It takes a lot of thought and care to make something as preposterous and childish as Fackham Hall.
I saw the preview for Fackham Hall (2025) and knew this film was made for me. Let me enumerate all the reasons why:
- It’s 90 minutes long. Seriously, bring back 90-minute movies! Everything is now a 2+ hour commitment and me, and my ADHD, suffer.
- It doesn’t take itself at all seriously. Someone described it as basically Airplane! if Airplane! was set in the 1930s British upper class.
- The costumes are really, really good.
The costumes, of course, are why we are here today discussing this film. Costume designer Rosalind Ebbut has done a truly astounding number of some of my favorite costume flicks in the last couple of decades, so it’s no surprise that her designs for Fackham Hall are extremely on point for the early 1930s. In fact, the costuming appears to be the only thing that the film takes at all seriously, and I truly love that about it. Get as silly and ridiculous as you want with history, as long as you keep the costumes accurate.
Rosalind Ebbutt, our costume designer, did several seasons of Downton Abbey. She was a stickler for the cutlery and the ties, and I was keen for that to be authentic. But there were times when I would say, “I know, Ros, but there’s a panda in the room. I don’t think anyone’s looking at the slightly off-color tie.”
— Jim O’Hanlon, director of Fackham Hall
Oh, you think that, do you? Well, the fact that we have built this film costuming snark site, and it’s still going strong over a decade later would prove otherwise. This also immediately makes me like Ms. Ebbutt even more. She knows her audience. She gets us.
This film is packed with sight gags, which is great, but it also means that some stuff gets glossed over with no explanation or elaboration. Like this dress on the American actress Fifi Valentine (Lily Knight), for instance:
Other costumes I wanted to see better shots of, but couldn’t because they’re on extras:
Some of the other characters get nice outfits, but only from the waist up:
Have you seen Fackham Hall (2025)? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Find this frock flick at:
“the Bechdel sisters (who of course can’t have a conversation without it being about a man)”
Tee hee!
Also starring Tom Felton. Does this break his type casting?
FIFI VALENTINE? I must see this movie. I am a sucker for (seemingly) frivolous characters named Fifi and Trixie.
No, but it’s on my list!
The balloon sleeves are zeppelin sleeves! I’ll bet it’s a Hindenburg sight gag.