Designs for Joan

[davidmorrocco]

Her costume designer Adrian (né Adrian Adolph Greenburg), made thee best gowns for Joan. She wore his designs like artwork. Edith Head would be my second favorite designer for Joan. 

[Admin]

I don't know enough about the highest of fashion to have a favorite. But I do know: I HATE the low-fashion Sheila O'Brien and her string ties!

From the BOE O'Brien entry:

O'Brien started as a seamstress at Paramount, leaving in the mid-1930s to work in MGM's wardrobe department, where she met Joan and began creating dresses for Joan's personal use. She was the founder of the Costume Designers' Guild in 1953 and designer for Joan on 8 post-MGM films: Flamingo Road (1949), The Damned Don't Cry and Harriet Craig (1950), Goodbye My Fancy (1951), This Woman Is Dangerous and Sudden Fear (1952), Johnny Guitar (1954), and Female on the Beach (1955). According to the book by David Chierichetti on designer Edith Head, Joan and O'Brien had a big falling out during the Female on the Beach production, and barely spoke after that. O'Brien worked on 2 other films in the 1960s, but other than that seems to have disappeared professionally after Female.

(Trivia: After Joan was cast in From Here to Eternity, Joan objected to the wardrobe and insisted on O'Brien; studio head Harry Cohn subsequently fired Joan in favor of Deborah Kerr.)

[davidmorrocco]

I was watching the Oscars the other night. Dua Lipa likes to copy Cher’s look of the early 1970’s. That got me thinking that Adrian was to Joan like Bob Mackie was to Cher and Carol Burnett. The artists and their muse. Joan and Cher were a source of inspiration for a creative artist like Adrian and Bob do show their genius gift of fashion.

[tom]

Apr 27, 2021 8:00:56 GMT -6 davidmorrocco said:

I was watching the Oscars the other night. Dua Lipa likes to copy Cher’s look of the early 1970’s. That got me thinking that Adrian was to Joan like Bob Mackie was to Cher and Carol Burnett. The artists and their muse. Joan and Cher were a source of inspiration for a creative artist like Adrian and Bob do show their genius gift of fashion.

Have you seen this video?
I thought it was very interesting. It's about the Letty Lynton dress.

[davidmorrocco]

I never saw the video until now. I have an unopened Joan Crawford cutout paper doll book that I purchased about 15-20 years ago and I’m pretty sure that famous dress is in there. I’m not a big fan of that gown. I also was never a fan of the 1980’s prom gowns. I like the more sleek, form fitting dresses that flows out at the bottom when walking. I just Googled Letty Lynton and that famous gown pops up all over the place. So do articles with Adrian about the gown. I also found articles about how to sew your own Letty Lynton gown. It was sold like hot cakes at Macy’s. I guess Im the only one that didn’t care for it. The Letty Lynton DVD was hard to find about 15-17 years ago, but I scored a copy. Great movie that also showcases other beautiful gowns by Adrian for Joan to model in this movie. Thanks for finding this “That Dress” video. It was fun to see and compare different styles. 

[tom]

Apr 29, 2021 7:53:10 GMT -6 davidmorrocco said:

I never saw the video until now. I have an unopened Joan Crawford cutout paper doll book that I purchased about 15-20 years ago and I’m pretty sure that famous dress is in there. I’m not a big fan of that gown. I also was never a fan of the 1980’s prom gowns. I like the more sleek, form fitting dresses that flows out at the bottom when walking. I just Googled Letty Lynton and that famous gown pops up all over the place. So do articles with Adrian about the gown. I also found articles about how to sew your own Letty Lynton gown. It was sold like hot cakes at Macy’s. I guess Im the only one that didn’t care for it. The Letty Lynton DVD was hard to find about 15-17 years ago, but I scored a copy. Great movie that also showcases other beautiful gowns by Adrian for Joan to model in this movie. Thanks for finding this “That Dress” video. It was fun to see and compare different styles. 

If you are into fashion, it seems to be an interesting series. A bit academic, but not dry. I think there is a video on the more form-fitting dresses that became more prevalent in Hollywood films that followed later on from the early 30s.

[davidmorrocco]

I just remembered that there use to be a Joan Crawford website that I met another Joan Crawford fan, (not in person), just talking through the fan club. He said he lived near me and showed me photos of many famous old Hollywood star’s gowns that were worn in movies. I’m pretty sure that Letty Lynton gown was one of them, but not 100% sure. It would have cost a fortune. Then when Antique Road Show came to San Diego he was there having his Hollywood gowns appraised. They had labels of who wore them and what year and for what movie. I hope he got good quotes because he really built up a great collection. I have a high end Sewing machine and made curtains and matching duvet covers and pillows, but that was a long time ago. I got the sewing machine down from the shelf last year to make masks 😷. I forgot how to use it. I couldn’t get the bottom bobbin threaded. I have to have someone come over and give me a brush up lesson. I tried You Tube and still couldn’t get it. God forbid I actually have to open the manual and read the instructions. I’ll have to, but that’s a project for another time. 

[davidmorrocco]

[davidmorrocco]

I watched 1932 Letty Lynton last night. Adrian’s gowns are outstanding. No shoulder pads. The ruffled-shoulder organdy dress worn by Letty set off a nationwide fashion craze; according to one book, the dress sold 1 million copies in America. Multiple Oscar winner costume designer Edith Head was quoted as saying that this film was, in terms of fashion, "the most influential in film history." A photo-shoot of Joan Crawford's different outfits for this film was done on the set of Grand Hotel (1932) by George Hurrell Sr.. Joan Crawford discovered Sidney Guillaroff in a New York hair salon and liked his work so much she brought him back to Hollywood to style her hair for this film. Thus began his long career as a favorite hairstylist to the stars. The transformation if Joan in one years time is incredible. I watched 1931 “This Modern Age” the night before and Joan had the long blonde hair and was the fun party girl. Joan as Letty in a part we’ve never seen before. It’s a darker story that she is able to push her acting diversity to a strong woman. Just compare the above Letty Lynton above photo to adm Stephanie’s photo of Joan on the cover of Lowe’s Weekly September 19, 1931. Clark Gable was originally intended to be the lead male in the movie, however MGM wanted to punish Gable and Crawford for conducting an affair so Robert Montgomery was chosen to appear in the film. This film has been unavailable commercially since January 17, 1936, when a federal court ruled that MGM's script too closely resembled the play "Dishonored Lady" without having acquired the rights or given proper screen credit. The U.S. copyright of the play will expire in 2025. According to MGM records the film earned $754,000 in the US and Canada and $418,000 elsewhere resulting in a profit of $390,000. This film is loosely based on the life of Madeleine Smith, The remarkable shot wherein Letty's (Joan Crawford) face,(see the above photo), was so striking that it was chosen as the basis for the film's iconic one-sheet poster, surely one of the most macabre of its era. I really enjoyed this movie. I was glad to share some things that I found on the internet to pass along to you in hopes that you view this film. I didn’t want to spoil the plot for you. I just wanted to give you something that may interest you to watch it yourself and check it out.

[tom]

May 7, 2021 8:39:55 GMT -6 davidmorrocco said:

I watched 1932 Letty Lynton last night. Adrian’s gowns are outstanding. No shoulder pads. The ruffled-shoulder organdy dress worn by Letty set off a nationwide fashion craze; according to one book, the dress sold 1 million copies in America. Multiple Oscar winner costume designer Edith Head was quoted as saying that this film was, in terms of fashion, "the most influential in film history." A photo-shoot of Joan Crawford's different outfits for this film was done on the set of Grand Hotel (1932) by George Hurrell Sr.. Joan Crawford discovered Sidney Guillaroff in a New York hair salon and liked his work so much she brought him back to Hollywood to style her hair for this film. Thus began his long career as a favorite hairstylist to the stars. The transformation if Joan in one years time is incredible. I watched 1931 “This Modern Age” the night before and Joan had the long blonde hair and was the fun party girl. Joan as Letty in a part we’ve never seen before. It’s a darker story that she is able to push her acting diversity to a strong woman. Just compare the above Letty Lynton above photo to adm Stephanie’s photo of Joan on the cover of Lowe’s Weekly September 19, 1931. Clark Gable was originally intended to be the lead male in the movie, however MGM wanted to punish Gable and Crawford for conducting an affair so Robert Montgomery was chosen to appear in the film. This film has been unavailable commercially since January 17, 1936, when a federal court ruled that MGM's script too closely resembled the play "Dishonored Lady" without having acquired the rights or given proper screen credit. The U.S. copyright of the play will expire in 2025. According to MGM records the film earned $754,000 in the US and Canada and $418,000 elsewhere resulting in a profit of $390,000. This film is loosely based on the life of Madeleine Smith, The remarkable shot wherein Letty's (Joan Crawford) face,(see the above photo), was so striking that it was chosen as the basis for the film's iconic one-sheet poster, surely one of the most macabre of its era. I really enjoyed this movie. I was glad to share some things that I found on the internet to pass along to you in hopes that you view this film. I didn’t want to spoil the plot for you. I just wanted to give you something that may interest you to watch it yourself and check it out.

I like LL. It's not my favorite JC picture from that era (Possessed, Paid & Dancing Lady are better IMO), but she looks fabulous, of course, and the acting by Nils Asther and Robert Montgomery are excellent.

Not only did her look really transform and mature in this time frame, but also her acting. I think from Paid onward you can really see her maturing into the great actress she became in the 40s and beyond.