Hello, Beauties🌸 Today’s post, I’m remembering Costume Designer Walter Plunkett.
One of the ways I like to relax on a rainy day is to watch the Turner Classic Movie network. Here I get to indulge in Hollywood’s Golden Age of visual style in black and white film making. I viewed this time as a historical period when storytelling and performances considered a form of art.
And more importantly, some of the most successful Hollywood costume designers emerged during this time. I hoped you remember my post on the quintessential costume designer, Edith Head, who won a staggering eight Academy Awards.
So, last Sunday afternoon, I kicked back to watch the 1933 film, Morning Glory with Katherine Hepburn. Hepburn won her first Academy Award for Best Actress for this movie. My lasting impressions not about Ms. Hepburn’s fantasy role to become a New York Broadway star but about the dreamy costumes by Walter Plunkett.
I consistently use the free, IMDB (Internet Movie Data Base) app when viewing any classic movie. It’s here where I get to look up and educate myself about unfamiliar names in fashion under the costume/wardrobe credit. Do you remember Hattie Carnegie? I became familiar with the name when watching, the 1964 comedy drama flick, The World of Henry Orient.
Walter Plunkett (June 5, 1902 – March 8, 1982) is one of the classic Hollywood costume designers you should know. Why? He was RKO Studios (an American film production and distribution company) secret weapon. Mr. Plunkett began his career in law, then became an aspiring actor. Finally, a costume designer in 1926 when he accepted a position at RKO Studios.
According to online sources, Walter lacked the knack of high couture. He could not compete in the world of super-rich chic with Paris-trained Adrian or Travis Banton. Instead, Plunkett excelled in designing glorious garments from researched fashion similar to costume designer’s Ruth E. Carter’s investigative work on the movie, Black Panther.
Plunkett went to Atlanta to meet Margaret Mitchell. The GWTW author provided him with several books for research and introduced him to fellow Atlanta ladies in possession of 1860-70s era clothing. While in ATL, he embarked on a tour of museums of the South to gather more research and fabric samples, with stops in Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans, and the Smithsonian Institute.
His best-known work, Gone With THe WInd, Plunkett created more than 5,00 separate items of clothing for more than fifty critical characters. The cost for the wardrobe items$153, 818 and a laundry bill of $10,000.
Walter Plunkett, nominated for the Academy Award ten times. in 1951, recognized for An American in Paris. He shared the award with fellow costume designers Orry-Kelly and “Irene” Sharaff.
Walter worked on more than 150 projects throughout his career in the Hollywood film industry. His Most Notable Films: Little Women (1933) Alice Adams (1935), A Woman Rebel (1936), Gone With The Wind (1939), That Forsyte Woman (1949), Summer Stock (1950), An American in Paris (1950), Showboat (1951), Singin’ In The Rain (1952), and Raintree County (1957.)
Plunkett retired in 1966, after having worked in films, on Broadway, and for the Metropolitan Opera. He spent the last years of his life with his partner Lee. Walter died in 1982, leaving Lee his estate.
How about you? Do you share my fascination with how a movie character is costumed? If yes, do you have a favorite costume designer? Please share in the comments section.
As always, thank you for reading. Have a fabulous week.
