Thursday, January 30, 2014

Matthew McConaughey's costume and Enigma Machine prop from U-571...

In Jonathan Mostow's 2000 World War II submarine thriller U-571, Matthew McConaughey played 'Lt. Andrew Tyler', part of a disguised U.S. Navy team that boards an enemy Nazi submarine to retrieve an invaluable German Enigma Machine to help the Allies break their encoded military plans.

Original costume and prop from U-571 on display
Matthew McConaughey U571 costume Enigma Machine prop
Matthew McConaughey U571 Lt Andrew Tyler movie costume
Matthew McConaughey U571 movie costume
U571 movie costume and prop exhibit
This is the rain uniform costume the actor wore (which looks like German attire to me), plus the Enigma Machine prop featured in the movie, photographed on display at NBC Universal Experience TV and movie archives exhibit at Universal Studios Hollywood on January 23, 2014.

U-571 movie poster
U571 movie poster
April Ferry was Costume Designer on the movie and you can also see her work more recently in films like the 2014 RoboCop remake, Elysium, plus Donnie Darko and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.

Enigma Machine movie prop from U-571
U-571 Enigma Machine movie prop
U571 Enigma Machine film prop
Historically speaking, even though the heroes of this movie are depicted as Americans, it was British personnel who actually captured a Naval Enigma Machine from German forces months before the U.S. even entered the war.

If you're an admirer of the actor, be sure to also check out Matthew McConaughey's film costume from Dallas Buyers Club on display.

Plus if you like this, be sure to check out even more original costumes and props from my most recent visit to Universal Studios Hollywood.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Nathan Fillion's Mal Reynolds costume from Serenity on display...

Back in 2005 I remember going to see Serenity on the big screen and being blown away by the cool characters and sci-fi concepts, so much so that I rushed out and bought the box set of Joss Whedon's short-lived Firefly TV series that the movie was a continuation of.

Original movie costume worn by Nathan Fillion 
as Captain Malcolm Reynolds in Serenity
Captain Malcolm Reynolds Serenity movie costume
Nathan Nillion Mal Reynolds Serenity movie costume
Mal Reynolds Serenity film costume
I loved the whole Chinese Western feel of this far future universe and Joss Whedon's trademark characterization and plot twists. It was space, but it felt fresh, new and wonderfully realised all over again. It's no wonder Marvel's The Avengers was so epic in scale with this writer and director at the helm, and I bet those execs at Warner Bros. Studios who turned down his Wonder Woman script are now kicking themselves. Anyway, I digress.

Since I enjoyed the movie and 2002 TV series so much, you can imagine my delight at seeing the costume worn by Nathan Fillion as 'Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds' in the film (and quite possibly the series?) on display at Universal Studios Hollywood on January 23, 2014.

Serenity movie poster
Serenity movie poster
Even though Ruth Carter is referenced as Costume Designer on the movie in this NBC Universal Experience exhibit, the look of Firefly's Captain was a collaboration between series Costume Designer Shawna Trpcic and leather artist, Jonathan A. Logan.

Mal's iconic deerskin 'Browncoat' is from his Independents army days and his folded back sleeve cuffs are influenced by Oriental style robes with their silk linings. If you're a fan, you can actually by replicas of the coat at Jonathan A. Logan's website.

Captain Mal Reynolds costume details
Captain Malcolm Reynolds Serenity movie costume
Mal Reynolds Serenity movie costume
Captain Mal Reynolds Serenity leather costume holster
Mal Reynolds Serenity movie costume
Mal Reynolds Serenity costume
Mal Reynolds Serenity film costume
Mal Reynolds Serenity costume boot
Apparently craftsman Brennan Byers at GBB Custom Gunleather was responsible for creating Mal's gun holster out of oak-tanned carving leather.

In addition to the fantastic costume, there was also this 'Blue Sun' bottle prop on display. The Blue Sun Corporation is a mega-corporation of the future and one of the richest, most powerful and corrupt businesses in existence, whose products include food and drink packaged goods used by settlers on newly terraformed worlds.

Blue Sun bottle prop from Serenity
Blue Sun bottle prop Serenity
Serenity Blue Sun bottle prop
Serenity Blue Sun bottle prop
If you're a fan of the film, be sure to check out the crew of the Firefly's Mule transport featured in Serenity too from a previous visit on Universal Studios Hollywood infamous backlot tour.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Amanda Seyfried's Cosette gown from Les Misérables on display...

I know for a fact that fans of Tom Hopper's 2012 big screen adaptation of Les Misérables, and costumers alike, will love this gown worn by Amanda Seyfried as 'Cosette' in the movie musical.

Original movie costume worn by Amanda Seyfried 
as Cosette in Les Misérables
Amanda Seyfried Les Misérables Cosette movie costume
Les Miserables Cosette movie costume
Universal Studios Hollywood movie costumes
This period dress from the movie set in the 19th century revolutionary France is just one of the Oscar-nominated designs by Paco Delgado and was photographed beside other fabulous original movie costumes on display at Universal Studios Hollywood's NBC Universal Experience attraction on January 23, 2014.

Les Misérables movie poster
Les Miserables movie poster
In the movie Amanda Seyfried plays the grown up daughter of 'Fantine' and her adopted father is 'Valjean', and she wears this gown in the latter stages of the film.

You can also see another of Cosette's costumes from Les Misérables from a previous visit to the theme park's costume archive exhibit, plus more original costumes from the film worn by Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Eddie Redmayne here at Hollywood Movie Costumes and Props.

Cosette costume detail
Cosette Les Miserables film costume
Cosette Les Misérables film costume detail
Les Miserables Cosette costume detail
Les Miserables Cosette movie costume detail
Cosette Les Miserables movie costume belt
Cosette Les Miserables movie costume belt
Amanda Seyfried Cosette Les Miserables movie gown
Stay tuned in the days to come for even more fantastic costumes and props from the worlds of film and TV on display at Universal Studios Hollywood from my most recent visit.

Friday, January 24, 2014

Bridesmaids movie costumes worn by Melissa McCarthy and Maya Rudolph...

2011's Bridesmaids was one of the last movies I watched where I almost split my sides and was literally gasping for breath from laughing so much, so I was extremely excited to see these original outfits from the hit female cast comedy on display at Universal Studios Hollywood on January 23, 2014.

Original Bridesmaids movie costumes on display
Original Megan Lillian Bridesmaids movie costumes
Bridesmaids movie costumes
Bridesmaids film costumes
Original Bridesmaids movie costumes Universal Studios Hollywood
Melissa McCarthy Maya Rudolph Bridesmaids movie costumes
Bridesmaids movie costume exhibit
It seems only fitting that for a film about someone getting married there should be at least one wedding dress on display, and since Melissa McCarthy stole the show in her breakout performance as 'Megan', it's great to also see one of her outfits as part of the NBC Universal Experience exhibit in the theme park's Lower Lot.

Bridesmaids movie poster
Bridesmaids movie poster
In the romantic comedy written by Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, Melissa McCarthy plays the scene-stealing future sister-in-law, 'Megan', of bride-to-be, 'Lillian' (Maya Rudolph).

Outfit worn by Melissa McCarthy as Megan in Bridesmaids
Melissa McCarthy Bridesmaids Megan costume
Bridesmaids Megan costume fish belt-buckle
The actress wears this outfit when she has a heart to heart with Kristin Wiig's character 'Annie Walker', and confesses that taking nine puppy bridal shower favours may have been three too many.

Original Lady St. Petsios JuJu wedding dress worn by 
Maya Rudolph as Lillian Donovan in Bridesmaids
Bridesmaids Lady St Petsios JuJu wedding dress
Bridesmaids rejected Lillian wedding dress
Maya Rudolph Bridesmaids rejected Lillian wedding dress
Bridesmaids Lillian wedding dress
Bridesmaids Lady St Petsios JuJu wedding gown
Leesa Evans was one of the Costume Designers on the movie (alongside Christine Wada) and was responsible for the design of Maya Rudolph's rejected hideous wedding dress by the fictional fashion designer, 'Lady St. Petsios JuJu'.

If this gown isn't your style, maybe you should check out this wedding dress from 1991's Father of the BrideMia Wasikowska's period wedding dress from 2011's Jane Eyre or maybe even the otherworldly Dejah Thoris wedding outfit from John Carter.

I'm not the biggest fans of comedies, but seeing these original costumes from Bridesmaids was a real treat and made me want to watch the movie again and revisit those funny characters.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Movie and TV treasures on display at Universal Studios Hollywood in January 2014...

With it being a New Year and January quickly speeding by, I thought it was about time that I visited Universal Studio Hollywood's ever-changing costume and prop exhibit to see what delights from the big and small screen were currently on display.

Original costumes and props from TV and film on display 
at the NBC Universal Experience exhibit
NBC Universal Experience movie costume prop exhibit
NBC Universal Experience costume exhibit
costume prop exhibit Universal Studios Hollywood
Original Universal Studios movie costume props
NBC Universal Experience costume prop exhibit
I'm pleased to report that there were many new treasures to enjoy from new films and old TV favourites alike, from the world of comedy, action, sci-fi, period drama, sports and more.

Original movie costumes from Bridesmaids and 
Rock Hudson's jacket from TV's McMillan & Wife series
Bridesmaids movie costumes
Rock Hudson McMillan Wife TV show jacket
In addition to the 'hero' DeLorean car from the Back to the Future movies still on display, there were costumes worn by Melissa McCarthy and Maya Rudolph in the hilarious comedy Bridesmaids from 2011.

Plus a jacket worn by screen legend, Rock Hudson, as 'Police Commissioner Stewart "Mac" McMillan' in the 1970's crime television series, McMillan & Wife, with Burton Miller being the Series Costume Designer.

Heroes and House M.D. TV series props on display
Heroes House MD TV props
House MD Dr Wilson Teddy Bear prop
House MD TV props
More recent TV treasures came in the form of props used by Hayden Panettiere as cheerleader 'Claire Bennet' in the superhuman series, Heroes (which ran from 2006 to 2010), and a cute teddy bear prop from House M.D. (which ran from 2004 to 2012).

If you're a fan of these shows, you can also check out Hayden Panettiere's cheerleader outfit from Heroes and other original props from the series, plus costumes and props from House M.D. on display from previous visits to the NBC Universal Experience attraction.

That's just some of the original costumes and props from the film and television studios extensive archives from past and present, so be sure to come back and take a look in more detail at these other delights in the days to come:

Oscar-nominated costume worn by Amanda Seyfried as Cosette in Les Misérables
Taye Diggs costume and film props from The Best Man Holiday
Nathan Fillion's Mal Reynolds costume from Serenity
Costume robe from Syfy's Caprica
Original Bridesmaids movie costumes
Simon Pegg's police uniform from Hot Fuzz
Matthew McConaughey's costume and Enigma Machine prop from U-571
Kate Bosworth's surfing costume and surf board from Blue Crush
Lea Seydoux's period costume and models from 2010's Robin Hood
Mary Steenburgen's Old West gown from Back to the Future III
Costume and props from the Fast & Furious movies

There really is a great variety of film genres, plus lots of different types of clothing and interesting models and props on display. You can actually hear the visitors gasp as they see all the different items and make a connection with a favourite actor, movie or TV show.
Universal Studios Hollywood movie costume exhibit
As a special treat, here's another blast from the past from a previous visit to the NBC Universal Experience attraction, a model miniature from the 1981 TV mini-series, Masada, which starred Peter O'Toole and Peter Strauss. The story was inspired by the siege of the Masada citadel in Israel by Roman Empire legions in AD 73, hence the need for a siege tower.

Siege Tower miniature from TV's Masada
Siege Tower miniature Masada
Masada Siege Tower miniature
Masada Siege Tower miniature
You know every time I visit I always think it's a real shame more film and television studios don't have exhibits from their vaults that are open to the public in this way, and that allow photography, as I'm sure there's more than a market for it judging by visitors to my blog alone.