Top Hat Riot

The Miracle Worker

2010-03-04T18:49:00.000-08:00

Recently I ran across some reviews for a new version of The Miracle Worker playing on Broadway. The reviews aren't good, but the pictures look nice:

The play, which is about Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan, has always been a favourite of mine. Here is a real picture of them when they were older:

I watched the 1962 movie when I was in school and it made a lasting impression. When I got older I sought out biographies on these two remarkable women. While the play only focuses on a brief period in their lives, it is definitely interesting to watch the connection that is forged through so much difficulty. There are two movie versions, one from 1962 and one from 2000. There are some things I like about the 2000 version, but overall I prefer the 1962 version. The actresses actually wore padding to prevent bruising in some of the most violent scenes! If you haven't seen this classic, I definitely recommend that you do so! Even though many dispute the accuracy of this film (and rightly so), it is still an intriguing look into the past.

I couldn't find any screencaps from the 2000 version, but here is a picture of the cover:

The Sisters Dare

2010-03-04T18:19:00.000-08:00

I recently saw this somewhere in my travels around the web:

Mary Pickford, early movie actress. In this day and age of HD I think we lose something. My brother has a very nice TV. It is so clear and sharp! However, it makes everything look rather cheap. Movies start looking more like badly shot documentaries and all the news people look even scarier than normal. Maybe a little softness around the edges wasn't so bad after all!

I love looking at old photographs. One time when I was scrolling through some old pictures of actresses, I came upon the Sisters Dare. I was enraptured by the splendid photography and lavish costumes.

Phyllis:

Zena:
Don't they look like fun?

You can read more about them here:

Phyllis Dare

Zena Dare

Isle of Sark

2009-11-20T05:31:00.000-08:00

Here is another place I want to visit! I forget how I happened upon this wonderful place, but right away I knew it had to be added to my list of places to visit one day. The Isle of Sark is the smallest of the English Channel Islands. Want to know why I want to go? Read on!

First reason: cars are not allowed on the Isle of Sark!

Your choices for transportation are: walking, bicycling, pony carts, or tractors!

Second reason: it looks simply gorgeous!

There aren't many paved roads, just lots of trails and winding paths.

Third reason: no snakes or reptiles!

Hehe, yeah I'm not a fan of those.

Fourth reason: They seem to have fun events there. Including sheep racing!

How fun is that!?! If you are interested in learning more, please check out the lovely tourism site for the island:

Link

An Age I Want To Visit

2009-11-16T07:07:00.000-08:00

My family and I have long been fans of the series of computer games called Myst. The amazing graphics, the eerie music, and the stunning idea that you could travel to other worlds (ages) via hand-written books have always drawn me to these games.

I've always felt a pull to visit these fictional places, because they look simply amazing!

Recently I stumbled upon this link that put me in mind of this silly wish:

Earth's Most Bizarre Landscapes

One of the places listed on there is Cappadocia, Turkey. I found this picture of a hotel there, and it reminded me very strongly of a Myst Age. So needless to say, I want to go there. :)

Maybe someday....

Pride and Prejudice

2009-11-16T05:49:00.000-08:00

I recently re-watched the loooong mini-series Pride and Prejudice starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. This is definitely my favourite version of this classic book. There are so many great lines and the actors pull them off admirably!

Jennifer Ehle is lively and engaging in her portrayal of Elizabeth Bennett.

Colin Firth is appropriately stern and disapproving.

And the Bennett family as a whole was by turns silly, loud, and sarcastic.

Recommended for: Book purists and people who love BBC mini-series.

Overall, I like this one the best. However, the others are good too! If you are a fan of the story, I suggest you watch them all!

The oldest version is pure comedy. Liberties were taken with the story, as the movie is based on the play version, rather than the book! Also, the time period was moved to much later than is usually shown, probably to play off the popularity of the big skirts in Gone With The Wind.

This movie moves at lightning speed. Mr. Darcy (Laurence Olivier) plays a much nicer Darcy than in the other versions. Lizzie, played by Greer Garson, is lively and charming.

Recommended for: Hyper people or fans of old movies.

This next one was made in the 1980s and it is probably my least favourite. Still, it sticks very closely to the book and it has some lovely moments.

Recommended for: Die-hard fans of BBC mini-series.

The newest version has created a whole new wave of fans for this story. It pushed the time period back a bit, to include the earlier lower waistlines. I'm not a huge fan of this newest version, but there are good things about it.

Rosamund Pike played a very pretty Jane.

Claudie Blakly and Tom Hollander were amazing as Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins.

Recommended for: Everyone

A Fun Find

2009-11-15T07:23:00.001-08:00

I recently stumbled upon this gem in a local antique/thrift store. She was hiding demurely behind a couch, but I spotted her first thing and fell instantly in love. At first I assumed that it was an engraving, but upon closer inspection I now believe it to be an actual sketch! Here is a (rather bad) picture of the corner. You can just barely see traced lines around the edges of the whole picture.

I just love the composition of the whole thing!

Her face is beautifully and softly done.

The spinning wheel is a neat touch. I'm a little confused about the little cup. Anyone have any ideas what that might have been used for?

New Victorians

2009-11-14T05:46:00.001-08:00

I found this slideshow recently and to be quite honest, it thrilled my soul!! Hurray for Victorian fashion coming back around!

Link

There is even a slideshow about the creation of tintypes:

Link 2

On a side note, isn't this dress gorgeous? I don't care for the color that much, but the way it is made almost looks like icing. So pretty!

Partition

2009-10-28T20:31:00.001-07:00

While I was at the beach I watched a movie called Partition. This movie really took me by surprise, because I was expecting more of a bloody war movie and what I got was a tragic Indian love story that bore striking resemblance to the fairy-tale Beauty and the Beast. (Which was a favourite of mine, growing up.) The costumes were lovely, the acting good, and overall it was an interesting movie. It doesn't delve deeply into the history, but it did teach me a little and piqued my interest! Which is really all I ask from period dramas, otherwise they would be dry and boring. ;) I really liked this movie.

One lonely, but lovely CdV

2009-10-28T20:25:00.000-07:00

Such pretty trim!

I <3 Folk Music!

2009-10-27T19:05:00.000-07:00

Folk is definitely one of my favourite genres of music. I'm always delighted when I find a talented artist that I haven't listened to before. A friend of mine posted a song of Kate Rusby's and I was sold! Her use of traditional instruments and traditional songs, combined with her lovely voice, make her music unique and beautiful.

You can listen to a lot of her songs on YouTube. Here's a link to a whole bunch of them.

An Interesting Interview

2009-07-13T07:32:00.000-07:00

I have long since loved the BBC mini-series North and South:

It has beautiful costumes, gorgeous locations, a lovely soundtrack, and some amazing acting! Richard Armitage plays Mr. Thornton, the hero of the story. On the DVD is a great interview with the actor that I greatly enjoyed. Here is another that was recently posted on another site:

http://vulpeslibris.wordpress.com/2009/07/08/in-conversation-with-richard-armitage/

More old photos coming right at ya!

2009-07-13T07:16:00.001-07:00

A gorgeous CdV. I love the slight smile she wears!

Another beautiful image. You can really take in the fabric of her dress.

Boys these days! :P

Awww!

Such a sweet picture.

Her curls are so beautiful!

This is one of the most adorable photos I have ever seen!

Awww! Again. ;)

This one is most interesting. It is an advertisement for a photographer! The head was taken from a real photo and superimposed onto the drawing. I love how he is riding the camera and all the little characters in the background are photography related to making daguerreotypes. The little card he holds reads "Happy New Year's"

This one is similar! This one is for an ambrotype photographer.

CdV posting of the day

2009-07-08T14:30:00.000-07:00

More CdVs

An interesting dress, it looks sheer to me.

Gorgeous shot and you can see right where her crinoline ends.

Love the trim!

The description on this one said it was a 'sexy vest' when really it is a swiss waist, I believe. However, if it is so sexy why aren't we all wearing them? :P

A post mortem picture.

Sooo cute!

I love his hat!

I think everyone will be dressing like this next season. ;)

Her hair is so pretty!

Very dramatic.

A picture of a doll.

All dressed up for winter.

Short sleeves!

That's a cool chair.

Her trim is so pretty!

Wallowing in nostalgia...or watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!

2009-07-07T13:22:00.000-07:00

When I was little one of my favourite movies was Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! A children's musical about a magical car set in the early part of the 20th century, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! remains one of the movies I have the fondest memories of. Although farby and notoriously cheesy, I still think it outshines similar movies like Mary Poppins. How could you not love a movie starring Dick Van Dyke as an absent-minded inventor father? Especially when his name is Caractacus Potts! :P

It was loosely based on the children's book by the same name written by Ian Fleming, creator of the James Bond series. The script was co-written by Roald Dahl! One thing I really like about the movie is that the children aren't brats. They're wild, boisterous, and dirty, but they aren't completely selfish, as so many children in real life and in movies are these days. Plus, they're super cute. :D

To quote my sister's facebook status:

"is watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Haven't watched this since I was a kid. The movies they make for kids now are laaaaaaame. You can't really beat all these adults trying to run the children over in the streets and making hateful death threats against the little tykes. Haven't even gotten to the kidnapping and child labor yet, good times."

Yes, I am addicted...

2009-07-07T08:29:00.001-07:00

You've all been forewarned. ;) Here are some more CdVs and also some cabinet cards which are slightly larger.

This woman was a teacher and this is a CdV of herself that she gave to one of her students.

A lovely lady.

Now THAT is some hair!

The back says this is Grand Duchess Michel. Royalty CdVs were very popular.

Who said people didn't smile back then for photos?

Now that's just cute. Love the fake wolf.

They just love that rowboat!

Public Enemies

2009-07-06T22:58:00.000-07:00

On Sunday I went to see Public Enemies. Set during the Great Depression, it focuses on the true story of FBI agent Melvin Purvis' attempt to stop criminals, namely John Dillinger. First off, let me say that I think my expectations were a tad too high. After all this does star Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, and Stephen Lang! I'll start with the good first.

~As far as I could tell there were not huge amounts farbness going on. The costumes were cool and I have to say I love the haircuts the guys were sporting.

~The acting was top-notch as you would expect. Stephen Lang especially.

~The leading lady. Marion Cotillard did a wonderful job. The scenes with her in them were some of the most interesting, she really pulled off a lot of warring emotions well.

Now for the bad.

~The camerawork. There were times when I felt very dizzy, because the camera jostled quite a bit. I could be imagining this. :P

~The lack of character development. I did not have much sympathy for John, Melvin, or any of the other gangsters. I had a tiny bit for Billie, but even with her we were given minimal back story.

~Lengthy action sequences. This may have to do with me being female. ;) I can only enjoy a gunfight for so long.

All in all, a decent movie. It could have been much better though, with the talent they had acting in it.

A CdV Obsession

2009-07-06T07:15:00.000-07:00

I've always had a lot of fun looking at CdV's. They are such interesting windows into the past.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carte_de_visite

Some cool ones:

Sooo cute!! Love the casual pose the little boy on the right is striking!

All I have to say is: kaPUNCH!

A very pretty religious one.

Another one along the same theme.

I love this one! Not sure what is up with the sashes, but I love their sideburns and hats!

Gotta love those interesting backgrounds!

Absolutely gorgeous wedding picture!

So adorable!

New Blog

2009-07-06T06:48:00.000-07:00

I have never had a blog before! I follow quite a few and decided to make one of my own. So here goes!

Why the name?

I'm not entirely sure of the reliability of this story, but supposedly a top hat made a huge stir when first it was worn in public.

http://www.baronhats.com/thetophat.htm

And since I tend to go a little crazy myself over clothing from other eras, I thought the name was appropriate.