There are lots of movies that aim for a historical aesthetic when it comes to hairstyles and others where it’s a mishmash. But it seems to me that when historical costume movie/TV series hairstyles vary from what WOULD be historically accurate, it’s due to current-to-filming perceptions about hair. So, working decade-by-decade, let’s look at some of these not-so-accurate films/TV series and compare the hair to what’s going on at the time of filming, and see if I’m right! See my posts about the 1910s, 1920s, 1930s in two parts, 1940s in two parts, 1950s, and 1960s in two parts to find out about historical hairstyles in the movie industry’s earlier decades.
Today, we’re looking at films and TV series made in the 1970s. I’m going to tackle this in two parts — today, we’ll look at ancient-set through early-19th-century set productions.
Fashionable Hairstyles of the 1970s
First, I’d like to mention that although various ethnic groups have often worn distinctive styles, this is THE era when Black hairstyles really became popular, including braids and the Afro:
Women’s Hairstyles
This is a decade when things really go in a lot of different directions, from stick straight “natural” styles to feathered ‘dos to punk rock. Let me point out a few important trends that will make their way into our frock flicks:
One key thing, weird-to-me-but-clearly-not-to-them, was that except for updos (and even sometimes with them), the ears were often covered by hair. Let’s use Marcia Brady as an example:
It’s also worth noting how much “big” 1960s-type hairstyles remain, particularly for updo’s:
Men’s Hairstyles
Men’s hairstyles go from the teeny-bit-of-length that The Beatles rocked in the 1960s to LENGTH. You get a lot of similar effects as women’s styles, most particularly volume at the roots and/or ends, and short-to-medium lengths:
Of course the typical African-American male hairstyle of the era was the Afro, but even those who didn’t go big had some volume to their hair:
And now, let’s look at how these styles influenced the historical styles seen on the big and little screens!
Historical Movie Hairstyles of the 1970s – Medieval Films
Robin and Marian (1976)
Set 20 years after the 1190s of the usual Robin Hood story. Marian has become an abbess, and so cut her hair:
What should they be wearing? Obviously Robin is rough and tumble, but:
Historical Movie Hairstyles of the 1970s – Renaissance Films
Henry VIII and His Six Wives (1972)
Yes, there was the great BBC miniseries in 1970, but it has a lot in common with this big screen production that I’ve seen more recently. There WAS a big trend in the 1970s for Very Historically Accurate costuming in films, particularly coming from Britain, and both productions are among them:
Elizabeth R (1971)
Yes, the pinnacle of historically accurate costuming! But I can see just a few twinges of the 1970s here:
Mary Queen of Scots (1971)
Same era, similarly good looks!
Historical Movie Hairstyles of the 1970s – 17th Century Films
Man of La Mancha (1972)
It’s hard to say much about this musical version of Don Quixote, probably set in the 1600s, since the main female character (Aldonza) is a slaughterhouse worker. Quixote himself is an older nobleman who’s decided to be a knight.
The Three Musketeers & The Four Musketeers (1973 & 1974)
Set in 1620s at the French court:
Historical Movie Hairstyles of the 1970s – 18th Century Films
Fellini’s Casanova (1976)
This film seems to be set mid-century, and the key thing to note is the receding hairline worn by Casanova himself:
1776 (1972)
This musical is a lighthearted look at the American Revolution.
Barry Lyndon (1975)
Set in the late 1780s, Lady Lyndon gets HUGE, curly, wider at the sides updos with long hair in back and neck curls:
Joseph Andrews (1977)
Based on a 1742 novel with totally crazy OTT costumes, including hair:
Lady Oscar (1979)
Set just before and during the French Revolution. You probably don’t need me to tell you these hairstyles are terrible:
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970)
I’m a little unclear exactly when this is set, but it seems like 1790s or maybe early 1800s. Barbra Streisand experiences past lives through hypnosis:
Historical Movie Hairstyles of the 1970s – Early 19th Century Films
Emma (1972)
This was a BBC adaptation, so you won’t be shocked to hear that the hairstyles are pretty close to perfect:
Lady Caroline Lamb (1972)
Starting in 1812, Lamb had a raging affair with poet Lord Byron:
Roots (1977)
I’m not going to get too into this miniseries that goes from the 18th century through the post-Civil-War era, since I haven’t yet watched it, but I did find this image of an actress who appears to be from the 1820s section:
Stayed tuned, as I’ll cover 19th and 20th century-set films in another post!
What’s your thoughts on the historical accuracy and/or contemporary influences on the hair in these 1970s frock flicks?
Your first “whoever that is” is Toni Tennille of The Captain and Tennille (remember Muskrat Love?)
I was wondering why Barry Lyndon’s hair was bugging me so much.
This was brilliant. More of this. I’m glad I found a home amongst those who notice this stuff!
For the two people you couldn’t identify from 1776, they are John Adams and his wife Abigail.
Probably not intentional, but 1776 was kind of doing the same “accurate from the neck down, contemporary on top,” that they did for the Hamilton costuming/hairstyling. And watching the new John Adams miniseries, Abigail Adams didn’t go full-on giant hair until she went to France. Before that she had too much physical work to do! Martha Jefferson might’ve been able to spend more time with a big puffy up-do, but maybe not. She was basically also living on a farm, albeit in Virginia instead of Massachusetts and the actual physical work was being done by enslaved people.
And Haha, being a child of the 1970’s (born in 1964, so by the time I was particularly caring about my hair, it was the 70’s), I remember the whole “cover your ears” thing. I’d try to do ponytails and keep my ears mostly covered simultaneously, which was quite difficult!
That’s Sandy Duncan in Roots picture. For hair abominations, Dr. Zhivago is one of my favorites. Another good one is King Solomon’s Mines in which we learn you can cut your own hair while on safari and be transformed into another century.
“… image of an actress…” That’s Sandy Duncan who was all over the TV throughout the ‘70s. Quite famous. She had her own show. ( She plays Missy Anne Reynolds… who becomes a playmate as a child with the slave girl her age Kizzy. She teaches her to read… which when found out gets Kizzy sold to another plantation. Later, when they’re grown Missy Anne happens while traveling to encounter Kizzy when she stops to get a drink of water. She says she doesn’t remember any slave named Kizzy and ignores her… so Kizzy spits in her water before giving it to her.)
Oh, god, Sandy Duncan, with her wholesome rep. She was brilliant as bitchy Missy Anne, playing the benevolent lady with her cute little slave-plaything. And that was such a satisfying moment: Leslie Uggams as old (? she was certainly no longer young) Kizzy.
WHO is the absolutely handsome hunk in the first picture, the black-and-white photograph of the guy with the dark hair in kind of a “regency” style?
The very first picture on the post? It’s Richard Chamberlain in Lady Caroline Lamb (1972). Click the movie title link above for our review!
Does anyone know the name of the really light reddish/strawberry blonde dye that seemed so prevalent in the late 60’s/early 70’s? I swear there was at least 1 actress with this color in every production from about ’67 – ’72, and the it disappeared… (Seen above on Jane Seymour and Elizabeth R, but you can also see it in the Jane Eyre made around this time… and, of course, Laugh-In)