Thursday, January 12, 2017

Thursday Movie Picks-Fashion World


The second week of January and the awards season is just beginning. We just had the Golden Globes where there was a lot of sparkles which I love but also such low cuts in front that I was really hoping  for some flash. I am sick of fake boobs coming out of barely there dresses that, if it was shown in 3D, we would be ducking. This brings me to this week's theme ...The Fashion World which is big time stuff for Hollywoodland.(or should I say Hollyweed:)) I am savings The Devil Wears Prada for another time but do expect it to be popular this week. Head on over to Wandering Through The Shelves to see what everyone else has picked. Onward to my 3....

COVERGIRL-1944


This is a wonderful musical that, not only showcases Rita Hayworth's dazzling beauty, but her excellent dancing. Gene Kelly, as Danny McGuire( check out Xanadu) owns a Brooklyn club with Hayworth as his girlfriend and Phil Silvers as his beat friend. Hayworth has the chance to leave the nightclub scene and become the new Covergirl and fashion icon but this would mean leaving her boyfriend...what will she do?? Hayworth plays 2 roles, that of the girlfriend and her grandmother from the 1890's flashback. This also has an amazing dance by Gene Kelly where he is dancing with his conscience in an amazing trick photography but needed to be perfect since Gene Kelly was technically dancing with himself.

2. FUNNY FACE-1957


Yup, another musical but I just love them so...so there:) This stars the great Audrey Hepburn as a bookish young woman, with an amazing face, who is reluctantly caught up as the new fashion face for their magazine etc... She is "found" by the famed photographer, Dick Avery, played by the equally great and debonair Fred Astaire (based on real life photographer Richard Avedon) who whisks her off along with the magazine editor (The great Kay Thompson) to Paris to become a famous model. Dancing ensues, we see great fashion and of course there is romance between Hepburn and Astaire(much to Astaire's chagrin since he was much older). It is s'wonderful and delightful.

3. THE EYES OF LAURA MARS-1978


OK so not  a great trailer for this film but still gives just enough. Laura mars, played by Faye Dunaway, is a fashion photographer who suddenly can see through the eyes of a serial killer. She contacts the police and Tommy Lee Jones plays the cop who recognizes that the scenes closely resemble that of her fashion photographs. Soon people she works with as well as friends become victims and she, herself, is being stalked. I enjoyed this film even though it is not a great one by any means, I thought it was tense and freaky....and nope, not a musical:)

Which 3 can you come up with?


Richard Avedon Fashion photograph

70 comments:

  1. We have a 3D television - is that what I missed Sunday night?
    Can't really think of a fashion movie outside of Laura Mars. I think that was the first film I saw Tommy Lee Jones in. Plus it had Rene Auberjonois who played Odo on Star Trek: DS9.

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    1. Yes, Odo is in this. Sorry for my delay in responding.

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  2. Hi, Birgit!

    I love watching old movie scenes and trailers even if today's theme, the fashion world, along with its musical numbers, singing and dancing, are not my favorite. (A giant T-Rex toppling skyscrapers with his tail? Now you're talkin'! :) I always got a kick out of Phil Silvers. He always plays a shallow weasel and it looks like he was the same type of character in Covergirl based on his few seconds of screen time in that clip. I see that the movie also featured Eve "Our Miss Brooks" Arden, another favorite of mine.

    Seems actress and style icon Audrey Hepburn is as popular as ever in the 2010s and I love her diction. Speaking of which, one of my favorite things about old movies and movie trailers is listening to the voices and appreciating the excellent diction. The voice-over announcer on the Funny Face trailer is an example.

    It sounds like Casey Kasem doing the v/o announcing on that promo for Laura Mars. I remember the film because it ran on NBC-TV a couple of years after its theatrical release. I worked at an NBC station at the time and also voiced promos for the broadcast.

    Prada starring Meryl Streep (whom I just learned is one of the most "overrated" actresses in Hollywood history :) is the only fashion film I can think of at the moment - sorry!

    Thanks, BB, and have a great day!

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    1. Yes, I firgured not your favourite week but Audrey Hepburn seems to be the choice for fashion since she loved Dior so I had to choose one film with her in it. Now, a T-Rex in a fashion outfit singing would be quite the movie:)

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  3. As usual, I haven't seen any of your picks. Those first two sound especially good.

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  4. Funny Face is popular so far, I also chose it. Though I haven't seen your other picks.

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    1. Funny Face was big this week...I am surprised just because it is an older movie.

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  5. Great choices and incredibly we have a match which I didn't expect with this week's titles but HA! I'm wrong.

    Cover Girl is a great deal of fun with great dancing and gorgeous colors. As if Rita and Gene weren't draw enough you get Eve Arden as well!

    I thought of Funny Face but was certain it would be uber popular which it looks to be. Wonderful movie.

    Our match is Laura Mars which I agree is no classic but an odd interesting view.

    Aside from our match I included a doc I think you'd really like and an obscure oddity starring the guy who at one time was the co-lead in Umbrellas of Cherbourg!

    Women He Undressed (2015)-Mix of documentary and reenactments tells the story of Australian born Hollywood wardrobe designer Orry-Kelly. THE major Warner Brothers designer throughout much of the Golden Age and a favorite of Bette Davis among others he also designed for films ranging from Some Like it Hot to Les Girls and Casablanca. Covers his often rocky early life-he was seriously involved with Cary Grant before either were famous, working in mob controlled nightclubs etc. though his successes and later struggles with alcohol laced throughout with interviews with those who knew and worked with him including Jane Fonda and Angela Lansbury. Directed by Gillian Armstrong.

    The Eyes of Laura Mars (1978)-High fashion photography Laura Mars (Faye Dunaway) is much in demand for her provocative layouts that have a violent often blood splattered tinge. She is climbing ever higher until she suddenly starts seeing actual murders through the eyes of the killer and he seems to be moving closer and closer to her. Stylish, with a theme song sung by Barbra Streisand, but rather sick this provided an early spotlight role for Tommy Lee Jones.

    Strip Nude for Your Killer (1975)-Italian giallo film of a leather clad and motorcycle helmeted killer who is wreaking havoc within the Albatross modeling agency systemically knocking off nearly everyone associated with it. Unsurprisingly based on the title full to the brim with nudity both female and to a lesser degree male as well grisly knife killings all in gaudily lit 70’s colors. A definite precursor to the slasher film craze that swept American films a few years later this bloodbath is set to a striking jazz score.

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    1. I'm sorry for my delay but I always love your responses and we match yet again! I love that movie even though it is not the greatest but I did find it neat for a story. I really want to see that Orry-Kelly film since he was so big in the movie fashion world but I will skip the slasher flick.

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  6. Saint Laurent
    Gia
    Blowup

    I haven't seen any of yours.

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  7. I haven't seen these, but the movie that comes to mind that had a bit of fashion in it was The Intern with Robert De Niro and Ann Hathaway :)

    betty

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    1. I haven't seen this film yet but plan to one day

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  8. I saw the last one when it was in the theaters, but I don't remember it very well.

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    1. It's a good flick and what an early Tommy Lee Jones film.

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  9. Never saw a single one this week. Can't think of many with fashion. Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead had some. As Betty said, The Intern did too.

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    1. Many chose The Devil Wears Prada as well which was popular. I haven't seen the 2 you mentioned but plan to.

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  10. I could only think of The Devil Eeras Pravda too, but actually I have a DVD of Funny Face somewhere which I've never watched. Audrey Hepburn is luminous.

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    1. Audrey is great in this movie and so beautiful

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  11. I haven't seen any of these, but Covergirl sounds fun.

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    1. Cover girl is a really good film and worth seeing because you see Rita Hayworth is more than just a glamour girl.

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  12. Try Designing Woman (not Designing WOMEN) with Gregory Peck and Lauren Bacall, from 1957. Very enjoyable.

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    1. This is one movie I still have to see! Gosh, there are so many

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  13. I love the three you picked. Rita Hayworth was a star of classic Hollywood and breathtaking. I racked my brain and couldn't think of even one fashion-based movie. I had to Google it! 90% of the ones that came up I didn't know, or you mentioned, then I hit Zoolander. I love that one! I even laugh when I watch repeats of it. Have a great Friday!

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    1. Rita is beautiful in this film and so talented. Zoolander is so stupid but I did laugh

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  14. and there's me saying that I thought The Eyes of Laura Mars wouldn't be picked often...

    I actually wasn't too keen on the simply because of the poorly written love story, I liked otherwise however. It was tense as you said.

    Haven't seen your other picks.

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    1. The love story is neither here nor there for me but I loved the plot and wish they would remake it. Maybe it would be better made

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  15. I agree with you about the Hollywood dress (also the current professional dress too!). I miss the era when the actresses wore clothes that made them look beautiful, not 'tarty'. (I also don't like going in a bank and seeing cleavage...I don't think it's professional at all!) I love Audrey Hepburn movies for the reason that she always wore such classy clothes. I've only seen Funny Face, liked it, primarily because of Audrey & her wardrobe. Grace Kelly's movies always had clothes to drool over, and lots of others in that era. I think whomever is currently designing clothes for women, must not like them very much. Even if you try to buy something in the stores, the choices are not 'pretty' clothes, that make a figure look good/classy. And more women are not 'working girls' who have to advertise, than not, so it is a bit distressing that the pretty Hollywood actresses want to look this way. (yep, gotta show off what they spent the money on I guess, but I also find that distasteful too. Keep it real gals!). TFS

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    1. Boy you said it! I couldn't have said it better myself. When I think of Grace Kelly in that white gown and ice blue gown from the Hitchcock film To Catch a Thief, I drooled. I wanted both gowns...so classy. Nowadays many "stars" look like hookers with a much too big ass and fake boobs. Funny, we went to a restaurant once where the girl wore such a low top that my friend commented we knew where the milk came from. I think you would love Covergirl

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  16. Haven't seen any of these, but Joel has recommended me to watch The Eyes of Laura Mars. It sounds harrowing, but I'm really curious about it.

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    1. It's quite good...not as good as the 2 musicals but I enjoy watching it and need to buy the movie

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  17. My favorite fashion movie is the one with Paul Newman and Joann Woodward. Can't remember the title. She was the tomboyish American fashion designer come to Paris to steal designs, while he was a womanizing sports reporter stuck in Paris. Of course the two dislike each other at first meeting. I could go for seeing it again. Just came back from looking it up. It's called "A New Kind of Love."

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    1. You stumped me! I have never seen this film and don't know it so now it is on my radar.:)

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  18. I don't think I've seen Cover Girl, but I have seen Funny Face. (Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire! Yep, I'm there.) And Laura Mars... My mother loves that one. (It's totally her cup of tea.)

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    1. Funny Face is so elegant...that is just the only way to say it. Even when they both fall down in the one scene, it's still elegant. Laura Mars is fun and I love it

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  19. In Australia I didn't see the Golden Globe awards but did see a few of the outfits on the Net....I agree with you, I don't like fake either, if only they knew how silly they looked well to me anyway.
    The movies you have done the reviews on....well it's a pity more Hollywood people didn't take note of the actors of years gone by.

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    1. I looked at some of the fashions also and one looked like she wore her outfit backwards with the deep square in the front..I think it was Kristen Bell...blecchhh.

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  20. Birgit, Cover Girl and Funny Face look like two excellent old movies to see! I checked Netflix and Amazon Prime for both titles. Sadly, neither have these titles for streaming. Oh pooh! I saw your third pick on TV when I was teen and remembering liking it. Hollywood is another word for "Fakeville". They've forgotten what real beauty is with all the cosmetic improvements. Sure, I'd like to have a face lift, tummy tuck, and breast enhancement but it's not gonna happen. It's a good thing I like the person I am and will be okay not being fake. :) Okay my three picks that have to do with fashion. Over Christmas we saw the movie, A Christmas Kiss II. This was actually not bad. It's about two unlikely people falling in love - a playboy billion and his sister's assistant of a fashion magazine or business. I can't remember now. Anywho, we enjoyed it and it's on Netflix. Another fashion related movie we watch on Netflix a few months ago is Ready Wear. It was ok. There were too many intertwining stories for me to follow the entire movie plot. Maybe, I needed to be in the right mindset or maybe it's just an average flick. Of course, there's Breakfast at Tiffany's which kinda falls into this category and as famous as this movie is it's not one of my favorite oldies. I guess it deserves another viewing before I totally rule it out, though. Have a good weekend, my friend and thanks for stopping by!

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    1. Everything is fake and so many try to look 20 still..very sad. When you look at the women from yesteryear who were in their 50's they looked like they were and dressed that way, not like a tart. I have not seen Ready To Wear but will one day. I have not seen Breakfest at Tiffany's but it always made me sad when she dumped her cat. When she found her cat, after I always cry.

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  21. Think I saw Funny Face, a long time ago. I go to the movies so seldom now and rarely watch TV.

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    1. Funny Face is such a nice film. I couldn't do without my tv

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  22. Funny Face is a favourite! Haven't seen it in years, so I'm going to look for it again. Thanks for the reminder. The Devil Wears Prada was the first one that came to mind. ☺ How about Designing Woman, from 1957?

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    1. Devil Wears Prada is a fun movie but I have yet to see Designing Woman...believe it or not.

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    2. I'm surprised, Birgit! :) You're such a classic movie buff.

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  23. I love Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire movies. Classics.
    YOU have a wondrous weekend.

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    1. They are great beauties in so many ways. I had a nice weekend and organized one thing which is good.

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  24. Cover Girl looks/sounds amazing!! I haven't heard of the last one but the Hepburn film I've read about but skipped in the past.

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    1. Covergirl is an amazing musical and love the special effects of Gene Kelly dancing with his conscience

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  25. I can't think of the name of it, but it's the one with Bette Midler and she gets kidnapped by a couple, and it turns out the woman kidnapper is a fashion designer and Bette Midler loves her clothes. I remember loving it. Well, I love Bette Midler.

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    1. OMG! Yes...I've seen this movie and I have to look it up. I think Jusge Reinhold played one of the kidnappers...Ruthless People!

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  26. I just backtracked and read your Christmas response. Sounds like you found the perfect gifts. Loved that you had a note for your HH that the gift was in the trunk and that you found the best gift ever for your niece.
    Hugs,

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    1. HH was surprised and had no clue so I was happy. I was also so happy with the gift I found for my niece...and it was from Oma.

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  27. I love The Devil Wears Prada. When nothing is on TV, it's one of the movies I pop in to watch. I actually adore movies about the fashion world because I have a soft spot for fashion...I like to draw designs. There's a movie about Coco Chanel that I would've picked for this theme. :)

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    1. Yes, this film was picked by others and it sounds good since Coco Chanel had quitenthe life.

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  28. Well- these three are new to me, of course. ;) I have been catching up on some older movies, but I still have a long ways to go! Thanks for sharing these.
    ~Jess

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    1. Love to know which older movies you have been watching.

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  29. Yep, the only one I can think of is The Devil Wears Prada, and that's just because the wife loves it. I haven't seen or even heard of the ones you mentioned. I also suck at fashion. But then again, I'm a stay-at-home writer, so most days I don't even put on pants. I am the wrong guy to ask about any of that.

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    1. Oh, come on, I know you wear sequinned purple shirts that you pair with black pleather pants, no socks but bedazzled shoes. You wear this every day:)

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  30. The only one I could think of (which I thought was pretty funny although a lot of people hated it) was ZOOLANDER.

    Well, it's about male models, but since even male models model clothing I guess it falls under the "Fashion" category.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    Check out my new blog @
    (Link:] Stephen T. McCarthy Reviews...

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    1. It does apply and it is stupid but it's funny.

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  31. Coco Before Chanel was good. Loved Breakfast at Tiffany's and that had fashion galore with the beautiful Audrey Hepburn. Didn't care for Valentino: The Last Emperor, but liked Pret-a-Porter. Have to see The Devil Wears Prada again because I'd liked to see Streep get her comeuppance one more time!

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    1. I want to see Coco Before Chanel and love Hepburn even though I didn't like that she tossed her cat out(she did find him again though).

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  32. No The Devil Wears Prada?! I'm shocked. Meryl Streep made that movie. (What movie doesn't she make, though?)

    I'm not sure if Gia counts, since it's based on a true story, but it's a very powerful look at the ugly side of modelling. My other pick would be Kinky Boots. I liked that one a lot more than I suspected I would.

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    1. I know...I thought The Devil would be everywhere today and it was around. Gia is excellent and great choice. I still have to see Kinky Boots which i really want to see for sure

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  33. So I wandered over, Haha I loved the one with 20 ansdecart. Virginie gets more that she bargained for with the stud in the poster. So hilarious - what a shot

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  34. I haven't seen cover girl but it looks interesting.
    Have a wonderful week, my friend.

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  35. I am incredibly late visiting. I'll be back tomorrow, though. I would love to see Eyes of Laura. Even though you place some doubt on it, it sounds like a great thriller to me.

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  36. I am still laughing at your line: "If it was shown in 3D, we'd all be ducking." Imagine a theater full of people ducking so as not to be slammed by giant fake boobs coming out of barely there dresses. I love you and your humor, Birgit.

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  37. I think I've only see part of Funny Face, so I definitely want to see it in full

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