#lisa carol fremont icons

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Grace Kelly (Lisa Carol Fremont) in a green suit created by Edith Head for the film "Rear Window" directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1954.

Grace Kelly ( Lisa Carol Fremont) en tailleur vert créé par Edith Head pour le film "Fenêtre sur cour" réalisé par Alfred Hitchcock en 1954.

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grace kelly as lisa carol fremont in rear window(1954) icons 
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[nelson-riddle-me-this]

Six Movies I Can Always Watch

@hildy-dont-be-hasty tagged me

Thank you Lucie! :D Always a pleasure to hear from you!

Sorry it took me so long to finish this, but a lot happened this week. I started at my new first job, crammed an audition video for college transfer, hosted one of my movie parties, and finally got sick..

The Philadelphia Story (1940)

There are so many reasons I love this film. The casting is brilliant. Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, and Katharine Hepburn are magic individually - together they’re just a dream. And THE VOICES! I love doing impressions and between Cary Grant & Katharine Hepburn’s mid-atlantic accents and Jimmy Stewart’s ‘marbles-in-the-mouth’ drawl this film is accent/voice porn. Franz Waxman’s score to this film, though it doesn’t get to do much, always makes me happy. I love the descending direction of the theme.

The characters are great, particularly Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn). I identify with her.

Rear Window (1954)

This is the movie that got me into Hitchcock and classic film in general. I first saw it on BBC America when I was in 6th grade. I didn’t really understand what was going on, but I knew I loved it. It made me feel smart. Still does.

Lisa *Carol* Fremont (Grace Kelly) is gorgeous throughout the film in her iconic Edith Head wardrobe, Stella (Thelma Ritter)  with her down-to-earth wit and “home-spun philosophy” balances out Lisa, while Jeff (Jimmy Stewart) is the charming and persistant (if at times cold and a jerk to Lisa) glue that holds the plot together.

I love the experimental feel of the film’s singular courtyard setting, particularly in that the music is all diegetic (it exists in the world of the film and can be heard by the characters). Franz Waxman’s music for the film is gorgeous and I really think the main theme Lisa deserves more attention than it gets. Also the setting would, I think, lend itself very well to a stage adaptation. It would be a challenge ,certainly, but I would love to see a proper stage adaptation.

The Incredibles (2004)

I normally hate choosing favorites, but I might be able to say this is my personal favorite movie of all-time and it has been since I first saw it in theaters when I was in 2nd grade. As with Rear Window I didn’t know what the heck was going on the first time, but I knew it made me feel smart and that I loved it. 

It’s a wholly fresh take on the mythos of superheros, looking at the reality beneath them by asking questions like “Where do they get their costumes?”. There’s something in film I call relative realism which this movie’s a perfect example of. Yes the superpowers are unrealistic, but if we accept that ‘what if’ and work from there, it's a very believable and grounded plot.

Michael Giacchino’s score is amazing. It’s the soundtrack that sparked my interest in film score. It also was my gateway to John Barry’s scores for the James Bond franchise, which were a huge influence on this score. I’m not just talkin’ instrumentation or style, I mean there are specific cues modeled after 60s Bond cues. I’ve written about them in detail for projects before and I’ve bored my friends lecturing on it time and time again. I might write a masterpost about it sometime.

Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner (1967)

If you pay a lot of attention to my blog you might already know this, but this film has special personal signifgance as I used it to help come out to my parents. 

Over two years ago now, it was my first semester in college and I had begun really come to terms with being gay. I had only told two gay friends in our music department and I knew I had to tell my parents. But how? How do you tell your parents you’re gay? How do you ease into it? How do I tell them? There’s already so much stigma atatched to being gay, I need to tell them in a way that reminds them I’m still the same son they love. First of all, when are we all actually together? And when are we relaxed -not arguing or just vegging out? Pasta-movie-Sunday. Now what movie to show? I can’t show just anything, I need to plan it. I need to show something that relates, but it doesn’t need to be something that’s specifically gay. I need to tell them myself, not let the movie tell them for me. How do I talk about it without talking about it?

This movie was perfect for telling my parents. I ended up telling my dad before the movie while we were waiting for my mom to get home from work. His reaction wasn’t great and l felt hollow. At this point the movie was more to soothe me than anything else. 

I told my mom after the film and she seemed to react better, though she kept asking how I knew I was gay. I dunnow mom, how do you know you’re straight?

Katharine Hepburn is my all-time favorite actress. She breathes life and warmth and intelligence into every role she plays, this being no exception. This film has so much to say about marriage equality and love in general. I also really love some of the sentiments expressed about parent-child relationshps in John Prentice(Sidney Poiter)’s argument with his father. Though not amazing, Frank DeVol’s score is effective and I enjoy both The Glory Of Love and De Vol’s theme for the film.

The Graduate (1967)

This movie is two years of film school in two hours. It’s such a different, fresh, and artistic film - even fifty years later. It says so much about ‘the establishment’ - living outside of it and the pain of giving into it.

I also like the different use of music in this film. No traditional score - just Simon & Garfunkel and some source music by Dave Grusin. 

Thunderball (1965)

I first put A Streetcar Name Desire (1951) down here but then I realized I’m not always in the mood for something so heavy and dark. On the lighter side is my favorite James Bond movie Thunderball. 

Though Goldfinger (1964)’s more iconic and You Only Live Twice (1967) is more archetypal, Thunderball stands out. It’s an interesting moment in the Bond universe. This is the 4th Bond movie and it shows in a good way. Everybody knows what they’re doing and they do it well. They’re experienced but not trite yet, they’re still in the groove. This movie has clever writing, fun performances, great action sequences (the Junkanoo chase and Kiss Kiss Club sequence are my favorite), to-die-for production design by Ken Adam, wonderful music by John Barry. Lucianna Paluzzi and Claudine Auger are two of my favorite Bond girls. Can I also give a shoutout to Connery’s wardrobe? Can I give a shoutout to Connery? Sometimes I’m self-concious about my body hair and he reminds me I shouldn’t be. 

Also a shoutout to  Ken Adam, John Barry and Terence Young

shoutout to Dustin Hoffmann, Ann Bancroft, Mike Nichols, Simon & Garfunkel

shoutout to Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poiter, Stanley Kramer

shoutout to Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Brad Bird, Michael Giacchino

shoutout to Grace Kelly, Jimmy Stewart, Thelma Ritter, Franz Waxman, Alfred Hitchcock

shoutout to goddess Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart again, Franz Waxman again aand the fabulous George Cukor

Shoutout to all of you for just helping me feel cool, helping me get back in action and getting me to magically be my best again. Because that’s ultimately why these movies are on this list, because they help me be me.

I’m tagging @tyronepowerbottom, @n2ninvisiblegirl, @reluctant-martyrs, @passez-une-adventre-avec-moi, @adamsberg, @thevintagious, @littlehappyrock @alwayseleven

and if I didn’t tag you but you wanna do this, please do! I’d love to hear from you!

[nelson-riddle-me-this]

1, 6 and 13, please!

Thank you so much for the asks Lucie! :D

1. The movie that got you into old Hollywood? 

I remember always liking, what I called them at the time, “technicolor era” movies but the first movie that really got me into old hollywood was Rear Window (1954). 

I was in 6th grade, I watched it on BBC America with my mom and I had never felt so alive watching a film before. I didn’t entirely understand what was going on, but I knew I loved it. The next week I even recited the plot, in detail, to my friends in boy scouts including the “Tell me everything you saw, and what you think it means.” line. It’s one of my all-time personal favorite movies. The direction, story, set, casting and acting, costume design, and music are all fabulous.

6. A movie with great costume design (examples of clothing are optional, but could make it more fun)?

Also Rear Window. Edith Head’s designs are gorgeous and iconic. Grace Kelly looks perfect through the whole movie and the progression of clothing is very reactive to the plot.

First, we have THE Rear Window dress.

This iconic costume is a fitting introduction to society debutante Lisa Fremont, who “never wears the same dress twice... only because it’s expected of her”. The low-on-the-shoulder neckline of the top is a great look and I don’t understand why I don’t see it more nowadys.The flared white skirt is very extroverted while the black sandals convey an openness that helps this costume not to feel too stuffy or overly-formal.

After a bitter fight the first night, Lisa returns in a signifigantly more subdued outfit. These heels are not open-toed like the sandals that preceded them, the skirt is not flared and simply drapes down. This costume is more reserved than the first and reflects Lisa’s hurt feelings as well as the darkening tone of the film as the murder plot develops. The at-the-shoulder V neckline of the first dress is replaced with a more subdued one. Lisa’s shoulders are entirely covered, she feels vulnerable, so she doesn’t want to expose her shoulders. Still, the fabric covering her shoulders is very thin as she is not closed off to Jeff, she’s still trying to rebuild their relationship. Also the pleats are just cool. 

As Lisa and Jeff begin to repair their relationship and they become more focused on the murder plot, Lisa dons this light green skirt-suit. Less extravegant than her previous costumes, it’s businessy quality creates an interesting backdrop to the playful atomosphere of their conversation with lieutenant Doyle which at times feels more like a game than a murder investigation.

Lisa’s neglige bears at least a passing resemblance to Mrs. Thorwald’s. Coincidence?... I think not.

Hitchcock generally avoids suspense/creepy cliches like deformed unattractive villains and spooky old houses on dark stormy nights. To this end, Lisa’s penultimate costume in the film is sunnier than any of her others and provides an interesting contrast to the suspensful final act of the murder plot. The dress is also far more ordinary looking than any of her previous costumes, reflecting somewhat of a democratization of Lisa in an effort to prove to Jeff that she can rise to any challenge his tough globe-trotting photography career may throw at them.

Lisa’s final costume in the film completes the style devolution of Lisa Carol Fremont. Throughout the film Lisa is trying to convince Jeff that, despite his protests to the contrary, that she is more than a society debutante, that she can tackle any challenge they may face traveling for his not-always-glamorous photography career. From an elaborate $1,100 dress to a simple button-up, jeans, and brown loafers, Lisa proves with her actions as well as her clothing that she is more than capable of rising to any occasion. Still, a sneaking glance at Harper’s Bazzar reassures us the fashionable Lisa we know and love is not gone.

13. Favorite quote(s) from old Hollywood movies?

The Philadelphia Story (1940) has a bunch of great ones. Here are two of my favorites.

“We all go haywire at times and if we don't, maybe we ought to.”

“I don't want to be worshipped. I want to be loved.”

Thank you so much for the ask!

Send me more Old Hollywood Fan Asks

[nelson-riddle-me-this]

HITCHCOCK WARDROBE: Lisa Carol Fremont

HITCHCOCK WARDROBE: Send me a character in a Hitchcock movie (Male or female.) and I’ll tell you what costume of theirs I’d most like to wear.

Jess! You know me too well! I don’t even have to think about this one, I could answer it in a coma - the first dress she wears, hands down. I love all her costumes from this movie (it’s one of my all-time favorite movies), but none are more iconic than her first, black & white, dress.

It’s simple, elegant, and pretty much perfect. I can’t say enough good things about it, I can’t find fault with it. Words enough do not exist to express my love for this iconic costume, designed by the iconic herself, Edith Head.

 I occasionally even wear my own small homage to it in the form of long white shorts and a nice black v-neck t-shirt.

 I’d love to someday do a Rear Window couples costume for Halloween or something. My boyfriend could be L.B. Jeffries, put grey stuff in his hair and slick it back, wear pajamas and a fake case, carry binoculars and a camera with a telephoto lens, and sit in a wheelchair pushed by me, dressed in tasteful drag as Lisa Carol Fremont. 

Thank you so much!

Send me more Film / Music Asks !