Historical clothing that Hollywood has trouble with

[sportell]

I think they do medieval far worse than 18th century, to be honest. At least with the 18th century clothing they get most of the details right, whereas when it comes to medieval film the costumes are pure fantasy that would disgrace a Renaissance Faire or even the SCA. Crusader period films with clothing that bears only a vague resemblence to fourteenth century court dress is probably the most common complaint. Anachronistic plate harnesses and helmet types the next.

Okay, don't trash the SCA too badly. I belong to the European group and many of our members study authenticity to the extreme. But I was thinking along the same lines. Many of the Hollywood films got to one of two extremes. The peasants all wore colourless, drab clothing that were not much more than rags and the wealthy wore outlandish clothes that they would not have made back then. Stuff with huge wastes of fabric on extra seams. Even Queen Elizabeth had some gowns where the lining was pieced together from what almost looks like scraps. And sorry, but some of the designs on the funky polyester clothes they wear is just frightening. I'll stick to my breathable linen, wool and silk with nicely embroidered trims.

 

[sportell]

On M*A*S*H, it was more hairstyles and makeup: the haircuts of some of the men probably didn't meet Army regulations on length, let alone 50s style. Real Army nurses of the 50s probably wore a lot more short, permed hair than long, flowing locks.

It was still a funny show.

To cut them a little slack though, regulation lengths don't always happen when in a war zone. Look at our boys who come back from the desert now. If they're in a safer zone with a normal routine, they pretty much keep up on regulations. However, if they are in a bad zone with lots of action, regulations slip and for good reason. M*A*S*H wasn't the front line, but it seemed to be a more relaxed atmosphere with lots going on, so regulations would have been a bit more lax.

 

[sportell]

Have a look at 'The Glenn Miller Story' some time. It was made in 1954 and it's portrayal of fashion in the 30s and 40s is basically non-existant. Even when I watched this as a kid I knew it wasn't right. June Allyson's clothes are straight out of the 50s as is her hair. The men's fashion is also very 50s looking.

I wonder if some of this contributes to my man's confusion when he tries to place fashions. I usually have to correct him by a decade or two. This could be because Hollywood taught him the wrong styles for the times and he hasn't read the period fashion mags and books as much as I have, to correct this wrong teaching. It's a shame how Hollywood confuses generations like this.

 

[Torpedo]

Well, after all, Braveheart won an Oscar for the wardrobe, although the costumes are awfully inaccurate - some even positively ridiculous. Now go and tell them to do some research for the next movie... why should they worry? :eusa_doh:

(In fact, this is a seriously inaccurate movie in all respects -a fact-, and one I consider extremely overrated -my opinion-. It does not even make sense in itself. There are other inaccurate movies that, being good artistic works, one can enjoy - after all, we know they are movies, not documentaries- but I do not think this one rates any good. The Patriot I find very superior in every respect, even considering inaccuracies.)

 

[Stearmen]

The Bird Man Of Alcatraz

I was watching a little bit of The Bird Man Of Alcatraz the other night staring Burt Lancaster. Talk about getting it all wrong, I wont even go into the birds, which he never had on The Rock! After the movie came out, the prison system was flooded with letters from young boys to "please release the nice man Mr. Stroud" when at the same time he was writing pornographic material outlining the sickest acts with young boys! He was also diagnosed as a psychopath who could not get along with humans. His cell in Leavenworth, Kansas was so filthy as was he, they finally had to shut it down! But this would not have made a good 50s upbeat film! Times change, but people don't!

 

[jamespowers]

I was watching a little bit of The Bird Man Of Alcatraz the other night staring Burt Lancaster. Talk about getting it all wrong, I wont even go into the birds, which he never had on The Rock! After the movie came out, the prison system was flooded with letters from young boys to "please release the nice man Mr. Stroud" when at the same time he was writing pornographic material outlining the sickest acts with young boys! He was also diagnosed as a psychopath who could not get along with humans. His cell in Leavenworth, Kansas was so filthy as was he, they finally had to shut it down! But this would not have made a good 50s upbeat film! Times change, but people don't!

I have had to straighten out numerous people concerning this man. Stroud was a real nut--nothing like that portrayed by Lancaster.
Let's face it, the movie was a work of fiction loosely based on a guy of the same name. :eusa_doh:

 

[Sunny]

Hogan's Heroes comes to mind. Hubby and I own the entire series on DVD and I just roll my eyes whenever I see a female character on the show. Never fails that she's wearing '60s go-go boots, thick, black mascara, and long, straight hair a la the '60s.

I have heard that when the series started, their budget was too low to costume the actresses at all. Instead, the clothes they wear are from their own wardrobes!

Frau Linkmeyer's hat, if nothing else, is truly 40s. And Frau Newkirkberger's getup certainly isn't 60s, although it's not early 40s either. But that's no surprise.

 

[Italian-wiseguy]

Not really "golden era", but it bothers me nonetheless as I graduated in Classical Humanities (Greek Philology):
for some reason, in almost every recent movie about Rome/ classical Greece and related eras, people wear dirty, badly stitched if not completely reaped off clothes.
It's like costume designers think "ancient people" could build Colosseum, Parthenon and Pyramids, but God forbid if they could find a needle somewhere!

Ciao!

 

[Stearmen]

USS Pampanito

Interestingly, I was watching Down Periscope, a so, so comedy. They actually did do a pretty good job of recreating the interior of the USS Pampanito SS-383, a Balo class submarine! Far better then a lot of the WWII films.

 

[Edward]

I wonder if some of this contributes to my man's confusion when he tries to place fashions. I usually have to correct him by a decade or two. This could be because Hollywood taught him the wrong styles for the times and he hasn't read the period fashion mags and books as much as I have, to correct this wrong teaching. It's a shame how Hollywood confuses generations like this.

Quite possibly. A place I occasionally go to here in London is The Last Days of Decadence. They have excellent cabaret, though unfortunately since Time Out stated to recommend the venue and it's loose-20s theme, it is often full of birthday parties and hen nights in costume. The ladies typically wear multiples of the same eBay 'flapper costume'. The men, however, typically look far more late forties / early fifties, which I have always put down to the fact that so many of the classic gangster films made back in the day were nominally twenties set, but really had a contemporary 40s/50s wardrobe.

 

[sportell]

Not really "golden era", but it bothers me nonetheless as I graduated in Classical Humanities (Greek Philology):
for some reason, in almost every recent movie about Rome/ classical Greece and related eras, people wear dirty, badly stitched if not completely reaped off clothes.
It's like costume designers think "ancient people" could build Colosseum, Parthenon and Pyramids, but God forbid if they could find a needle somewhere!

Ciao!

That or they all wear togas. Have they never seen a Greek chiton? Those things are cool and sexy as heck on the right woman.