topic Re: FAVORITE OLD MOVIE SETS? in TV and Movies

FAVORITE OLD MOVIE SETS?

Oznell — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 23:24:21 GMT

@spiderw brought up the terrific art direction and sets in the movie "Laura". Reminded me of how important the sets are to overall enjoyment of a film or TV show.

Example: Everyone goes mad for the "Christmas in Connecticut" house. And the "North by Northwest" house.

I have too many to list, but the interiors from "The Fountainhead" rank way up there:

Insane! But I love these rooms, the way they dwarf the puny maveuvrings of all the characters, except Howard Roark, (Gary Cooper) of course.

Late Forties' Modern. That lighting, those shadows!

Fabulous art direction can strike in any decade, of course. Remember Faye Dunaway's creamy latte apartment in "The Eyes of Laura Mars"? So Halston-esque and the hushed, urban sophistication seemed a perfect expression of the movie's very Seventies' luxe and isolating angst:

Anybody else have favorite set design from films?

Re: FAVORITE OLD MOVIE SETS?

TexasMom1 — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 23:43:46 GMT

The finished house in "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House" (Cary Grant and Mryna Loy) and the Connecticut country house in "Pillow Talk"(Rock Hudson and Doris Day).

Re: FAVORITE OLD MOVIE SETS?

RoughDraft — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 23:50:12 GMT

It's not that old, but the beach house from Something's Gotta Give.

Re: FAVORITE OLD MOVIE SETS?

sophiamarie — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 23:56:53 GMT

I mentioned in some post around here, that I met Van Johnson in an elevator and he wasn't the big, tall buy I dreamed about when I was very young and had such a crush on him. I looked his height up and it says 6'1" and other places 6'2"..... Not true. He wasn't even 6 ft. Maybe about 5'9"..... The only really tall guy was Rock Hudson.

When my hubby was in the Air Force, he was stationed at a base where they were filming a movie with Rock Hudson. Hubby was cast to play in it because they were looking for a tall guy (he's 6'5") to be a gatekeeper, or some such. The movie was called "A Gathering of Eagles".....

He said they build the sets to accommodate the height of the actors. Remember Alan Ladd? Well, he was only 5'6" but looked much taller in pictures. They reduced the sizes of furniture, made doorways smaller. Van Johnson stood on boxes or platforms when he walked, to look about a foot taller than June Allyson, etc. They usually cast the females who were shorter, too.

I learned a lot but don't remember too much.

Re: FAVORITE OLD MOVIE SETS?

deepwaterdotter — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 00:26:17 GMT

"Desk Set" and "Philadelphia Story".

Re: FAVORITE OLD MOVIE SETS?

twinsister — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 00:28:18 GMT

@sophiamarie - Wow - that is interesting! I've seen A Gathering of Eagles. Was your husband in more than one scene? That movie is rarely shown on TV.

@Oznell - my favorite sets are Doris Day's apartment in Pillow Talk, Mr. Blandings Connecticut home and Spencer Tracy/Katherine Hepburn's home in Guess Who is Coming to Dinner.

Re: FAVORITE OLD MOVIE SETS?

Judaline — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 00:55:24 GMT

I liked both the houses in Leave Her to Heaven. The one at Back of the Moon and the more traditional one where the tragedy happened.

And the one in Father of the Bride-the real one with Spencer Tracy.

And the one in State Fair. I particularly remember Jeanne Crain leaning out her bedroom window singing It Might as Well Be Spring and the window had Priscilla curtains on it, lol.

I loved the movies where the windows in the houses all had windows that opened inward and never had screens-tried to get them when we built, but just not practical. Probably had to be special made!

Trying to recall the house in The Enchanted Cottage-it was charming I think, but not certain.

LOVED the Mrs. Miniver house.

And the house in My Friend Flicka I found was not even a house but built for the movie-only the front I think. How disheartening.

I could go on but I would have to think on it!!

Re: FAVORITE OLD MOVIE SETS?

Oznell — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 01:03:43 GMT

I knew people would jog my memory of great sets.

Oh, yeah, the "Mrs. Miniver" house. Of course, Joan Crawford's beach house in "Mildred Pierce". "Blandings". All these other ones you all have mentioned.

Doris's transformed country "white elephant" in "Please Don't Eat the Daisies"... So cozy and charming afterwards.

That "Something's Gotta Give" set has been wildly influential-- I'm told people tell decorators, "do that for me"!

Re: FAVORITE OLD MOVIE SETS?

twinsister — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 01:07:59 GMT

@Oznell - I forgot to mention that I have never seen The Fountainhead with Gary Cooper, but after seeing those sets, I want to see it!

Re: FAVORITE OLD MOVIE SETS?

Oznell — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 01:13:04 GMT

Of slightly lesser known ones, I've always admired Ingrid's London apartment (and all the sets) in "Indiscreet":

Now, with my somewhat more "spare" preferences, I might like it a little less "full", but nevertheless it is so well done.

I was thrilled and felt vindicated when Dennis Miller, who is a huge movie hound on the order of Eddie Muller, said on his radio show that that is his favorite apartment in movies, ha.

Re: FAVORITE OLD MOVIE SETS?

Somertime — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 01:35:13 GMT

Loved so many that have been mentioned! Loved the kitchen in It's Complicated, Kate Winslett Rose Hill Cottage, Cameron Diaz's California house in The Holiday, the house in Father of the Bride with Steve Martin, White of Mourne cottage in The Quiet Man. So many more!

Re: FAVORITE OLD MOVIE SETS?

jellyBEAN — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 01:50:13 GMT

I'm always interested in set decoration as well. I'd have to really give this topic some thought, but the one movie that stood out in my mind is 2001: A Space Odyssey.

From the set decor to the costumes, it was so modern. Watching it now it still stands out. The only thing about it that now looks dated is 'Hal' the watchful eye of the on board computer.

Re: FAVORITE OLD MOVIE SETS?

spiderw — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 03:28:42 GMT

Oznell,

Thanks for this forum ! I love Katherine Hepburn's NY apartment in Desk Set, the NY house in Moonstruck, loved that big kitchen, I agree the Fountainhead interiors, though not my style, are spectacular, must be the space and lighting, Doris Day's place in Midnight Lace and all the settings in her movies reflect that decade, Tara from Gone With the Wind and I could go on and on .

It's funny but I have mentioned how I love ghost stories since a young girl. In so many of the well done movies, The Haunting, The Innocents, The Uninvited to mention a few started my love for Victorian houses , Burnt Offerings is another one with a lovely big old house. Of course , I wouldn't mind living in the Downton Abby estate either which definitely caught the era and story line perfectly.

Re: FAVORITE OLD MOVIE SETS?

cimeranrose — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 04:11:24 GMT

Bette Davis's 2 southern mansions in "Jezebel"; Doris Day's family home in "By the Light of the Silvery Moon"; the Miniver's home in "Mrs. Miniver"; the family farm house in "Remember the night"; the country home in "The Women"; the beautiful NYC townhouse in "Life with Father"; the Victorian home in "Meet Me in St. Louis"; the inn in " Holiday Inn"; and of course the wonderful farm house in "Christmas in Connecticut."

Re: FAVORITE OLD MOVIE SETS?

trenet — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 04:27:09 GMT

I love the house in “The Uninvited”.

And, of course, “Rebecca” - I dream of living in Manderley! I need a morning room!

Re: FAVORITE OLD MOVIE SETS?

Judaline — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 12:15:39 GMT

@Oznell I remember not liking Indiscreet but I'm going to have to watch it again. Those pics look like something I would really like!

Re: FAVORITE OLD MOVIE SETS?

Judaline — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 12:22:11 GMT

I'll take this one. Oh, please!!!

https://hookedonhouses.net/2010/11/28/katharine-hepburns-country-house-in-bringing-up-baby/

Re: FAVORITE OLD MOVIE SETS?

Oznell — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 12:48:27 GMT

All these mentions are re-igniting my memory of my faves as well. Definitely Hepburn's apartment in "Desk Set". The "Father of the Bride" house-- both original and remake. The house and staircase in "The Magnificent Ambersons".

Interestingly, @spiderw, a lot of the truly great sets and art direction involve suspense or horror movies, don't they? Michelle Pfeiffer's water-side house in "What Lies Beneath", the "Uninvited" house, the "Midnight Lace" flat and all the other scary ones mentioned. The Michael Douglas/Gwyneth Paltrow film "A Perfect Murder", had such a memorably swank apartment:

The pretty architecture of the "What Lies Beneath" house:

That movie was so spooky, it was almost hard to enjoy the architecture at the time!

Re: FAVORITE OLD MOVIE SETS?

Witchy Woman — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 12:55:48 GMT

@Oznell

Loved all the examples....you do have a way of finding things!

I adore any interior shot from Sunset Boulevard. Her bedroom, the ballroom.

A very old movie with Jimmy Stewart, Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation....the house....this is the only one I could find in a quick search.

Re: FAVORITE OLD MOVIE SETS?

Oznell — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 13:01:59 GMT

Oh, yeah, @Judaline, that fieldstone wonder is WAY up on my list-- forgot about that one! I think that was based on director Howard Hawks' fabulous New England style house at the time. It was considered a model of refined style in Hollywood, esp. when he was married to his talented wife "Slim" Hawks (who was also the model for the beautifully insolent character he helped Bacall perfect in "To Have and Have Not"....)