Sunday, September 26, 2010

To Each His Own


Last week, when I was on my deathbed recreating the final scene of' La Boheme,' I had a chance to watch an old VHS classic 'To Each His Own.'  For those of you unfamiliar with the debacle between Olivia De Havilland and her DNA sharer Joan Fontaine, this was the film which won De Havilland an Oscar (after her younger sister). 

It starts with De Havilland, old and rich in the middle of a World War II London blackout.  She's volunteering her time with a fellow loner on New Year's Eve and the two strike up a friendship.  Before it's allowed to progress, she realizes a mysterious character is going to be in London for a week and she has to run to the train station to catch him.  That's all I'm going to say without revealing to much, but the story then goes back to 1914 where she's a young girl and progresses to when she's an old lady alone, waiting for a stranger.


The movie was absolutely amazing and really surprised me, but what really knocked me off my feet were the costumes.  So varied and historically accurate, something that the designers often turn a little campy in those span-of-time movies.  Naturally Edith Head was the designer!  These are some of her sketches.


You really must see it!  It's not on DVD, but maybe I can send you my copy to borrow or you can catch it on TCM or AMC.

5 comments:

The Down East Dilettante said...

Apparently it is scheduled for DVD release---it's on my netflix queue under 'saved', with unknown date.

Sounds absolutely wonderful. I'm a sucker for this sort of movie. And always pay close attention to costume authenticity, or the equal camp entertainment of 'authenticity'

The Down East Dilettante said...

oh, and glad you're feeling better, Camille....

Anonymous said...

ack! was just heading over to netflix... boo! hopefully it will be out soon.

DM said...

DED...cough..thank....cough COUGH y-cough...COUGH COUGH COUGH COUGH...you...

Sarah...Youll have to come down and watch it!

Christina @ Fashion's Most Wanted said...

Dear Daniel, another wonderful recommendation. I shall be keeping my eye out for the DVD. I hope all's well with you. Do feel free to come round and dress up whenever you're in London by the way xx