Saturday, February 28, 2015

Tom Hanks tuxedo and props from Charlie Wilson's War on display...

In Mike Nichol's 2007 Charlie Wilson's War adapted from George Crile III's 2003 book, Tom Hanks stars as the titular Texas congressman in a biographical comedy-drama about his covert actions helping Mujahideen rebels during the Soviet war in Afghanistan in the 1980's.

Original film costume worn by Tom Hanks in Charlie Wilson's War
Tom Hanks Charlie Wilsons War tuxedo film props
Tom Hanks Charlie Wilson's War tuxedo
Tom Hanks tuxedo Charlie Wilson's War
Original Charlie Wilsons War movie costume props
Charlie Wilson's War film costume props
This tuxedo worn by Tom Hanks as Charlie Wilson, plus these props featured in the film, were photographed on display at Universal Studios Hollywood's movie archive exhibit on January 20, 2015.

Two time Oscar-winning Costume Designer Albert Wolsky was responsible for the period wardrobe on this film, and you can also see his work more recently by checking out this original movie costume from Birdman.

Charlie Wilson's War movie poster
Charlie Wilson's War movie poster
Also featured as part of the exhibit was these screen-used props from the movie, including a Talisker whisky bottle and an award to congressman Charlie Wilson for the first stinger missile strike in Afghanistan.

Film props from Charlie Wilson's War
Original Charlie Wilson's War props
Charlie Wilsons War movie props
If you like these authentic pieces of movie memorabilia, be sure to check out more original costumes and props from Universal Studios film and TV archives from my most recent visit to the NBC Universal Experience attraction.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Indian wedding costumes on display...

In 2012 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (for the Elderly and Beautiful), to give it it's full name, was adapted from Deborah Moggach's 2004 novel These Foolish Things and saw an aging and established ensemble cast of Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Celia Imre, Penelope Wilton and Bill Nighy to name but a few, move to a retirement hotel in India run by Dev Patel's 'Sonny Kapoor'. Now the heartwarming comedy-drama is back for the next installment as Sonny's hotel dreams expand with The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and opens its doors to Richard Gere.

Indian wedding costumes worn by Tina Desai and Dev Patel 
in The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Indian Wedding costumes Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movie costume exhibit
Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Indian Wedding costumes
Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel wedding costumes
Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movie costumes
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel wedding costumes
To promote the British movie this fantastic exhibit of traditional Indian wedding attire worn by Tina Desai as 'Sunaina' and Dev Patel as 'Sonny' were photographed on display at ArcLight Sherman Oaks cinema on February 17, 2015.
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movie poster
Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movie poster
Louise Stjernsward is once again Costume Designer on this movie sequel and you can also check out these film costumes worn by Judi Dench and Dev Patel in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel from 2012.

Original Indian wedding sari worn by Tina Desai as Sunaina 
in The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel wedding sari
Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel wedding sari
Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel wedding costume bracelets
Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Sunaina wedding sari
Sunaina wedding sari Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Sunaina wedding costume Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Tina Desai wears this elaborate red wedding sari (the traditional colour for Indian brides) as Sonny's beloved Sunaina on her wedding day.

Wedding costume worn by Dev Patel as Sonny Kapoor 
in The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel wedding turban
Dev Patel Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel groom turban
Dev Patel wedding sherwani Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel sherwani sleeve
Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel wedding sherwani jacket
Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel wedding costumes
Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Dev Patel wedding costume
Meanwhile, as the groom Dev Patel wears this wedding turban and sherwani ensemble in the movie.

If you like these Indian outfits, be sure to also check out these Bollywood themed costumes from Passions soap opera and if it's wedding inspiration you're looking for, take a look at all these different wedding dresses from the movies on display.

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movie poster
Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movie poster

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Lily James and Richard Madden's costume from Disney's Cinderella on display...

In recent years fairytale stories have been receiving the big screen treatment with a modern twist or two, everything from Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, Snow White & the Huntsman to Jack the Giant Slayer. Even Disney has taken familiar characters and given them a fresh perspective with the likes of Maleficent re-imagining the story of Sleeping Beauty. This year the trend seems to be taking classic animated Disney feature films and translating them onto the big screen, with the first being the rags-to-riches tale of Cinderella, the difference being this story hasn't been given a darker edge, but is an unabashedly romantic and fairytale romp.

Original Cinderella film costumes on display
Disney Cinderella movie costume exhibit
Disney Cinderella film costume
Disney Cinderella glass slipper
Disney Cinderella Prince movie costume
Disney Cinderella movie costume exhibit
This movie costume exhibit for the live-action film directed by Kenneth Branagh was photographed on display at ArcLight Sherman Oaks cinema on February 17, 2015.

Cinderella movie poster
Cinderella 2015 movie poster
In this retelling of the classic fairytale Downton Abbey's Lily James plays a young 'Ella', the titular servant girl who suffers living with her evil Stepmother and Stepsisters, but eventually wins the heart of a charming prince.

Original costume worn by Lily James as Ella in Cinderella
Lily James Cinderella movie costume
Cinderella film costume detail
Cinderella floral dress detail
Cinderella film dress detail
Cinderella floral dress
Original Cinderella movie costumeCinderella film costume shoes
Three time Oscar-winner Sandy Powell was Costume Designer on this movie and this pretty floral dress worn by Ella is one of her creations. She wears this simple dress before her transformation by her Fairy Godmother.

You can also see Sandy Powell's design work in these Oscar-nominated costumes from The Tempest, these costumes from Hugo and this gown from Gangs of New York.

Original costume worn by Richard Madden 
as the Prince in Cinderella
Richard Madden Prince Charming Cinderella movie costume
Cinderella Prince Charming film costume
Cinderella Prince movie costume detail
Cinderella Prince movie costume
Cinderella Prince Charming film costume
Cinderella Prince Charming costume cuff detail
Cinderella Prince Charming costume embroidered cuff
Richard Madden Cinderella Prince Charming costume
He may have suffered a bloody fate in Game of Thrones as the young King of the North, 'Robb Stark', but it looks like Richard Madden has scrubbed up pretty well to play the Prince that becomes enchanted by Ella.

If you like these original costumes, be sure to check out another take on these fairytale characters, with these Cinderella and Prince Charming movie costumes from Into the Woods by Colleen Atwood.

Glass slipper from Cinderella
Cinderella movie glass slipper
Cinderella glass slipper
Disney Cinderella glass slipper
Disney Cinderella glass slipper
Cinderella film glass slipper
Cinderella Swarovksi glass slipper
Cinderella glass slipper
Now I'm not sure if this Swarovski glass slipper of Cinderella's is an actual prop from the movie (the signage implies it is), or whether it's a promotional replica, but it still makes for a sparking exhibit and replicates the teaser trailer for the movie on its rotating turnstile.
I can't imagine a crystal shoe would be very comfortable (no matter how fabulous it looks with that golden butterfly), but then that's magic for you. As the story goes when the clock strikes midnight Cinderella must flee the royal ball, and she leaves one of her slippers is left behind, which the Prince finds and vows to find the beautiful owner.

I'm hoping that there'll be more delights from Disney's new live-action Cinderella movie on display at the El Capitan Theatre when it opens in March, so stay tuned for future posts.

Cinderella movie billboard
Giant Cinderella movie billboard Sunset Strip