You asked for it, so here’s an occasional open thread to bitch about anything tangentially related to history, costume, movies, or TV shows! Or whatever else is on your mind right now. Note that URLs are automatically held for moderation, but most anything else goes as long as you’re not bitchier than we are!
Spring is here in our part of the world, and we’re catching up with brand-new frock flicks and slightly older ones that have finally come to streaming. Lots to watch!
What’s on your spring watching list?Â
The first episode of “Mary & George” is available TODAY!
I know! My weekend is set :D
Having seen a good part of the show already (I prefer to ration myself to one episode a week, partly because the show can be … quite a lot to take in) one can safely assure you that it is never, ever boring but can get pretty darned bleak.
On the other hand Mr Tony Curran is absolutely spot on as King Jimmy (He’s clearly relishing the chance at a Leading Role) and the rest of the show is – I may have mentioned this – never, ever boring.
I’m looking forward to the costumes & hair, especially, having seen a lot of previews on Instagram. Already researching for my own review posts ;)
Bramwell, on Britbox. I’ve watched all but the last season.
Watched Mr. Malcom’s List and while I found it amusing and there were an abundance of hair pins for a change a few choices stuck out. Why in the world is Selena wearing what I think is a walking dress while out supposedly riding with Mr. Malcom? And I can’t understand the white outfit she wears to the ball. Perhaps the most jarring thing about the film is the lack of logic when it came to casting parents and children. I understand and desire inclusion but genetics play a part in how we look and nobody in this film looked remotely related to one another. The lack of logic bothers me. What do others think of this film?
It’s cute and charming, but yeah, some of the casting choices were odd.
The casting felt very Roger and Hammerstein’s 1997 Cinderella. It was a cute movie, and I liked the costumes overall
I just watched “Bleak House” (2005) again and have to rant a little. One of the plot points is that Esther looks a lot like Lady Dedlock. It’s mentioned in the adaptation. But, of course, Anderson and Maxwell Martin look nothing alike! I’m glad they were chosen for talent instead of looks, but I had to snort every time their “resemblance” was mentioned. And there’s that portrait of Lady D that manages to look like neither of them….Mr Guppy must need glasses.
I watched all of Renegade Nell, which I first learned of on the Upcoming blog post here. It was both fun and confounding. The actors were great and the costumes were good. I was confounded by choices in the character and story arcs. But overall, I was glad that these actors got a chance to shine in an eight-episode series. As for what’s up next, I’m interested in seeing some things that came out in the last year or so but that I still haven’t yet seen: Cyrano, Mr. Malcolm’s List, and Chevalier.
Renegade Nell is on our calendar for later this month!
Most underrated era in Fashion history? For me it’s got to be the entire 17th Century! Followed by the 1830s!
Runners up would be the 1820s/1880s!
1820s specifically is very overlooked! Ppl mush it together w/1800-10s, but the decade was a real bridge to the wider shapes coming in the 1830-40s.
But I think the 1880s are pretty popular, both onscreen & with reenactors — there’s lots of shows (The Gilded Age right now, for example) & costume patterns available, tons of photos & fashion plates documenting the era.
Only a few garments from the 17th century remain, but there are many portraits from the era. That’s why I’m particularly excited about the Mary And George show. The Jacobean era is often underrated. I’m excited to see Queen Anne of Denmark’s unique hairstyles and the lower necklines from the previous decade. Moreover, I hope there will be no more PFG adaptations, as they would likely ruin Anne of Cleves and Catherine Howard’s portrayals! The writers of the Starz Network have mishandled the portrayals of Catherine of Aragon and Catherine Parr. I shudder to think how they’ll mess up the 1640s-1670s with the Fairmile Series!
Absolutely, there’s plenty of visual evidence for the Stuart court to work with (she said, sitting here w/a folder of images already saved & 2 Patterns of Fashion books to scan, lol).
Sky produced Mary & George in the UK & it was supposed to go to AMC in the US, but they backed out & Starz picked it up. So it wasn’t a Starz original, like all the PFG crap has been.
Agreed, the 17th c. doesn’t get a lot of love, esp. not on screen. It’s a wacky, weird, & delightful era for clothes!
1830s has gotten a smidge of attention, & it’s a sort of revival of 1650-60s fashion too.
I’m excited for The Passionate Tudor by Alison Weir, coming out in May! It’s about Princess/Lady Mary’s turbulent life! It’s about time Mary got her due! She’s often treated as malevolent , compared to her half sister Elizabeth! I’m curious what insights Alison has on Mary I! I’ll link it here! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195888499-the-passionate-tudor?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=yKm7Z0t8mj&rank=37
The back cover doesn’t give me much hope, tbh. I suspect she’ll be cruel per her historical reputation. (I have no doubt the real Mary did execute people, but I think it was political rather than purely religious, and I think her sister’s historians did a hatchet job on her reputation to validate Elizabeth “saving” England from the “Bloody Queen.”)
I’m also Excited to see what insights Alison Weir has on Mary 1, She often depicted as a malevolent zealot, compared to her half sister Elizabeth, at least she’s not ignored like Edward and Jane Grey! It’s called the Passionate Tudor, out on May 7! I’ll like it on Goodreads in case anyone is as excited as I am! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195888499-the-passionate-tudor
I have been waiting and hoping the book about René Hubert would really happen after I first heard about it. Well, it actually came out a few months ago, but I just got it now. It’s available in English under the title René Hubert, The Man Who Dressed Film Stars And Airplanes (Edited by Andres Janser). The book is fabulous, chock full with photos of film costumes, sketches and so much more, also there is a complete listing of all the films, stage shows and more he costumed. And it touches on all the other things he did in the sphere of (fashion) design. It seems Hubert excelled at whatever was thrown at him – and he threw himself into any challenge he was offered. Such an interesting man, interesting life and varied career. This book is a must for film and fashion fans alike.
Thanks for this mention, Karin. It reminded me look up a different book that I’d read a blurb for but hadn’t yet added to my Wishlist, “Jane Austen’s Wardrobe” by Hilary Davidson.
Thank you too – the Austen book sounds amazing as well!
Hoping to see The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare when it comes out in 2 weeks – it looks really funny. BTW, never even heard of it until it was mentioned on Frock Flicks. :)
I’m loving the goofiness that is Tue Completely Made Up Adventures of Dick Turpin!
We hope to have a review of that later this month :)
I’m looking forward to the Regency/possibly Jane Austen, and 1960s/The Beatles episodes of Doctor Who!
YES! I loved the first ep w/Ncuti Gatwa & his first season looks exciting.
H, quick question: is anyone having trouble accessing posts older than the last month or two? When I try access, for example, ‘Jeanne Du Barry Makes Interesting Choices/Decisions’, it just keeps loading (the circle that shifts from red-pink to white). Has anyone else had that problem?
I just tried it ; it was fine. :)