Stage dress of Martine CAROL for the film Lola Montès
Costumes
Inventory number
2021.8.2.7.CO.SC.1955.FRAuthor:
Marcel ESCOFFIER (French, Monte-Carlo 1910 - 2001 Ariccia)Description
Long ball gown with short sleeves, in light pink colour reps silk imitation, embellished on the front with two large lines of cream satin going from the bodice to the skirt, adorned with silver thread embroidery, sequins, rhinestones and glass beads.This dress was created for the film "Lola Montès" in 1955 directed by Max OPHULS, and worn by Martine CAROL who portrayed the Irish dancer and courtesan Eliza Rosanna GILBERT, Countess of Landsfeld (1821 – 1861), better known by the stage name Lola MONTEZ.
The garment was designed by the renowned Marcel ESCOFFIER, Martine CAROL's official costume designer, who has already designed several of her dresses. She succeeds in imposing it for her character's costumes - a whim of the actress who categorically refuses to work with Georges ANNENKOV, principal costume designer of Lola Montès - annoyed following remarks made about her in his book, "En habillant les vedettes" (Dressing the stars) in 1951.
Marcel ESCOFFIER works with the prestigious Karenska and Gromtseff workshops, where the two Russian seamstresses work mainly for theater and dance. The first, Barbara, known as Madame KARENSKA or KARINSKA, has already dressed Judy GARLAND, Marlene DIETRICH, Ginger ROGERS, Ingrid BERGMAN and won the 1948 Oscar for the costumes of Joan of Arc. The second, Marie GROMTSEFF, worked with Max OPHULS on "La Ronde" (1950) and "Le Plaisir" (1952) before working on a few French historical films.
Materials
Silk satinSilver thread
Sequins
Rhinestones
Glass beads