JANE GREER FEMME FATALE

Jane Greer was a film actress who despite making less than 30 films in her career, is remembered for roles in film noir classics and for playing the femme fatale.

The most important of her films are considered to be "Out of the Past" for RKO in 1947, "The Big Steal" in 1949 also with RKO and the "The Prisoner of Zenda" in 1952.



It is a little known fact that Greer suffered from facial palsy as a child and that as result, utilised the expressionless face 'look'in
later years. It has been mentioned that this 'look' is what she became known for in her films. Greer has been referreed to as the woman with the Mona Lisa smile.

The two costume pieces here are worn by Jane Greer in two of her more popular roles.

The first piece is a simple nightgown consisting of a gray cotton fabric with lace design to the neck line and sleeves that was worn in possibly her most memorable film noir roles in Out of the Past for RKO in 1947. Out of the Past was directed by Jacques Tourneur and starred Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, and Kirk Douglas. The film is considered by film historians to be one of if not the best film noir with its complex storyline, flashbacks and cinematography.



Costumes for the film were designed by Edward Stevenson.







This second costume is a wonderful two piece red velvet period gown with lace bodie and trim worn by Greer in the 1952 MGM classic "The Prisoner of Zenda" Costumes for the film were designed by Walter Plunkett who designed for film classics including Gone With The Wind.


Purchased from the Bill Madigan Collection



The film tells the story of an Englishman vacationing in a Ruritarian kingdom and who is asked to impersonate the soon-to-be-crowned king when the real king to be is drugged and kidnapped.



The film also starred Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr and was a remake of the 1934 classic with In later years, Greer took on many television roles including Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Murder, She Wrote.





Greer died at the age of 76 in 2001.

GINGER ROGERS SHALL WE DANCE?

Ginger Rogers will always be remembered as one of the true dancing legends of all time and more so as being half of the partnership that will always be considered the most memorable on screen dance partnership of Astaire and Rogers. They danced well together with elegance and style. And as they said, Ginger did everything Fred did on screen…but she had to do it backwards!

Rogers has appeared in many memorable film classics including “Top Hat”,” “Shall We Dance”, “ Black Widow”, “The Barkley’s of Broadway”, “Roxie Hart” and “I'll Be Seeing You”.

This first costume is a two-piece single-breasted brown suit with a cream blouse worn by Ginger Rogers in the 1944 Paramount film “Lady In The Dark”. The film is an adaption of the Kurt Weill stage musical of the same name. Rogers plays Liza Elliott, an unhappy female editor of a fashion magazine, “Allure”, who is undergoing psychoanalysis.

Pictures here show Ms Rogers in costume.

The second costume is a two-piece period gown worn in Rogers last RKO film, “The First Travelling Saleslady” RKO 1956. Edward Stevenson designed the costumes.

The film tells the story of turn of the century Rogers and ex-showbiz friend, Carol Channing who become involved as female steel sellers. When they find themselves unsuccessful selling corsets, they turn to selling barbed wire to Texas cowboys.

The following photo shows the costume as it appears on screen.



Here is a copy of the original Edward Stevenson sketch for the costume.

Miss Rogers also appeared on Broadway and on the London stage in shows such as “Hello Dolly” and “Mame”.

Another much loved film favourite of mine!

MAUREEN O'HARA THE RED-HEADED IRISH BEAUTY

Thanks to her red hair, beautiful eyes and the magicians of the Technicolor process, Maureen O'Hara became known as The Queen of Technicolor. Best remembered in her roles as the heroine in costume epics, she has appeared in many film classics including 'How Green Was My Valley" and 'The Quiet Man".

The following are some costume pieces from her career.

This brown two piece riding suit was worn by Ms O'Hara in the opening scenes of the 1949 Universal Pictures film "Baghdad". The film tells the story of a Princess in search of her fathers' murder. The costumes were designer by Yvonne Wood.

From the same film, is a green satin gown with tassel trim as worn by Ms O'Hara.



Ms O'Hara wears this costume in the 1945 RKO classic "The Spanish Main". An entertaining swashbuckling story, she starred opposite Paul Henreid. Ms O'Hara's costumes were designer by Edward Stevenson. This is a cream lace nightgown with lace up to the front.

I am a great admirer of this wonderful actress not only for her amazing talent but for her many contributions to the motion picture industry. An extraordinary and remarkable woman. If you get the chance, you must read her 2005 autobiography "Tis Herslef".