Cobb. New categories added that year were Film Editing and Music (song and music score). A special award in the form of a miniature statuette was given to Shirley Temple, in "grateful recognition of her outstanding contribution to screen entertainment during the year 1934" (she appeared in 9 films - quite a lot for a tot of six!).

When Santa Claus brought you down Creation's chimney, he brought the

loveliest Christmas present that has ever been giver to the world.

~ Cobb to Temple

1934 was also the first year there was a protest over the nominees (but certainly not the last!). Many believed that Bette Davis in Of Human Bondage and Myrna Loy in The Thin Man should be added to the Best Actress category. It became so massive that the Academy announced they would allow write-ins. Of course, all the winners were actual nominees (though Bette Davis received the third most votes, the second being nominee Norma Shearer). There was also no radio broadcast of the event as there was in previous years. It is not known why (possibly so the newspapers would have the news first).

Check out this great post over at Movie Classics!

All images found via Pinterest.

A Shirley Temple Christmas

While putting together my Christmas in Hollywood post, I realized that there were far too many pictures for one post. As since Shirley Temple had the most, I decided to give her her own post.

 

1936

1938

Growing up -1941

 

Shirley Temple Black at her home

 

In the mood for a Christmas movie with Shirley? Watch Bright Eyes (1934)!

 

With James Dunn