Immortal Beloved ~ the movie

Immortal Beloved (released in 1994 and starring Gary Oldman) is one of my favorite movies, and also happens to be about my favorite classical composer:  Beethoven.  The title is based on Beethoven's infamous deathbed letter to the love of his life.  Oldman delivers an Oscar-worthy performance as Beethoven, the story is at once raw and beautiful, and the score was edited to perfection.  Amadeus got many deserved accolades, but I think Immortal Beloved is even better.  If you have seen it, I'd love to know your thoughts...

 the letter, translated:


This is an extraordinary performance of his Concerto #5 - the second movement (at 21:15) moves me to tears every time.  The pianist is Krystian Zimerman. I love Bernstein's expressions throughout!

{Piano Concerto #5 in E flat major Op. 73 (Emperor) by Ludwig Van Beethoven with the Wiener Philharmoniker conducted by Leonard Bernstein}

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

I can't wait to see this!  Fantastic cast (Judi Dench and Maggie Smith are my favorite actresses), Indian location, and bohemian fun galore.

The Striking Sets Of Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

When I saw the movie Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps I knew it was time for another post on movie sets. The sets in this movie, as in the first Wall Street, convey a lot about the characters that inhabit them. Gordon Gekko's New York apartment this time around is sophisticated with a clean, edited design. The living room has a neutral palette punctuated with abstract art and wide open expanses of window looking out (down?) onto the city.

The architectural detail includes high ceilings and straight lines. The upholstered furniture has (again) straight lines, covered in light neutrals and softened with pillows and a throw. Nothing out of place, very controlled.

The production designer for the film is Kristi Lea and the set decorator is Diane Lederman. Well done.

The sets for the 80's Wall Street are bold and striking. The production designer here is Stephen Hendrickson. The bedroom has strong textured golden walls and unconstructed window treatments.  The furniture is a mix of deep curves and straight lines on the hard surfaces of marble and metal.

Gordon G's office is a mix of styles. The contemporary architectural details and leather sofa are in contrast to the bold green French inspired chair and artwork with a heavily carved gold tone frame. A dramatic design statement. Again, well done.

I enjoyed this movie and will watch  it again to see the wonderful sets.

photos from Cinema Style

60s Style

Looking at 60s style and duplicating it is a bit of a craze right now. Some of the results are quite good, others are disasters. I like to go to the source, for me that means set decoration from movies made in the 60s. A great example of  this cool style is The Graduate.  The sets show the comfortable life in a California upper middle class home. Set decorator George Nelson created much of the mood of the movie. This hip den, bar area tells us who these people are. The wall of glass reinforces the upper middle class setting. The glass leads us to  lush, tropical plants, must be California. Its about black and white and sleek. The bar, the leather chair, bar stools are all in black and white. The glass, smooth floor and metal chair bases give the room a sleek, chic look.

A well stocked bar is certainly necessary.  Everything is accessible. Including Mrs Robinson...

From the slick, contemporary bar area  we can see the more traditional design of the stairway and the entry of the house. Mixed styles and mixed messages.

What I like about this bedroom is the classic style. Update the tech and you have a room ready for today.The Graduate tells an interesting story with a message. The set design and decoration are an important element in telling us that story and its message.

Meg Ryan In The Movies

In the movies Meg Ryan has wonderful sets designed for the characters she plays. In You've Got Mail Meg plays sweet, determined Kathleen. She lives in a charming NYC upper west side apartment. To reflect Kathleen it is decorated to be comfortable, stylish and feminine.

In Kate and Leopold her NYC apartment is designed to reflect her direct, straight forward, ambitious character. Not many frills but it functions well.

Annie's Baltimore home in Sleepless In Seattle is quaint and nostalgic. There are pink walls and vintage appliances. She's an old fashioned girl looking for an old fashioned life.

In her real life Meg has renovated and designed multiple homes for herself and her family.

Sex And The City 2

The sets for Sex And The City 2 are amazing. Carrie and Big's apartment is sophisticated and comfortable.The sofa is from Montauk and is covered in a Donghia blue wool mohair. The chairs are vintage mid century.

The dining room features an oxidized metal chandelier over a 1940's mahogany table. The fabric on the chairs is from Lee Jofa. Too wonderful.

The tall gold finished lamps in the entry are gorgeous against the neutral patterned wallcovering.

And then there's the closet. A His and Hers dream come true. Production designer, Jeremy Conway and set designer, Lydia Marks are amazing. The movie is fun. I enjoyed it and will go back again to look at the details of the sets.

photos from http://www.elledecor.com/

Sandra Bullock

And she won playing an interior designer...

Tom Ford's A Single Man

Set design is an important element in the movie A Single Man. It becomes another character in the story. The photos I show are in the home of Julianne Moore's character, Charlie.
The movie is set in Los Angeles in the early 60's. Charlie is a wealthy divorced woman. The set design for her home says it all.
Our homes are our sets. They should reflect who we are.

Tom Ford's A Single Man

This living room setting is so chic. The soft color palette is lovely and sophisticated, like Charlie.

I love the colors and patterns in this room.They're gorgeous and pulled together. They are also a little messy, like Charlie.

Auntie Mame

An amazing example of set decoration and its ability to tell the story is the movie Auntie Mame.


Mame is such a great character. A true bohemian in spirit and lifestyle. She lived in a wonderful Sutton Place apartment in New York City.

As the whims of Mame's interest changed so did her apartment. She would redecorate it as often as she changed her wardrobe. For Mame, her surroundings had to reflect who she was.

Whether it was 20's flapper, 30's elegance, a fascination with India or the new technology of modern design Mame's apartment was done to enhance her latest passion.

The apartment always showcased her free spirit and love of life.

Auntie Mame

In the 30's the apartment and Mame were all about elegance. Beautiful curved lines, swags and candlelight fill the apartment. Her beautiful backless dress says it all.

Auntie Mame

Mame's surroundings reflected who she was and the life she led.

A sophisticated neutral palette along with sensuous fabrics and textures tell the story in the glamorous bedroom.

Auntie Mame

The 50's brought modern furniture and new technology. Although it could be overwhelming, Mame loved having furniture she could raise and (hopefully) lower.

Set Design and Decoration

I love the movies. I don't bother referring to them as films. Give me a good romantic comedy or a historical drama with lush sets and costumes and I am happy.
I am fascinated with set design and set decoration.

Marie Antoinette 2006

Sofia Coppola's 2006 Marie Antoinette is an over the top example of lush, opulent sets and costumes. I would expect nothing less of Marie Antoinette. The color palette of soft blues, pinks, creams and white with accents of deep red is gorgeous.

Every detail is there

the perfect shade of pink petticoat

the seductive curve of a wing chair

the delicate carvings on the walls and doors

a pink cake with a background of blue silk damask

a mirror's reflection--details seen twice

arranging flowers from pink to red in a pink porcelain vase

too wonderful

Indiscreet 1955

A favorite set is for the 1955 movie Indiscreet with Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant. It is stunning. It is also perfect because you know what the owner of the apartment is like before you ever see her. Ingrid plays a chic, sophisticated London stage actress. The set, which is her apartment says it all. The entry to the apartment is designed to look and feel like you are making an entrance on to the stage.

The main element of the room is the perfect arrangement of art. The color palette for the room is in the matting of the art. The color is bright and eye catching but there is nothing random about it. The arrangement is perfectly symmetrical. It is a great combination of stunning color and finite order. Much like the personality of the character played by Ingrid Bergman.