Gone With the Wind Costumes

Sketch of Scarlett's Bedroom Dress

Gone With the Wind has to be one of my favorite films of all time.  It's the first classic film I remember viewing, aside from The Wizard of Oz.  I remember when it was on local TV once a year and I would stay up with my mom and sister, we would make a huge batch of popcorn, pull out the couch-bed and stay up watching it.  A treat, mixed in with all the years of hardship.  I'm convinced it's why I love classic films today.

Scarlett's Infamous Curtain Dress

And not only that, I fell in love with the book.  Beginning in sixth grade, I decided I was going to read Gone With the Wind.  It was daunting, but I loved it.  From then on, I made a point of reading it once a year.  I haven't done it lately, but for a good ten years I did it.

Scarlett's Red Dress

So I am so pleased that these beautiful costumes have been preserved.  They are so gorgeous.  I would love to see them in person some day.  My favorite is the red dress, but who can beat the iconic Curtain Dress?  

Scarlett's Wedding Dress

Dean Martin Mocked

Dean Martin Roast; 1958

George Jessel roasting Dean Martin, with Jack Benny joining in the laughter at the Friar's Club Roast of Dean Martin in 1958.  How I wish I would have been there, or there was a recording of it.  It looks like they are having a fabulous time, and I could use a good laugh these days.

Louise Looking Lovely

Louise Brooks

Curtis Cavorting with his Crew

Life Magazine; 1958

Dean Martin, Tony Curtis, and Milton Berle playing cards with their unidentified cronies.  I imagine this happened a lot during Hollywood's Golden Age.  It must have been really fun.  I would have loved to be a fly on the wall.  What these guys must have talked about!

Milton messing with his Mates

Clowning Around 1958

Milton Berle, Tony Curtis, Dean Martin, and an unidentified man clowning around in 1958.

Modern Guide to Health - 1947

Leslie Learns

Leslie Howard; 1941

Leslie Howard in a classic pose in his home Stowe Maries in Dorking, Surrey.

Leslie Lets Us In His Lair

Leslie Howard; 1941

Leslie Howard lived in Dorking, Surrey in a 16th Century Farm House named Stowe Maries.  He thought he had bought a "white elephant", but it seems like an amazing home to me.  He and his wife Ruth would entertain many celebrities there including Bette Davis and Ingrid Bergman.  According to a fascinating story on the UK Telegraph, his wife Ruth even novel way of keeping him away from his glamorous female guests.

Leslie Howard; 1941

If this isn't the way I expect an Englishman to look, I don't know what is!

Howard and His Horse

Leslie Howard; 1940

Cecile Irons it Out

Cecile Aubry; 1949

Cecile Aubry on the set of The Black Rose in 1949.  Below she is ironing one of her costumes for filming.  I have to say I love her shoes in the photo below.  How cute are they?

Cecile Aubry; 1949

Apparently Cecile preferred other careers, for she left movies to become a children's author and a producer and a secret marriage to the son of a pasha.  How exciting!