Hamlet (1990)
Mel Gibson, Glenn Close
Director: Franco Zeffirelli
“Finally found Mel & Glenn at Blockbuster & fell in love w/ the gowns. & wasn’t Mel wearing a KNITTED sweater w/ leather mid-section? It sure looked like some sort of arming sweater. But, it could have been sprang, which seems more likely for the time period.”
~ Gwen verch Rhys / Jennifer Hill
Message #163, August 27, 2002
“I thought Mel’s outfits out of sync (yeah, anachronistic) to the other characters. Really, I thought that only the king and queen looked consistently 12th century. I’ll have to watch it again to chart what I see….. I wish it were on DVD so I could get a clear freeze-frame!
“Didn’t you like that whole light ‘woad blue’ ensemble for the final scene with the square embellishment on the front? I also like the opening mourning scene (black bliauts!) and the funeral procession for Ophelia. I liked the cloak clasps.”
~ Katherine Barich
Message #165, August 27, 2002
“LOVED the cloak clasps! Oh, will someone build me one!
“Let’s see… Ophelia wears t-tunic & tabard or scapular (in its secular use); Their Majesties do indeed seem to be appropriately garbed all the way thru. … The blue was lovely, though. Did that square neckline exist in the 12th C? and set w/ jewels? HMMM
“What is the best costume book for our period? 12th C?”
~ Gwen verch Rhys / Jennifer Hill
Message #167, August 27, 2002
“I have been toying with the idea of having Duke Torgul make me a pair –
http://home.attbi.com/~torgulsmith/buckles.htm
He doesn’t have any up on his webpage – but his work is gorgeous.
“One of the Chartres statues at least has that neckline, and jewels are quite a common decoration.
[RE: book] “I don’t think there is a very good one – hence the very coolness of this list! – you might try to start with Davenport’s History of Costume – there are quite a few images there.”
~ Katherine Barich
Message #170, August 27, 2002
“In the files I found mention of the four-petaled hair pins. Glenn Close wore those in the movie! & a seal w/ her husband’s visage around her neck, at least that is my interpretation of that device. Did anyone see rings? I cannot remember. IIRC, she also wore a large jeweled cross in one scene. That seems like it would be do-able by checking out costume jewelry.
“Of course, Denmark is not Wales, but it does give one something to look for.
~ Gwen verch Rhys / Jennifer Hill
Message #172, August 27, 2002