With the recent passing of Richard Chamberlain (1934-2025), I was inspired to watch one of his films that we haven’t yet reviewed: the 1977 TV movie adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’s The Man in the Iron Mask. Starring Chamberlain as King Louis XIV of France and his (fictional) twin brother, plus Jenny Agutter as Louise de la Vallière, this hour and a half movie is a decently plotted, well acted, gorgeously located film.
For a long time, I thought Chamberlain was cheesy AF, but I hadn’t seen much (if any?) of his early work, and then Lady Caroline Lamb made me realize the error of my ways. And while I didn’t get excited about his beardy, sensitive Philippe, he was gorgeous as Louis! The production was filmed at many fabulous French chateaux, including Fontainbleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte, which definitely elevated things.
The movie’s costumes were designed by Olga Lehmann, who designed a number of key historical productions of the 1970s and 1980s, including Tom Thumb (1958), Kidnapped (1971), The Four Feathers (1978), Les Misérables (1978), Little Lord Fauntleroy (1980), A Tale of Two Cities (1980), Ivanhoe (1982), and The Master of Ballantre (1984). Overall, they’re decent takes on 1660s dress, even if Agutter as la Vallière has super modernized/romanticized hair.
La Vallière starts off in this brown not-great ensemble, which hilariously, Louis says needs to be replaced. He’s not wrong!
Luckily, as Louis takes an interest, her wardrobe improves, first with this gold gown with ruched sleeves:
Then a cream gown with romantic, sheer sleeves:
Both are solid takes on your standard 1660s fashionable gown — cone-shaped bodice, neckline just off the shoulder, full sleeves and full skirt(s):
For the final big party scene, la Vallière gets a sparkly silver dress that’s pretty, but has a contrast panel in front that feels costume-y to me:
As you can see, la Vallière’s hair throughout is in a very romanticized, 1970s-influenced, leading character half-updo. I’m guessing they looked at this portrait of the real deal as the goddess Diana, with romanticized hair:
Instead of actual hairstyles from the period:
But they referenced those when styling the hair of other characters, including random extras:
Most of the male characters are in your standard three-piece suit à la 17th century, perhaps leaning a little more 1670s than 1660s:
Everyone’s outfits could be a bit fuller if you’re going 1660s, but note all the ribbons on the poncy courtiers checks out:
Things get more streamlined in the 1670s, and that feels more like what we’re seeing on screen:
Nonetheless, Chamberlain as Louis is SO PRETTY, especially in that long, dark full-bottom wig:
Even if the rest of the courtiers get Breck-girl-ad ‘dos:
And we get an only semi-shitty historical portrait!
Have you seen The Man in the Iron Mask (1977)? What’s your take on the costumes?
Find this frock flick at:
Thank you Thank you Thank You!!! I’ve been hoping you’d review Chamberlain’s MITIM! I loved this when it came out and I wonder if you noticed that most of the crowd in the ballroom scene reused the silver party costumes from The Three Musketeers! (1973). Also, what did you think of Louis’ fabulous ‘Sun King’ costume? I recently came across a photo of Jacques Fath and his wife attending the legendary Bal des Masques et Dominos du XVIIIe Siècle hosted by Charles de Beistegui at his Palazzo Labia, Venice, in 1951. Faith was costumed as the Sun King, and honest to God, either the costume designer of MITIM used the actual costume from Jaques Faith or just was inspired by is a pretty crazy coincidence!!
Also, I thought Richard as Phillipe was pretty darn sexy too! Rest in Peace beautiful Richard. <3
Damn, I meant to talk about Louis’s Sun King outfit and forgot! In general I liked it, although I felt like his makeup was a bit too “Godspell” and not really 17th century? Here’s a pic if anyone wants to see: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074853/mediaviewer/rm848505344/?ref_=tt_ph_1_3
Closeup of the makeup: https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w780/qe4sD6Mbf4ACOVD0H3XN5JQm8Hi.jpg
Here’s Jaques Fath in his Sun King costume. Truly inspiration.
https://media.gettyimages.com/id/146015022/photo/guests-arrive-by-gondola.jpg?s=2048×2048&w=gi&k=20&c=FrU3voGz9OmKdudTc8nMkS0dvj61Mma47ZdC9RY9jno=
Well if the eyebrows in Mr Chamberlain’s portrait makes him look like Captain Hook, so does the rest of it! (After all, ‘Pirate Charles II’ is most of the way towards a description of old Hook and Louis XIV was the former’s first cousin, n’est pas?).
Also, I remain fascinated by the fact that Mr Beau Bridges starred in an adaptation of TJE FOUR FEATHERS – with Ms Jane Seymour to boot!
‘THE FOUR FEATHERS’. Spellcheck remain, as ever, a heartless mercenary that would delight in it’s own ingenuity if only computers were not unfeeling machines.
Aww … and Vaux le vicomte was built by Fouquet …