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.

ROBERT TAYLOR THE MAN WITH THE PERFECT PROFILE

This navy jacket with military braiding and buttons was worn by Robert Taylor in the 1936 MGM film “The Gorgeous Hussy”. Directed by Clarence Brown, the film also starred Joan Crawford.


The film tells the story of President of the United States Andrew Jackson and an innkeeper's daughter.



This was considered quite a lavish production and particularly in terms of the number of leading men given to Joan Crawford for the film, including Franchot Tone, Melvyn Douglas and James Stewart.





The Gorgeous Hussy earned two 1936 Oscar nominations for Best Cinematography and Supporting Actress Beulah Bondi as the First Lady. It is also remembered for being the only sound era appearance of Joan Crawford in a costume period film.



The following photo provides more detail of the military braiding and buttons.





Lionel Barrymore appears as Andrew Jackson and would reprise his role in 1952's Lone Star, with Clark Gable and Ava Gardner. Sadly that would be his final screen performance.

Taylor was famous for having appeared in many MGM and other studio classics including Camille opposite Greta Garbo and Waterloo Bridge opposite Vivien Leigh. One of my favourites is his appearance as General Marcus Vinicius in Quo Vadis, opposite Deborah Kerr.



Robert Taylor can be seen wearing the jacket in various scenes throughout the film. Below is a scene the costume appears in opposite Joan Crawford:



At one time Taylor was married to actress Barbara Stanwyck. Taylor died of illness in 1969 at the age of 57.