Does Hollywood ever get it right?

[Miss Costello]

I've been full of cold this week so I've had a few afternoons spent on the sofa watching films.

Does Hollywood ever get it right? I've always loved 'Little Women' the Winona Ryder and Susan Sarandon version, a lot of the set and clothing looks ok to me. I was also watching 'Into the west' (not CW era I know) but I saw so many things wrong with things like buttons and fastenings, but the story was so good.

So are there any films or TV  that ever get it right? Cold Mountain? Jane Eyre? North and South? Doctor Quinn Medicine Woman?

What are your opinions?

K

[Colleen]

I've been full of cold this week so I've had a few afternoons spent on the sofa watching films.

Does Hollywood ever get it right? I've always loved 'Little Women' the Winona Ryder and Susan Sarandon version, a lot of the set and clothing looks ok to me. I was also watching 'Into the west' (not CW era I know) but I saw so many things wrong with things like buttons and fastenings, but the story was so good.

So are there any films or TV  that ever get it right? Cold Mountain? Jane Eyre? North and South? Doctor Quinn Medicine Woman?

What are your opinions?

K

http://thesewingacademy.org/index.php?topic=3547.0  Check out this thread....some good films and discussion here.

Colleen

[Heidi Hollister]

In my experience, Hollywood has little interest in "Getting it right" and infinitely more interest in appealing to modern audiences with little or no interest in historical accuracy.  Which, I suppose, is where the money is.  But still I think it's sad that I can watch a "period" movie and tell you exactly when it was made without reading the box.

BBC in general does a better job at getting it right, I can usually watch those without thinking "Wow, this was SOOO made in the 90s" or whatever, though they still insist on putting eyeshadow on their characters...

[Miss Costello]

Oh, the eyeshadow in North and South..dire!

In some ways it's a curse to know about costume, my mother just enjoys them in blissful ignorance!

K

[anb717]

Sometimes.  The Young Victoria did pretty good and of recent major theatrical releases, I think it gets the award for trying hardest, at the very least.

The BBC usually tries very hard and frequently succeeds with the productions it does.

[CVanS]

Abby, I agree with you the BBC generally does a much better job at trying to get it right.  Loved Young Victoria!  Did anyone happen to see the BBC mini-series Little Dorrit?  It was simply awesome!

Cold Mountain, please, Nicole's character is all out of wack....sort of like Scarlett was in  GWTW.  IMHO

Cindy

[Brooke Whitaker]

Maybe its a good thing the guys in my family refuse to let me watch any costume dramas?!?!?!?!  lol

[Heidi Hollister]

I don't even watch costume dramas UNLESS they're BBC.


Well... Sometimes I watch them... and I have fun groaning in misery at the lack of regard for historical accuracy...  Which is entertaining in and of itself, but not very conducive to having non like minded people watch with you.

[Miss Costello]

I watch them alone so I can sit and make noises like an old gas boiler. .... 'Oooh pssshhhht, eeeek nooo what's she wearing??'

I did love Downton Abbey, and the clothes were pretty spot on. But I did spot the Sense and Sensibility Walking suit and a laughing moon pattern that they had used! They're just filming the new series and I'm rather envious that my friend is an extra.

 

[NoahBriggs]

I just finished perusing the children's brag section.  First off, a general congratulations on the outfits, from start to finish.  I have no children, but I have an imagination and I imagine it's a challenge to make the proper clothes in the proper patterns in the proper size and get them on the child properly.

Seeing all these kid's clothes reminded me that if any TV series needs a major reboot, it should be Little House on the Prairie (LHOP).  cute series, and I know the late Mr. Landon was shooting for something less cynical and more uplifting on TV, but let's face reality - that show's material culture suffered terribly. (I know, 1970s, and research has come a long way, but still . . . how many of you have had to correct visitors who use LHOP as a reference for correct material culture?)  The children's brag is a clear indication that yes, you can get the clothes right, along with everything else.  Or, at least, you can get closer than usual.

Unfortunately the costume departments work on tight budgets and limited time and monetary resources, so it's not a surprise that they take shortcuts on outfits.  Also, a lot of the actors don't like the feel of the period clothes or object to how they look (those modern sensibilities creeping in).  Thus, you have great outfits and horrid hairstyles, or modified outfits that look "good" onscreen but would get the character laughed out of town in real life.

[Elaine Kessinger]

They had the opportunity to re-vamp LHOTP when Hallmark Channel did a mini-series of "Little House on the Prairie" Thanksgiving a coupla years back. It was better... but still no where near as close as they could have been. It makes me want to film my own series of this book (these books, actually), because I loved it as a young lady and  hate what Hollyweird has done to it. And you better believe I'd put buddies I could trust to get things right in key positions.

[Miss Costello]

Such a good example, do you remember Nellie? I was terrified of her when I was a kid! All that nylon and that was just her hair! I did catch the remake. What did you think of 'into the west' I thought the costuming was a bit 'hit and miss'.

[NoahBriggs]

The costuming was hit or miss.  Most of the history appeared to be a miss.

They could not get the whole history of the west into one miniseries.  I could see each generation of the Wheelers with their own season of the TV show, which would slow down the action and help build up the characters to a level that the audience could care about them.

[Chip]

Over the years, I have been involved in the production of many movies, documentaries and museum presentations.

As far as the major productions go, there are so very many variables at work in filming every scene that it is a wonder how all of it can come together and work to make a complete project.

There is often more than one film crew working on a movie at any given time.

While I think that most producers have the best of intentions, there are often logistical problems that stand in the way of making things go smoothly, especially while filming out of doors.

It also depends on how much of a perfectionist certain folks are...

For example, this photo shows a civilian scene from, "Glory." The fellow in the white jacket and rubber boots is Freddie Francis. He was the cinema/sound coordinator/assistant producer for Glory.

http://s621.photobucket.com/albums/tt296/Chip42/?action=view&current=GloryCiviliansCopy3.jpg&newest=1

He impressed me as being sort of a perfectionist. I was with the 1st Minnesota on a rain day where filming had to be halted. Freddie took us out and did nothing but sound bites for about three hours.
Clanking, clicking, etc., etc... To make a long story short, the movie ended up winning an Oscar for Sound.

During filming, there is constant interfacing with the main characters to try different approaches.  

Here is Matthew Broderick interfacing with Eddie Zwick, the director of Glory.

http://s621.photobucket.com/albums/tt296/Chip42/?action=view&current=GloryCivilians7.jpg

While I wish that everything could be, "perfect," in respect to clothing, etiquette, and such, I also have to keep in perspective how difficult and expensive some of the larger productions would be if that were an absolute priority.

[Maggie Koenig]

After watching "Gods and Generals" (I had to for a class I swear) I came home and immediately said to my mother "I could have done a better job on the women's clothing with about 3,000 dollars and a couple of friends".  The women's clothing was beyond bad. 

Compare that to something like "The Young Victoria" where I'd really have to do some serious research on the 1830's and 40's before I'd feel comfortable picking out the flaws. 

I do rather like "Washington Square" with Maggie Smith.  The costumes in that one seem better than most.

[Heidi Hollister]

You are very right Chip.  Coming from a mass media communications background, it IS incredible that things come together at all.   With or without the costuming defects.

The lack of proper clothing does not detract from entertainment value.  And it is also true that these costume experts are not specialists in the eras they are trying to dress.  They are costuming experts, trying to get the right look and feel for a character, not an era.  If they spent the amount of time and research necessary to make everything perfect, we would not have a movie at all.  So you are right, we must forgive them there.  

Still... a girl can fantasize.

[Kendle L.]

What about the movie Ride with the Devil? It wasn't released very widely so maybe quite of few of you have never seen it. 

One of my favorite movies, and, in light of five years of research of the Missouri/Kansas border war history, it is the most accurate I've seen pertaining to the history part. But what about clothing? I do remember female hair coming down once, but can't remember anything else. They shot the movie locally in MO and also a scene at Missouri Town where I volunteer so that's neat.

I love Gods and Generals but remember watching it AND Gettysburg and thinking "Those beards look glued on."

[BethT]

Really?  The Young Victoria was good?  I do not know much at all about the 30s and 40s, and I found her costumes hard to believe...also confusing!  I didn't see any of the earmarks I was looking for and couldn't tell which era went where!!!  Like I said, I know hardly anything about the 30s and 40s.

Oh!!! Gods and Generals!!!!  Cameos a mile wide.  And the HAIR!!!!!

[Miss Costello]

I went to see 'Young Victoria' at the cinema and my friend and I (both museum workers) turned to each other afterwards and said 'Disney Princess' at a couple of the dresses.

Didn't think much to the film either but hey....


I'm currently advising for a film project (a different era) but although the producer insisted, most of what I'm pointing out-even at early production level is being passed over in favour of 'what the public want to see'

Galling, but hey.

[BethT]

Oh, poor you!   But hey, at least they won't be as bad as they might have been!  Now I'm dying to know what movie is coming out that you're advising on!  But I won't insist, if it's supposed to be kept secret, don't worry.

One thing I've been noticing with some recent movies is accurate gowns, but from about three or four different time periods?  Am I right, or is this a figment of my imagination?  Like the last version of Jane Eyre, which I could NOT tell what era it was from because it seemed a mishmash of 30s and 40s!  I still distrust myself, however, when it comes to dating things, so I could be completely wrong...again...