The early 18th century — honestly, anything pre-1740s — doesn’t get a lot of love on screen. It’s probably because it’s overshadowed by the major wars of the 1740s and 1770s, while the decadence of the late 18th century and the massive shockwave of the French Revolution offer so much drama. There have been a few films and TV shows that have portrayed this era, so today let’s highlight a few films and series set in the 1700s-1720s that are worth watching.
I’ll add that I should give an honorable mention to Our Flag Means Death (couldn’t get into it; also, while the costumes look great, are they really specifically 1717ish or are they generic 18th century?), Tous les Matins du Monde (haven’t seen it, really should), and Rob Roy (wasn’t a fan when I saw it a million years ago, plus there are no upper-class female characters). Fight me in the comments if you must!
The Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders (1996)
This TV adaptation mostly portrays 1660s-70s-era clothing. But because the story tries to show the sweep of Moll’s life — the source novel was published in 1722 — some of the later episodes include some nice mantua dresses and sticky-uppy fontange caps designed by Trisha Biggar.
Peter the Great (1986)
Okay, so I’m only including it because I wasn’t excited about any of my honorable mentions, and I needed something to fill out this post. I haven’t seen this TV miniseries about Russia’s tsar Peter I (reigned 1721-25), but I do want to! Just, I worry that the production will feel dated. Nonetheless, Laurence Olivier looks good in his full-bottomed wigs, Vanessa Redgrave rocks her smokey eye, and I spot at least one good mantua and fontange cap among the costumes designed by Eleonora Maklakova and Sibylle Ulsamer!
The Bridge of San Luis Rey (2004)
Alright, so this is another one I haven’t seen and that’s because it’s got a 4% on Rotten Tomatoes — it’s supposed to be dull as rocks. BUT this adaptation of a novel set in 1714 Peru features some AMAZING costumes designed by Yvonne Blake on Kathy Bates!
Renegade Nell (2024)
I’m still heartwarmed by this sweet, entertaining story of a girl who runs away to become a highwayman in 1705 England, aided by some magical powers. And while costume designer Tom Pye certainly took artistic liberties, I was so happy to see many elements of early 18th-century dress on screen instead of the usual “generic Marie Antoinette costume.”
The Favourite (2018)
Designer Sandy Powell definitely stylized the costumes in this satirical/absurdist/dark comedy about Queen Anne and her two favorite ladies — but because she’s Sandy Powell, she did an amazing job. You’ve got all the style lines of the period (around 1705) but done in black and white and denim in a way that appropriately heightens the stylized take on English court maneuverings. Plus it’s just a damn entertaining film!
Which films and TV series have great costumes for the 1700s, 1710s, and 1720s?
What about The First Churchills?
Oh yes please! Goes from about 1675 to 1714 (with a brief look at about 1720 or so). It was filmed in the late 1960s I think, so they didn’t have a ton of money for costumes, but they did try to follow the changes in fashion – the 1670s look quite different from the 1680s and so on. Also there are some really great full bottomed wigs! (And a bunch of Whigs too!)
And with Margaret Tyzack as Queen Anne.
The casting is excellent. Margaret Tyzack gives a more in depth characterization of Anne than in The Favourite. And Susan Hampshire is a wonderful headstrong Sarah-plus she’s blonde! (Why did they have Rachel Weisz as a brunette-Sarah’s blonde beauty was proverbial!)
Two words: Rachel Weisz.
Never, ever threaten to deprive us of such a smashing brunette, however briefly!
If you cast Rachel as Elizabeth I would you have her as a brunette? Sarah was quite famously blonde!! People marveled at her beauty – especially as she remained blonde and beautiful well into middle age! Susan Hampshire captured her perfectly.
I would much rather cast Ms. Weisz as Cleopatra, but as it happens – RACHEL WEISZ.
…
My opinions on this subject may not be entirely objective, sensible or coherent.
Renegade Nell is so much fun! We’re very disappointed that there won’t be more episodes.
There is also l’Allée du Roi, an amazing French series on Mme de Maintenon, which spans till 1720. I believe you covered it, the costumes were great as was everything in this serie.
What an odd, in-between era it was! This is great! I wonder if some of the pulled back portions of the mantuas were meant as pockets?
What about Le Bossu/On Guard? I’ll never forget watching it in the cinema with my old costumer mate Christine; when Claire Debout (as Blanche de Caylus) hitched up her skirts to dance at the wedding, Chris gave out a loud ‘SQUEE! Proper wrinkly stockings and authentic shoes!’
I adore Le Bossu!! Great cast–and Vincent Perez’s fur-lined frock coat and HUGE wigs!
Yellowbeard was set in the early 1700s. There are some really good costumes in it as I recall. Peter Bull plays Queen Anne.
There are numerous films of Cyrano De Bergerac. Surely one of them must have costumes that might work. Yes, one of them is with Gerard Depardieu, not everyone’s favorite, but it might be worth looking at.
But Cyrano is supposed to take place in the first half of the 17th Century :)
I’m kind of surprised that Trisha Biggars designed Moll Flanders. I saw that when it aired on PBS, and it looks good. I absolutely hate her costumes on Outlander. So obvious she’s using pleather, and weird cheats. Maybe it’s a question of budget, but the show looks awful since Terry Dresbach and Jon Gary Steel left. Early 18th century is not my favorite time period – maybe because it does seem odd and transitional before we get to Louis XV’s reign mid-century. Saw the costumes for The Favourite at the FIDM exhibit. Due to the monochrome color palette and simplified forms they just seemed off to my eye, although I did kind of like that riding ensemble Rachel Weitz wore. Looked pale blue in person.
…make that the mid-century part of Louis XV’s reign. I know Louis XIV died in 1715…
It’s funny… I was just on Pinterest looking at 1720, 1730s robes valante.
Is there even a film with them?
Am I the only one who took a look at RENEGADE NELL’s Queen Anne and thought “Should there not be rather more of Her Majesty?” (I recall that she was quite famously stout).
On a less pedantic note, Ms. Kathy Bates and Mr Harvey Keitel aren’t the first names that come to mind when one thinks ‘Period Drama’ but dear me they do carry off the look uncommonly well (It makes one rather sorry that the wonderful Ms. Bates will almost certainly not get a chance to play a reigning queen as more than a cameo*).
*If memory serves she put in an appearance as Queen Victoria in AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS.
I hated this “Peter the Great”-series from the 80s. So much nonsense and I thought that it was very malicious to let Frederick I of Prussia say, that he loves English Country Dances. By the way Mel Ferrer looked somehow stiff like the real king but nothing like the poor monarch in other respects.
A great film for the 1720s: “Que la fête commence…” (not the costumes). “Le bossu” (1997) for Vincent Perez and Fabrice Luchini. “L’échange des princesses”.
What about the film The Draughtsman’s Contract? It takes place in 1694, but it is very close in style to the early 17th century.