Knocking on Oscar's Door-Houses from Academy Award Winning Movies

Mary Poppins, 1964

How many times have you sat in a dark movie theatre watching a film when a fabulous house comes on screen-  You forget all about the plot and concentrate on the wallpaper--well at least I do!

The Great Gatsby,2013 via

So often the homes that a movie is set within can be as important to that movie as any actor or actress.   In Under the Tuscan Sun, 2003 the transformation that wonderful house goes through mirrors Frances' own.

  The Holiday (2006) centers around the storyline of house swapping and how the women who exchange houses actually transform the spaces they move into to reflect the changes they go through.

With Oscar Night here I decided to visit some Movie Sets from Oscar Winning films---now most of my favorite movie homes were never in the running for Oscars so it was interesting to look through Oscar history to see where Oscar lives-very often  rooms and places that not only expressed the personality of the characters in the script, but also locations that became key characters in their films--Can you imagine Downton Abbey without Downton Abbey

or Rebecca, Best Picture 1940 without Manderley?

Grab the popcorn and enjoy and Happy Oscar Night!

It Happened One Night-Best Picture, Best Actor Clark Gable, Best Actress Claudette Colbert, Best Director Frank Capra, 1934-It may not be the most glamorous set in film history but it is certainly one of the most memorable and key to the story line... one of my favorites.

The Awful Truth -Best Director Leo McCarey, 1937-I love this film and all the sets

 Mrs. Miniver-Best Picture, Best Actress Greer Garson, Best Supporting Actress Teresa Wright, Best Director William Wyler, 1942-This wonderful film about a family shattered by war has at its center the warmth of the Miniver home which would also become a victim of war.

All About Eve-Best Picture,Best Supporting Actor George Sanders, Best Director Joseph L. Mankiewicz 1950

Roman Holiday-Best Actress Audrey Hepburn-Of course the city of Rome is the true set for Audrey's debut.

My Fair Lady- Best Picture,Best Actor Rex Harrison, Best Director George Cukor 1964

The Sound of Music- Best Picture, Best Director Robert Wise 1965

 Guess Who's Coming to Dinner- Best Actress Katherine Hepburn, Best Screenplay 1967-Ninety percent of the film was shot on one set-the Drayton family home in San Francisco--this set/house remains one of my favorite Movie homes ever -I was surprised to discover that it was for the most part created on a sound stage

Out of Africa-Best Picture, Best Director Sydney Pollack 1985

Moonstruck-Best Actress Cher,Best Supporting Actress Olympia Dukakis, 1987-So much of this movie comes back to that kitchen table

 

Driving Miss Daisy, Best Picture, Best Actress Jessica Tandy, 1989-The sets of this house captured  the Southern style of the late 1940s and also the changes taking place not only within that house but also within society

The Queen -Best Actress Helen Mirren 2006-a castle for for The Queen of course-

The King's Speech -Best Picture, Best Actor Colin Firth, Best Director Tom Hooper 2010

Great Sources on Movie Interiors:
Cote de Texas
Hooked on Houses
Silver Screen Surroundings
AMC Filmsite

What Oscar Wore

1955 Grace Kelly won for The Country Girl and wore Edith Head  via

I am not a huge award show fan.  I like to make my own decisions about whether something is the "Best" or not.  Afterall how many years did Oscar in particular just not get it right, or miss applauding films and talent that truly deserved to be put in the spotlight. The show itself can be sooo long and dry, particularly if the Host doesn't know how to keep the audience engaged...miss Johnny and Billy!  That being said...Oscar night is a tradition and I certainly wouldn't miss the opening and I admit to filling out my version of a ballot. It is ,however, for The Red Carpet Parade that we really tune in-admit it you love to see the "you've got to be kidding" looks as much as the glam.  When it goes bad..it goes bad,but at least once a Red Carpet someone does it spot on.  So, to celebrate Oscar night let's get ready...

 

Natalie Wood prepping for Oscar, 1962 via

Throughout Oscar history the focus is always on The Winners so I wanted to go back and see what the Winners wore--did the look deserve Oscar??  You may not remember the films but the dresses defined the moment.  I voted for some of my favorites below-the films may not have always been worthy but I think these looks certainly were...gorgeous and glamorous, memorable and magnificent and all star statements.  Happy Oscar Night!

Mary Pickford for Coquette 1930 via

Norma Shearer in 1931 for The Divorcee wore Gilbert Adrian via

Vivien Leigh won for Gone With the Wind in 1940 and wore Irene Gibbons via

During the war Oscar guests were asked to wear understated 

sombre tones made in the US.

1942 Joan Fontaine for Suspicion in I Magnin via

Audrey Hepburn won for Roman Holiday 1954 in Givenchy, this was the first time she wore Givenchy in public in a dress designed by Edith Head for the film and adapted by Givenchy for Oscar Night.  via

Elizabeth Taylor for Butterfield 8 1961 in Dior via

Barbra Streisand 1969 for Funny Girl in Arnold Scaasi 

which made him a household name  via

Cher for Moonstruck 1988 was memorable in a so Cher Bob Mackie via

Marissa Tomei in 1993 for My Cousin Vinny in Chanel via

Susan Sarandon in 1996 for  Dead Man Walking wore Dolce and Gabbana via

Helen Hunt in 1998won for As Good as it Gets and wore Tom Ford via

 Gwyneth Paltrow 1999 won for Shakespeare in Love wearing  Ralph Lauren via

Hillary Swank for Boys Don't Cry in 2000 wearing Randolph Duke via

Julia Roberts in 2001 won for Erin Brockovich wearing a 1992 Valentino gown via

Halle Berry won for Monster's Ball in 2002 and wore an iconic Elie Saab via

Renee Zellweger in 2004 for Cold Mountain in classic custom Carolina Herrera via

Cate Blanchett won in 2005 for The Aviator and wore a  custom made Valentino via

Reese Witherspoon in 2006 for Walk the Line wore vintage Dior she found in Paris via

Helen Mirren for The Queen in 2007 wearing Chrstian Lacroix via

Penelope Cruze won for Vicky Christina Barcelona in 2009 wearing  vintage Balmain via

Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook in 2103 wearing Dior via

Anne Hathaway in 2013 for Les Miserables wore Prada not the Valentino as the fashion house had announced she would  via

Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine in 2014 wore Armani Prive via

Lupita Nyong'o for 12 Years a Slave in 2014 was sublime in Prada via

1954, Audrey Hepburn waits for the Oscar envelope to be opened