The Making of The Artist
February 2nd, 2012 § Leave a Comment
First, how adorable is Bérénice Bejo?
Second, how amazing is it that neither Bérénice nor her co-star
Jean Dujardin knew how to tap dance before the film?
If you haven’t already, go see The Artist.
Look at Life: The London Coffee Bar
February 1st, 2012 § 2 Comments
A charming British short tries to understand the London coffee bar craze, which started in 1952, when an espresso machine was set up in London Soho. And of course now I’m searching for as many of the Look at Life clips as I can find…
Sidenote: Man, I wish I could’ve hung out with Iron Foot Jack
You Beautiful Dames!
January 23rd, 2012 § Leave a Comment
The kind of extravagant and geometric choreography
only Busby Berkeley could be behind.
From Dames, 1934.
Coming Attraction: Red Tails
January 8th, 2012 § 1 Comment
It is with great excitement that I look forward to the release of Red Tails, the retelling of the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, on January 20. The film was produced by George Lucas, directed by Anthony Hemingway and stars Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding, Jr.
The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American pilots in the United States armed forces and served in World War II, facing remarkable adversity and racism within the military as well as society at large. After African American soldiers were denied the opportunity to fly in World War I, Congress forced the War Department to begin training African American pilots in 1939, and forced the Army Air Corps to form an all-black fighter unit in 1941. The 99th Pursuit Squadron was formed in March 1941 and the unit was eventually expanded into the 332nd Fighter Group when the 100th Fighter Squadron, 301st Fighter Squadron and 302nd Fighter Squadron were added. The group saw action in Europe and North Africa, and are well-known for their excellence flying escorts for heavy bombers. The nickname “Red Tails” came from the distinctive red paint the pilots had applied to the tails of their planes.
The main reason for my excitement is my personal connection to the Tuskegee Airmen. My great uncle, Col. Edward Creston Gleed, served as the 302nd Fighter Squadron commander during WWII. He personally had two confirmed kills, while his squadron accounted for almost one third of the aerial victories recorded by the 332nd. He also served as operations officer for the 332nd. As you can expect, my family is exceptionally proud and very excited to see his story brought to life on the big screen. I can’t wait.
My Uncle Cres, on the far left.
Coming Attractions: Albert Nobbs, Tomboy, & The Iron Lady
December 19th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Three different films, one leitmotif.
Boundaries. Convention. Identity.
Albert Nobbs, starring the inestimable Glenn Glose in the title role she also played Off Broadway, is the story of a woman who masquerades as a man for over thirty years in order to work and survive in 19th century Ireland.
French film Tomboy, is the story of Mikael, the new boy in town, who is actually a girl named Laure.
And last, but definitely not least, the amazing Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady, a portrait of the rise of Margaret Thatcher, the first and only female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and the first female elected to head of government in the West.
While Albert and Mikael/Laure wrestle with their concept of themselves as manifested outwardly through their chosen manner and dress, Baroness Thatcher contends with some of the same issues as they relate to her chosen profession. All three struggle with the corresponding concepts of masculinity and femininity. I look forward to seeing all three.
Albert Nobbs opens January 27.
Tomboy is currently in limited release.
The Iron Lady opens December 30.
Coming Attraction: Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life
October 21st, 2011 § 2 Comments
Singer. Songwriter. Hellraiser.
Excited to see Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life tonight. Pretty sure I will love this film — we’ve previously discussed my love for Jane Birkin, Laetitia Casta looks amazing at Bardot, and when you add in a liberal dose of surrealism, 60s music and puppets (?!?), you’ve pretty much guaranteed me two hours of bliss.
If you happen to be in New York this weekend, you can catch a viewing at the Soho House on Saturday night. Find further details here.
“Best-selling comic book artist Joann Sfar delivers an inventive biography of famed French singer Serge Gainsbourg (Eric Elmosnino). Born Lucien Ginsburg to Russian-Jewish parents, Sfar follows him from his childhood in Nazi-occupied Paris, his transition from painter to jazz musician to pop superstar and his many relationships including Juliette Greco (Anna Mouglalis), Brigitte Bardot (Laetitia Casta) and Jane Birkin (Lucy Gordon) while employing a witty surrealistic style and a soundtrack that acts like a time capsule to ’60′s Paris.“
Coming Attraction: The Artist
October 11th, 2011 § 1 Comment
The Artist
Release date Nov 23, 2011.
Hollywood 1927. George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is a silent movie superstar. The advent of the talkies will sound the death knell for his career and see him fall into oblivion. For young extra Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo), it seems the sky’s the limit – major movie stardom awaits. THE ARTIST tells the story of their interlinked destinies.
A new, silent, black and white film, set in Hollywood in 1927?
Someone made this with me in mind…
H/T to Hello, Tailor.
Featured: Quite Continental on Two Inch Cuffs – “Home Film | Heritage Football”
July 13th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Just wanted to share the video from the Two Inch Cuffs feature.
Please do not judge my football skills by these few minutes, as I was taking it easy so I wouldn’t embarrass the boys. Obviously.
Film: Les aventures extraordinaires d’Adèle Blanc-Sec
March 23rd, 2011 § 2 Comments
I have long been a fan of filmmaker Luc Besson, and from what I can tell, his latest film, “The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec,” looks destined to be a new favorite. In the years before WWI, Adèle, a fiesty Parisian writer-turned-journalist, encounters some outrageous matters of the occult — namely, the hatching of a petrified pterodactyl and the revival of a mummy — and amazing escapades ensue. Based on a Franco-Belgian series of comics by Jacques Tardi, the film was released in France last year and will soon be released in the UK — no word yet on any US release dates, but I will keep an eye out for us, d’accord!
The official site for the film is quite beautiful. It’s definitely worth a bit of clicking about. If the film carries the same attention to production detail that is evident on the site — and that I very much appreciated in Besson’s futuristic Fifth Element — I’m assured to enjoy it. Of course, I’m most excited about the costume design. Set in Paris in 1912, it is one of my favorite eras for women’s clothing. From safari wear, to beautiful hats, to can-can dresses, so much to see and love.
Images via My French Films.
Quite Continental Recommends: BAMcinématek Deneuve
March 15th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Currently, the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) is showing a 25-film tribute to the amazing Catherine Deneuve. Running through March 31, the festival includes films such as Belle du Jour, Manon 70, and Repulsion, among others. Last week I had the good fortune to catch Les Parapluies de Cherbourg. If you’ve already seen the film, you’ll remember it as the rather odd, completely sung, vibrantly colorful film that features a 20 year-old Catherine Deneuve in a story about young lovers in the small port town of Cherbourg. And if you haven’t seen it, how could you refuse it after that description?
Playing to a packed house on a stormy night, a story about an umbrella shop seemed quite apropos. The bright colors were a dream! I immediately had a desire to wear pink with orange, and found myself thinking about the color blocking, stripes and use of contrast of Prada S/S 2011. See what I mean? J’adore!
Image via Vogue Paris
More from Les Parapluies…
If you can make it, do drop by BAMcinématek Deneuve.
BAM
30 Lafayette Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11217-1486
{A Few Bold Pretties} Interior Inspiration: 1stdibs Wishlist and Indiscreet (1958)
March 14th, 2011 § 1 Comment
I have been finding interior inspiration in all sorts of places lately. I am loving dramatic lines, bright colors, luxurious fabrics and exotic hides, cherie, and I have been thinking about one of my favorite films, Indiscreet (1958), starring Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant. Indiscreet is a lovely film about a famous actress (Bergman) who has given up on the hope of finding and marrying her true love. She then completely falls in love with a suave American business man (Grant) who leads her to believe he is married, when he in fact is not. The truth is discovered and hi-jinks result. It’s a completely lovely film, but the reason my bold interior inclinations have reminded me of Indiscreet is because of the gorgeous living room of Bergman’s London apartment.
Completely in love with the mixing of modern art, bright colors, classic shapes and obvious luxury. You can see a wonderful little clip of Grant and Bergman in white tie attire engage in a bit of witty repartee in the darling living room here. (Bergman’s best quote: “I like a man with a glass in his hand, it’s becoming.“)
I’ll also include the following clip, not only because you can see a good deal of the living room, but mainly for the following quotes: “Oh, shut up!” “How dare he make love to me and not be a married man!” And of course, “Daaaamn!”
My mind is being drawn on a colorful, glamorous safari and I’ve got a bad case of spring fever, most definitely! I think some bold pretty things are essential for le maison, and I have been stalking the treasures on 1stdibs for ideas. Yes, the beauties below are definitely spendy — hence I’ve placed them in my inspiration files and not on my shopping list — but I’ve also included some less expensive “real life alternatives” alongside my finds below to help kick start your creative flow.
All images via 1stdibs
Vintage dream: Hollywood Regency chairs in gorgeous striped silk
Real life alternative: Reupholster a Craigslist find
Vintage dream: Bronze sea horse from the front of a Venetian gondola
Real life alternative: Cast iron horse bust
Vintage dream: Billy Haines faux-bamboo mirror
Real life alternative: Vintage faux-bamboo mirror
Vintage dream: Zebra ottoman
Real life alternative: Zebra stenciled cowhide rug
Vintage dream: Pineapple lamps
Real life alternative: Shiny chrome lamp base
Vintage dream: Art Deco clock
Real life alternative: Art Deco clock
Vintage dream: Antique crocodile trunk
Real life alternative: Vintage steamer trunk
Vintage dream: 19th century Chinese porcelain vases
Real life alternative: Hand painted Chinese vase
Do you have a few bold pretties? Where did you find yours?
Film: Bill Cunningham New York
January 24th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
“We all get dressed for Bill.”
–Anna Wintour
So excited to see Bill Cunningham New York! The documentary about the legendary New York photog by Richard Press opens in New York on March 16, 2011 and has already racked up awards at the festivals. Cunningham has been shooting fashion photography for the New York Times since the late 1970s. He is most well-known for his street style compositions called On The Street that run weekly and have inspired the next generation of street style photographers like Scott Schuman and Tommy Ton. Each week, he does a darling narration of On The Street for NYTimes.com that you must listen to!
It looks like the film provides a glimpse into the little-known personal world of Cunningham and interviews with some of his favorite subjects. With New York as the backdrop, I have high hopes that this film will be a poignant and personal love letter to the vast and varied world of fashion. Someday, perhaps I will be lucky enough to catch Bill’s eye on Fifth Avenue…
Find out more about Bill Cunningham New York here.
Quite Continental Loves: The Red Shoes and Ballet-inspired Fashion
January 11th, 2011 § 1 Comment
A dear, sweet friend of mine recently gifted me with one of my most favorite movies of all time, The Red Shoes. The film was originally released theatrically in 1948; stars Moira Shearer, Anton Walbrook and Marius Goring; and has inspired many a baby ballerina (including myself!) to head to the barre. I am now the happy owner of the 1999 Criterion Collection version. There is a newer version, featuring a new digital transfer and even more extras, but I am quite happy with the one I’ve received.
With all the accolades Black Swan has been receiving lately, I had an urge to revisit The Red Shoes over the weekend. For those that have not yet seen this masterpiece of early Technicolor, you must see it! It is the story of Victoria Page, an aspiring prima ballerina from an aristocratic family; Boris Lermontov, the brilliant, cold and demanding director of the Ballet Lermontov; and Julian Craster, a young, gifted composer. Victoria and Julian both join the Ballet Lermontov on the same day, and eventually Lermontov comes to realize and acknowledge their remarkable abilities – he promotes Victoria to prima ballerina and asks Julian to write the ballet of the Red Shoes.
Based on a fairy tale by Hans Anderson, the ballet tells the story of a girl who buys a pair of beautiful red shoes to wear to a dance. She dances at the party and has a wonderful time, but when she tires and attempts to rest, the shoes will not let her rest nor can she take them off. She dances and dances and dances, through lands near and far, until she ultimately dies. At that time, the red shoes can finally be taken off.
The Red Shoes, with Victoria dancing the lead, is released to great acclaim in Monte Carlo and Lermontov is overjoyed until he realizes that Julian and Victoria have fallen in love. Lermontov firmly believes that great dancers cannot rely “upon the doubtful comforts of human love,” and asks Julian to end the affair. The ballet comes to mirror the plot of the movie, as Victoria is forced to choose between two loves – dancing or Julian – and her choice to dance has tragic results.
The film is gorgeous, from the costumes to the makeup to the dancing and the sets. It is an amazing fantasy that you must see!
Everywhere I look, I see the ballet in fashion and streetwear – delicacy, gauziness, movement, body con, fluidity, severity, chingnons…even red shoes!
Denisa Dvorakova by Johan Sandberg for Marie Claire Italia January 2011
Hanna Jirickova by Alyona Isaeva for Marie Claire Russia January 2011
Serenay Sarıkaya by Eric Guillemain for Vogue Türkiye January 2011
Kendra Spears by Jason Kibbler for Vogue Nippon January 2011
Melodie Monrose, Anais Mali by Sølve Sundsbø for Interview December/January 2010
Keira Knightley for Vogue Italia January 2011 by Ellen von Unwerth
Natalie Portman by Peter Lindbergh for Vogue US January 2011
Kristine Drinke by Jonas Bresnan for Black No. 13 Fall/Winter 2010
And while I haven’t laced up my ballet slippers in years, Tod’s La Scala flat may prove a worthy subsitute…
In a fusion of Italian art and craftsmanship, Tod’s has designed a ballet slipper inspired by those worn by the performers at La Scala, the famed Milanese opera house. The Ballerina La Scala shoe is made of buttery suede, hand-sewn with wide satin ribbons and completed with the rubber-pebble sole that has been a Tod’s trademark since the release of its iconic Gommino driving loafer, 32 years ago. A simple silhouette, meticulous construction and sumptuous materials transform this shoe from a run-of-the-mill ballet flat into something, well, to dance about. Handmade by Tod’s artisans, the Ballerina La Scala comes in a variety of colors. (via Departures)
Hmmm. Wonder if they come in red…?
Nacho Figueras: A Caballo by Matthew Donaldson
September 2nd, 2010 § Leave a Comment
Image via: NOWNESS
Just released on NOWNESS, director Matthew Donaldson’s short film A Caballo captures Argentine polo star Nacho Figueras astride his horse Vasco Negro through a 180. In slow motion for maximum effect, the film is a visually stunning illustration of raw horsepower. Oh yes, and Nacho isn’t so bad to look at. You may recognize him from his Ralph Lauren adverts.
Side note: I was a rather horse-obsessed girl, so you can see why this caught my eye (ok, aside from Nacho). This short immediately brought to mind the classic 1979 film The Black Stallion that I guestimate I have watched about a billion times. After a little searching, I unearthed this montage on YouTube and immediately had yearnings for my jodhpurs. Perhaps Quite Continental should start taking riding lessons again. We hear Gucci makes some beautiful riding boots…
Enjoy!
Today: Bonnie and Clyde in Bryant Park
August 23rd, 2010 § Leave a Comment
Summer is slipping away! Tonight is your last chance to catch a movie in Bryant Park but luckily, it’s Bonnie and Clyde! Shot in 1967 by Arthur Penn and starring Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty, the influential film is one of my favorites. Compare what was thought to be a very violent film in 1967 with what’s become de rigueur today (and Bonnie’s clothes are to die for).
Get to Bryant Park early to secure a good spot for your blanket. The lawn opens at 5pm for picnicking and you must enter from the 6th Avenue side, near the screen. The film begins between 8 and 9pm, at sunset. More information can be found here.
Louis Vuitton: Hide and Seek by Zoe Cassavetes
August 18th, 2010 § Leave a Comment
Director Zoe Cassavetes (daughter of director John Cassavetes and actor Gena Rowlands, BFF of Sofia Coppola) takes us on a dreamy romp through London, as models Alexina G and Julia Nobis play hide and seek from Bond Street all the way to Hampstead Heath wearing lovely summer designs from Louis Vuitton. Le sigh, I wish summer would never end. How is it we are already so close to Labor Day?!
Via: NOWNESS
