Tuesday, April 9, 2013

The Great Gatsby



"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."
                     F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby  
 
Do you have a favorite era? The 1950's? The 1890's? Ancient Rome? The PRESENT???
           My favorite era is the Jazz Age. I have been enamoured of the 1920's since I was a little girl. When I was about 7 years old I found a beautiful pair of 1920's Mary Jane shoes while playing dress-up at my Nana's house and I was hooked. With me things are often about shoes.

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Just like Owen Wilson's character in "Midnight in Paris" I love the literature, the art, the style, the music, the spirit of the 1920's.

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It is only blogging, antibiotics and modern dentistry that keep me firmly planted in the Here and Now.
That doesn't prevent me from rocking a Lulu bob and a drop-waist shift.*
*Photos of me in this look when I fully recover. I Promise!
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So of course I LOVE The Great Gatsby. It is one of my very favorite books! A quintessential American tale. A romantic author. My favorite era. Sigh...

"In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars."

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I liked the 1974 film version in spite of Mia Farrow's wimpy portrayal of  Daisy. Oh, those Ralph Lauren costumes!

"It makes me sad because I've never seen such--such beautiful shirts before."
Great Gatsby Pictures, Images and Photos
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Even the 1949 film version was pretty interesting with Shelly Winters as a whacked out Myrtle Wilson. Costumes by Edith Head for you fellow costume nerds.

"Americans, while occasionally willing to be serfs, have always been obstinate about being peasantry."
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 So now there is a new film version coming out in May with Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby and Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan. It looks like it will be pretty in a rather Biba-esque way. But the use of current music instead of tunes from the period may ruin it for me. Jay Z? Florence and the Machine? Seriously???

The original 1926 film version of The Great Gatsby has been sadly lost. Only this trailer remains.

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Apparently F. Scott Fitzgerald walked out on this film in a huff.

Here's the trailer for the 2013 film version:


What do you think Scott would have thought of this one? Yikes!
 
"There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy and the tired."

What do YOU think?

See more of my 1920's Love HERE.                                                 


40 comments:

  1. I loved scrolling through all the images! My mom was born in 1923 but her older sister was almost a flapper. We have pictures of her as a young teen looking very much like these shots. I love the makeup and hair in addition to the clothes. Thank you for a lovely getaway.

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    1. P.S. The notion of the movie with a contemporary soundtrack seems very unappealing. It'll be interesting to see what the response is.

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    2. I have some great shots of my grandparents at a beer party in the woods when they were in college in the 1920's. I'm going to try to find them and post them. The clothes are gorgeous!

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  2. I've never read the book, but I'm really looking forward to this movie - Carey Mulligan, Leonardo, Baz Luhrman! Not sure I like the idea of using Beyonce and Jay Z, and Baz does tend to go over the top sometimes. But I hope the movie will be good.

    Great post!

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  3. Hi there Connie!

    What do you mean not visiting you on your blog? you
    How are you doing btw, how is the back?
    I have been to the doctor's yesterday and i might need surgery, waiting for the biopsy results
    Hopefully nothing too bad for me anyway..
    Yes the 20s and the Great Gatsby, oh i love and love the Mia and Robert version, the costumes were fantastic, the backdrop oh my i think i saw it 10 times!
    I didn't know about the 40s version - i will try to find on youtube i would like to see it
    Ah! the new Gatsby version! i know i have my doubts too, will see i like DiCaprio and Carey is charming, i remember her in the movie An Education i think -

    Take care lovely

    Ariane xxxxx

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    Replies
    1. I actually visited the house in Rhode Island where they filmed the 1970's film. It's pretty spectacular.

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  4. I have alwaysloved the 1920's I did a little post about it http://frocksandfrivolities.blogspot.com/2013/01/1920s.html
    My favorite period for actual dressing in thoughis probably the 1930 house dresses or the 1940s. Those styles seem so wearable to me.

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    1. The old house dresses really were something. Not like the crummy jeans and tee shirts people wear today.

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  5. I love the 40s and 80s, but I am very please we living today.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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    1. I'd love to see you in something from the 40's.

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  6. Hello Connie, the Jazz Age was a stylish and frivolous time. I haven't read the book too. But The Great Gatsby is classic for sure. I will watch the movie. Hope you are doing well? Take care. Great post

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    1. Lots of Great Gatsby movies to watch if you don't feel like reading.

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  7. Hi Connie, hope you are doing well.
    I love this fashion era too but unfortunately I only have a few pieces from back then (nothing very spectacular).
    I loved watching the 'The House of Eliott' a BBC TV series about two sisters in 20s London who establish a dressmaking business, some stunning garments to drool over in that.
    I'm not sure I have a favourite era as such, I like to flutter to one style, linger for a bit then flutter on by to the next.
    I am in awe with the sheer amount of work that went into making garments prior to mass-production though and that is why I would always choose vintage before stuff made today. Even stuff that was mass-produced in the 80s was of a better quality than what the High Street is punting out now, there is simply too much emphasis on making big profits nowadays.
    I went into Primark with my sister in Edinburgh and was appalled by it on so many levels, badly designed/put together garments made from substandard fabrics and heaps of it...rails upon rails of the same garment, it's horrid. What really upset me though was the sloppy attitude of the average customer knocking things off hangers and pegs and just leaving a trail of clothing on the floor as they went, it really just turns me off High Street shopping.
    Have a great weekend!
    ...xXx

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    1. They just don't make them like they used to....

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  8. Such gorgeous clothes, aren't they? Fabulous style, very you, Connie! The shapes sren't quite right for me, sadly (damn boobs get in the way...)
    I haven't read The Great Gatsby for years, I think it should be on my re-read list, I can't recall much about it. Doing an English Lit degree was all well and good, but it's 30 years later and I can't remember anything I read!
    Can't see the clip on my iPad, will have to look on the PC, but I would be interested to see the new film.
    I am happy to be living now though my clothes might say otherwise! xxxxx

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    1. Hmmmm...the clips don't show up on my iPad either. I have to work on that.

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  9. love love your style!!
    youre the best, hope you follow back <3

    www.malesclutch.blogspot.com
    Sergio, xx

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  10. I've never read The Great Gadsby and it's been on my bookshelf for years. I do love the styles of the 1920s but I'm more of a 1970s girl. xxx

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  11. I've never read the book, it's a cultural failure I need to fix sometime in the future. I love the 1930's although I don't follow the fashions myself. I tend to be able to rock the 60's a lot better but as you know I'm pretty eclectic anyway.
    I'm very curious about the film. I hope it's not another one that completely disappoints me - like the Hunger Games, everyone was raving about it and I watched it and was like, meh. lol But at least the wardrobe is supposed to be fabulous.
    PS: the pic of you in 1920's style will have to happen. I want to see it! xx

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  12. So many books to read, n'est-ce pas? I love you in your 60's! Very groovy!

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  13. I can't wait to see you in your bob! The shoes are splendid.

    Sarah xxx

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  14. I love that you started this post with a favorite book ending of mine (probably my favorite book ending, ever.) How did I not see this story a few days ago? At any rate, I am happy I stopped by today. Like you, I love the Jazz Age, and can't wait to see the new version of the Great Gatsby. The trailer is very promising indeed, but I agree with you about the soundtrack. Bad idea. Thank you for stopping by chez moi yesterday! Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

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    1. I'm happy to know that you appreciate the book as much as I do.

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  15. Oh I love the 20's too...
    everything looks fabulous then.
    I love the book
    I hope the movie gets to be as good.

    But I love listening to the 80's music,
    now you know my age.

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    1. I like 80's music, too. But I also like the 60's and the 30's so age has nothing to do with it.

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  16. 20's style just rocks my world. The dress styles are PERFECT for bellies and boobs ;)
    Thanks for all of your support!
    Reva

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  17. Blogging, antibiotics, dentistry...? LOL! I love your sense of humour, Connie. I hope you're feeling perky. Yes?
    I've always loved the '20s. I like the flat silhouette (which fits me perfectly), the rolled stockings, dropped waists. I love the mod '60s too.
    I look forward to this movie but I'm worried. How can it possibly match the perfection that blooms in my head from the book? I'm not a fan of Ms. Farrow, except as the mother of the spawn of satan in Rosemary's Baby, so I'm hoping for a winner here. And I hope I see more '20s looks on the sidewalks.
    Hugs.

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  18. I love YOUR sense of humor! We're on the same page with Mia. And you are such a 60's girl!

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  19. Hi there:) how are thing with you and your new house??? do you like living there?

    LOVE Maria

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  20. Jay Z?! Quelle couchemar! Horrors ;-(

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    1. It's called the Jazz Age because of the MUSIC!

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  21. Jazz is gorgeous, no?

    I don't have a hyacinth playhouse because winter just won't seem to leave us alone, so it's too cold for the vines to even stay outside overnight here still. Rain/snow mix is in the forecast for tonight! Anyway, if summer will ever get here, I could get one up in a jiff because I have dozens of vines just waiting to be planted. :)

    Keri

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  22. Wow, what a POST! LOVE the quote about peasantry, it's going to inspire me to reread Gatsby. And I completely agree with you about Mia Farrow. Tragically miscast. I'm sorry about the music score. It always annoyed me that "The Lion King", instead of having a beautiful African music soundtrack, chose to showcase Sir Elton-freaking-John.

    P.S. I adore guacamole, too. It's just that I hate the colors tomato red, mustard yellow, and avocado green.

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  23. can't wait for this movie!

    Izumi
    Hybrid Hunter

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  24. Im happy you liked my Swedish apartment post:)

    I wish you a lovely weekend dear:)

    LOVE Maria

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  25. i want to see the new one because i love the director... i really didnt like much the Robert Redford one... it was sort of anticlimactic... ha!

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