Life is a Banquet...and perhaps a Banquette

"Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death."

You may recall the infamous line from the 1958 film Auntie Mame starring Rosalind Russell as a larger than life character who raises her young nephew. Based on the Patrick Dennis 1955 novel of the same name, the beloved best seller became a Broadway play and two adapted screen versions (the latter was a musical starring Lucille Ball). The film had to be toned down from the book as parts were thought to be too risque (it was the fifties after all).

Rosalind Russell

The movie has enjoyed a resurgence of sorts as it has become a cult favorite among design aficionados. Recent case in point -- Jonathan Adler cited the film's interiors as one of his favorites in a recent Wall Street Journal story noting that "Watching Auntie Mame is a right of passage for every aspiring interior decorator." (Note: I did a Movie as Muse blog post on designer inspirations last year and Charlotte Moss picked this film as well. Adler also chose the Walter Matthau comedy A New Leaf, Liz Taylor/Richard Burton's X, Y and Zee and Pillow Talk).

Mame's 3 Beekman Place duplex was a study in design contrasts as art director Malcolm Bert and set decorator George James Hopkins set the plot story lines with six types of  decor -- Chinese, Danish Modern, East Indian, English, Chinese and twenties modern (with a nod to decorator Syrie Maugham). The Danish Modern decor was perhaps the most fun with sofas, chairs and tables that could be elevated for comic relief. The sets were glamorous, often over the top (the Oscar Academy must have thought so too as the film was nominated for Best Art Direction that year) and plan on hitting the pause button and taking notes throughout.

Adler is also influenced by Mame's joie de vivrie attitude with his own designs, explaining, "When designing for clients, I like to channel their inner Auntie Mame, to make them appear just a little more glamorous and eccentric than they really are."

Dinner with the Upson's provided some of the film's most unusual and over the top decor

Adler notes that a touch of humor and whimsy would be right at home in a Mame decor. Shown above is Pedro Friedeberg gilt sculptural chair

Adler's Desmond Screen would also complement a Mame room

My personal choices for a Mame inspired interior would also include...

Suzanne Kasler's Linwood Chair for Hickory Chair

No Mame room would be complete with a bar -- the woman liked her cocktails!
Shown here is Hickory Chair's Cleo Bar Cabinet

Mame would no doubt say it's "simply mahvelous" to have a stylish contemporary sofa, particularly one that could float in any room....

Jamie Drake's Chloe Sofa for Edward Ferrell/Lewis Mittman

The back of Bill Sofield's Wren Sofa for Baker, Knapp and Tubbs is just as wonderful as the front

Costume designer Orry-Kelly created the brilliant outfits for the film which ranged from bohemian to chic and must have been a designer's dream. Her jeweled pantsuit with matching silk coat and crystal studded capri pants and chartreuse shawl were just a few of the standouts.

I only wish I had better photos as numerous people have asked me why this was omitted from my book Designs on Film. (Sadly there are many great films that were not all that well documented interior wise). In the meantime, rent the DVD and you can read more of writer Jen Renzi's piece in the Wall Street Journal here.

And on another note, I am proud to announce my website is finally up and running. I have listed many of my articles and posts on the site and hope you enjoy!

Photo Credits: Warner Brothers, Jonathan Adler, Amy Vermillion

The Movie as Muse

Hollywood offers an untapped wealth of inspiration and it's no doubt the design world takes notice. I recently presented several interior designers with the question "What film(s) have influenced your designs?" and received a variety of insightful -- and witty -- answers that reflect something I have always known -- we all want to live in a movie set.

Known for her timeless classic designs, interior designer and President of Mark Hampton Inc. Alexa Hampton fittingly selected period films such as Gosford Park (2001) and Brideshead Revisited (2008).

Gosford Park

Brideshead Revisited

Charlotte Moss chose the 1958 musical Auntie Mame with Rosalind Russell (which also features some memorable costumes and witty banter with her bff Verna Charles)...

Charlotte also selected the 1956 classic Giant with Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson (who portray the Texas cattle family known as the Benedicts) and loved how the rooms--much like the characters -- changed over time. The film was shot on location in the tiny town of Marfa, Texas and the massive painting which hung in the Benedict's home can now be seen in San Antonio's Menger Hotel if you are ever in the area.

Nora Marra of Nora C. Marra Inc. in Chicago was inspired by the dressing table and bed linens of Manderlay in Rebecca (1940).....

Rebecca's Bedroom sketch (note the wonderfully patterned ceiling)

And finished set...

as well as the film Philadelphia Story (1940) with its "glorious interiors and french doors that open to terraces in every room." She also chose the sets from The Thin Man series "with its endless fabulous cocktail shakers and serving carts." The photo below with the Hollywood - codes - appropriate twin beds is from After the Thin Man (1936) and the fabric is very reminiscent of an eighties Alan Campbell design.

After the Thin Man and its wonderful use of symmetry

Philadelphia Story with James Stewart and Katherine Hepburn

and the chintz filled interiors and greek key border lined fireplace

Author, interior and home furnishings designer Celerie Kemble also chose Philadelphia Story as well as HBO's recent Grey Gardens with its wonderful replication of the famed Grey Gardens of East Hampton.

Grey Gardens House is an exact copy of the original

on Lily Pond Lane

The living room in better days

Ironically Philadelphia designer and Chelsea House antiques owner Shannon Eldredge did not choose Philadelphia Story, selecting a film I have not seen -- The Grass is Greener (1958) with Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, Jean Simmons and Robert Mitchum.

Interior designer extraordinaire Jonathan Adler picked one of my favorites Pillow Talk (1959). He notes, "Doris Day plays an interior designer and her apartment couldn't be more chic. I particularly love her color scheme -- it's mostly grey and white but with pops of jewel tones. I often think about that palette when I design."

Pillow Talk and its Manhattan interiors

Rock Hudson and his gadget-laden bachelor pad

Adler also mentioned a film I had not thought of before -- the 1971 comedy A New Leaf with Elaine May and Walter Mathau. He loves the "deluxe suburban interiors" and "wants to live on Mathau's estate with its oriental rugs, chesterfield sofas and priceless antiquities mixed with Pop Art and mod lighting."

He also referenced another of my all-time favorite campy films -- X, Y and Zee (1972) with Michael Caine, Elizabeth Taylor and Susannah York (and not to be confused with another Taylor classic, The VIP's with Richard Burton). The film was shot in London, very swinging sixties and in Adler's words a "go-go Baronial Style that's uniquely English." Unfortunately, all I could find was this photo of La Liz and a glimpse of her decadent roman bar....it's so sixties.

Photo Credits: Margaret Herrick Library, Universal Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Paramount Pictures, BBC Films, HBO Films, USA Films, Warner Brothers and MGM.