ANNE BAXTER ALL ABOUT ANNE

Anne Baxter was an American actress who has appeared in very memorable and much loved films including All About Eve in 1950 and The Ten Commandments in 1956.

I have three wonderful costumes worn by this film great. All are period pieces and all very different.



Firstly is a period gown worn by Anne Baxter in the 1945 Fox film "A Royal Scandal". In the film, Baxter starred opposite Tallulah Bankhead, Charles Coburn and Vincent Price. Costumes for the film were designed by Rene Hubert. The gown is worn over a very large hoop.



"A Royal Scandal" was directed by the legendary Ernst Lubitsch and then Otto Premigner who took over for him when he became ill. The film is a comedy and is quite entertaining.



The following photo shows Baxter on set in costume between takes. Notice the cigarette in her hand!



Tallulah Bankhead portrays Catherine the Great, and tells the story of her lovers. In the film, Catherine the Great takes a fancy to the fiancée of Countess Anna who is played by Baxter.

Below Anne gets a final check of hair before her next scene.



The costume can be seen in this clip from the movie and comes in at 3:41



Anne Baxter was only 22 when she made this film and she is very good in it.



The second costume piece is a period two-piece gray wool suit worn Baxter in Fox film "The Walls of Jericho" released in 1948. The film also starred Cornel Wilde, Linda Darnell and Kirk Douglas. Costumes for the film were designed by Kay Nelson.





Below is a costume test from the film showing Baxter in the costume. The costume has been altered from its original appearance with black velvet added to the sleeves and pockets. The costume has been used for a later production.





The film tells the story of Julia, played by Baxter who returns to her home town of Jericho, with a law degree and her up and down romance with Dave played by Cornel Wilde. They fall in love. She leaves town when she feels she stands in the way of his career in politics and returns to work with him on a trial. The court scenes in the film in which Baxter appears are very good and it is great to witness the very talented Baxter as Counsel.





The third costume piece is a black silk dress with spaghetti straps and floral detail to the bodice, worn by Baxter in the film "The Spoilers".



The film was made in 1955 by Columbia studios. Baxter starred opposite Jeff Chandler and Rory Calhoun. The gowns for the film were designed by Bill Thomas.





This was the fourth and so far, final version of the story which has been made in Hollywood. Baxter’s role having been played by Marlene Dietrich in 1942 prior to this. The film was made in 1932 and originally 1913.





The film tells the story of a lawless western town, claim jumping with a little love in between. The film has some great gun fight scenes and is very funny at times. Baxter as Cherry Malotte is entertaining and looks great in her period western gear. The film ends with a great saloon Fistfight.





Baxter was the niece of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Baxter was raised in New York City and started her acting career at a very young age.

You can see her in early screen tests for the Hitchcock classic "Rebecca". The role went to Joan Fontaine. Baxter was 16 at the time.

Baxter will be remembered for other memorable roles including that of Eve Harrington in "All About Eve" (1950) and opposite Tyrone Power and Gene Tierney in 1946's "The Razor's Edge", for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Baxter will also be remembered for her starring opposite Yul Brynner, in the Demille classic "The Ten Commandments". In the film Baxter played the Egyptian Queen Nefretiri opposite Charlton Heston's portrayal of Moses.



In later years Baxter went again to Broadway to star in the musical "Applause". This was the musical version of the film All About Eve. This time however she played the Margo Channing role.

She is also remembered for her television roles including "Columbo" and the television series "Hotel". Baxter also played guest villains on the original "Batman" series.



Baxter was married to at time to actor John Hodiak.

Baxter suffered a brain aneurysm on December 4, 1985 in New York City.

She died 8 days later on December 12, aged 62.

GLADYS SWARTHOUT VOICE OF AN ANGEL

Gladys Swarthout was an American mezzo- soprano opera singer who had a wonderful stage career in operatic roles and recitals and who for time attempted a career in film and radio.

In fact Gladys starred in five films for Paramount pictures including Rose of the Rancho, Romance in the Dark, Give Us This Night and Ambush.

This amazing costume ensemble was designed by the legendary Travis Banton and worn by Gladys Swarhout in the film "Romance in The Dark" (1944).





The gown is comprised of a heavyweight black silk velvet long coat with large skirt train, ¾ length sleeves, front closure, heavy embroidery including beautiful gold bullion threading, faux jewels, seed beads, faux pearls and sequins. The design moves around the sleeve hem, down the center of skirt and lavishly around the hem.





Below are more detailed photos of the amazing embroidery work that went into creating this piece of art. The gown is very heavy. I cannot imagine the hundreds of work hours that went into creating this gown only to be used on screen for 10 minutes.





You can see small details below that Banton factored into his gowns such as the velvet at the neckline to stop the embroidery touching the stars neck.









The gown was later used in publicity photos on actress Mady Correll. The photo below shows the costume in its second appearance. I would like to think it was used again and again.

The costume came from the personal collection of Edith Head who for a time used these costumes in her touring shows on costume in film. The gown was later used by Ms. Head in her fashion shows to represent Dorothy Lamour in Road to Morocco" (1942).

The film, presented as an operetta tells the story of Ilona Boros, a peasant girl with a voice who becomes a pawn in the rivalry between opera tenor Tony Kovach (John Boles) and his business manager Zoltan Jason (John Barrymore).

They are both infatuated with the beautiful, but cold, Countess Foldessy (Claire Dodd), and Tony plans to make Ilona a star so that Jason will be attracted to her instead. The scheme backfires and both men are fighting over Ilona, the outraged countess left to instead pursue Jason's butler, Von Hemisch (Curt Bois).

In between the comedy, Swarthout, Boles, and company perform such well-known selections as "Because," from the opera Jocelyn; "Habanera," from Carmen; "La Ci Darem la Nano," from Don Giovanni; and Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin's "Tonight We Love."



Gladys starred opposite some very big names at the time with John Barrymore and John Boles in the film.



Gladys is the only woman to have sung for the entire assembled Congress of the United States and has also performed for the Diplomatic Corps, Supreme Court and the President on the occasion of the 150th Session of Congress.



In 1956, Gladys was diagnosed with a mitral heart valve problem and eventually underwent open-heart surgery. In retirement she bought a villa in Italy.

Gladys died on July 7, 1969, aged 68, in Florence from the previously diagnosed heart disease.

RICHARD BURTON WELSH ICON GREAT STAR

Here is a wonderful period robe worn by the legendary Richard Burton in the 1956 United Artists picture “Alexander the Great”. Costumes for the film were designed by David Ffolkes.


This full-length light brown woollen robe with powder blue silk lining is adorned with embroidered aqua sunbursts and depictions of lions.





The following photos show the detail in the embroidery.







Below is the original 1956 trailer to the film. You can see the costume at 1:02 in a scene opposite Claire Bloom.





He originally worked on the stage and in cinema while in the United Kingdom.



He will be remembered for his roles in the film Cleopatra (1963) opposite Elizabeth Taylor and where they first met. Other films together included The VIPs and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Other memorable film appearances include My Cousin Rachel opposite Olivia de Havilland and The Robe with Jean Simmons.

Burton had great critical success both on stage and in film.

Burton was nominated seven times for an Acadamy Award, six for best actor. He never won. He will be remembered also for the very public romance and twice marriage to Elizabeth Taylor.

Burton was married five times and he had four children.

Burton died suddenly at the age of 58 from a brain haemorrhage. He was plagued with illness issues for most of his life. At one time he was highest paid actor in Hollywood.

He will always be remembered as one of the greatest.