Enchanted Serenity of Period Films: March 2011

18th & 19th Century Wedding Gallery

After profiling dresses from the Victorian and Edwardian eras, I thought it only fitting to feature some wedding gowns from earlier times. Here are dresses from the 1700's and 1800's...

From McCord museum: This dress was worn in 1763 by Mary Chaloner in Guiseborough, England, when she married Colonel John Hale. The groom had served under Major-General James Wolfe in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in Quebec, and it was he who brought the news of Wolfe's death back to George III in England.
(Not only do I love the design of the dress, I like the historical connection since my ancestor who first crossed the Atlantic, was part of General Montcalm's fleet, who fought against Wolfe.)

Wedding dresses worn by Helena Bonham Carter in Frankenstein (1760s)
and Keira Knightley in 'The Duchess (1774)

1770 wedding as portrayed in film Marie Antoinette

early 18oo's - double wedding, in Pride & Prejudice (1995)

early 1800's - wedding in Sense & Sensibility (1995)

Sources: McCord Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, Manchester Galleries, Tidens Toj, V&A Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Antique Dress, Augusta Auctions, Powerhouse Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Smithsonian Institute, Indiana State Museum

1700s / 1742 / 1742

1774 / 1774 / 1776

1775 / 1776 / 1795

1797 / 1799

1810 / 1814

1815 / 1816 / 1824

1825 / 1828 / 1830

1830 / 1831 / 1833

1835 / 1839 / 1839

[Following 6 are from Indiana State Museum]

1806 / 1827 / 1850-59

1855 / 1865 / 1886

More WEDDINGS FROM THE PAST

Love's Resounding Courage (2011)

Cheryl Ladd and Bruce Boxleitner star in "Love's Resounding Courage," the second prequel to "Love Comes Softly," the highly rated series of Janette Oke movies from Hallmark Channel. The new movie tells the story of Clark's beloved wife, Ellen, who dies from scarlet fever and how he and his daughter, Missy, must find a way to overcome this loss while also saving the barren land from drought. Family and friends become their saving grace.

The movie will premiere on Hallmark Channel in 2011.

Clark (Wes Brown, "We Are Marshall") and Ellen (Julie Mond, "General Hospital") are in love and working hard to save the difficult land when Ellen becomes ill and soon passes away. Meanwhile, Clark's parents, Irene (Ladd) and Lloyd (Boxleitner) have arrived for a long stay and both are eager to help Clark and Missy in any way they can. Lloyd had some ideas for how to find water on the property, and ultimately, Irene and Lloyd provide a magnanimous gift of love and generosity to their son and granddaughter.

A second prequel film, Love Begins, also with Wes Brown and Julie Mond, is in post-production.

Sleeping Beauty (2012)

Yet another fairy tale in the making (to be added to the growing list here).

From Deadline:
Screenwriter Lindsay Devlin has written a revisionist take on the fairy tale that will give Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) a lot more to do than nap while waiting for a charming prince's peck to awaken her from a witch's curse. The new version is told from her point of view as she enters the dream world and has to find her way out.

Gertrude Bell biopic planned

Deadline: Ridley Scott wants to direct a biopic (set during the Edwardian era) about Gertrude Bell with script to be written by Jeffrey Caine (The Constant Gardener).

"Born to privilege in England, the Oxford-educated Bell found her calling in the desert while visiting her diplomat uncle in Persia. She became a seminal figure in Middle East politics during the run-up to WWI, acting in roles that ranged from archaeologist to diplomat, photographer and spy. While she helped sort out the borders of Iraq after the fall of the Turkish Empire, she lost favor with her government for strongly advocating Arab self-rule. The Brits preferred direct access to the oil fields."

Another biopic, "Queen of the Desert" (possibly starring Naomi Watts) has been planned for Gertrude Bell by Werner Herzog, with a completed screenplay so it remains to be seen if there will be two films? Why do these things always happen in duplicate?!

Soul Surfer - interviews

Already posted the trailer for Soul Surfer but here are some interviews from what sounds to be an inspiring film! A rarity these days in my opinion.

Here are videos with AnnaSophia Robb who portrays Bethany Hamilton (the surfer who lost her left arm to a shark attack) and Carrie Underwood who plays Sarah Hill, Bethany's youth leader. There are more interviews with Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt who portray Bethany's parents.

18th Century Shoes ready for pre-order!

The "Georgiana" 18th Century Shoes designed by American Duchess will be available for pre-order on April 1st!

Description from American Duchess Boutique:
These shoes have been developed exclusively for costumers, historical re-enactors, vintage-lovers, and anyone who loves to dress up, with particular attention paid to historical accuracy.

~ The Georgianas are closely based on extant examples of shoes from the 1750s to the 1770s
~ The latchet straps can be worn with 1.25″ buckles, or looped back to be worn with bows
~ The custom-designed Louie heel is beautifully shaped and balanced for maximum comfort and style
~ The Georgianas are constructed of cream-colored 100% dyable silk, with 100% leather insoles
smooth 100% leather sole, suitable for dancing
~ Heel Height – 1.75 inches

If you pre-order, save and pay only $85 (retail is $105)

Visit American Duchess Boutique

Victorian Wedding Gallery #2

Here are even more lovely wedding gowns from the Victorian era

in addition to ones posted in earlier Victorian Wedding Gallery.

Sources:
McCord Museum,
Kyoto Costume Institute,
Manchester Art Gallery,
Bowes Museum,
The Metropolitan Museum of Art,
Powerhouse Museum,
Very Tres Chic,
Tirelli Costumes
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
and Royal Ontario Museum
(pics on right scanned from Victoria magazine, thanks to Nan for sharing!)