18th century blog

After the cut are two commercials for Magnum Temptation that I recorded from TV, plus a few screencaps. They feature people in 18th century costumes, some of which are really beautiful. I’m wondering if the costumes were made for these commercials alone (probably not) or if they’re from a movie or something. Some of them look pretty similar to some costumes used in Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette.

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The Duchess

When I first heard they were making a movie about Georgiana I was so exited, but when I heard Keira Knightly was playing her I was very disappointed. Not that I have anything against Keira Knightly but I couldn’t think of anyone who looks less like Georgiana and I just couldn’t see her in the role. I was happily surprised when seeing the movie though. Even though it’s not the amazing movie I expected when I first heard of the plans, Keira did a great job playing Georgiana, and even though she didn’t really look the part she looked beautiful in her own right and was very charming.

The movie was more serious and somber than I expected. I was hoping for more frivolity, society life, parties and gambling, but the focus is all on the unhappy marriage. It’s not the kind of movie I’d want to watch over and over again, but it was definitely entertaining the first time. There are little inaccuracies and things left out and switched around in Georgiana’s life, but it’s all understandable for the purpose of the movie. Since it’s just about a part of her life, it has a bit of a non-ending, just like Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette.

The costumes were overall amazing, lots of beautiful redingotes and jackets. There were some hairstyles I didn’t like but for the most part the hair was great too. I loved the scenes with many extras, there are lots of amazing outfits if you look in the background. At times the fashions tended to be a bit earlier than the time depicted, at least for a fashionable person like Georgiana, but that’s nitpicking. One thing that bothered me though was the scene where Georgiana’s hair caught on fire, and it’s revealed that it’s just a wig. I’m pretty sure Georgiana didn’t wear wigs, probably plenty of hairpieces, but actual wigs were not common for late 18th century girls.

More publicity stills and 164 high resolution screencaps after the cut!

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The website of the upcoming movie The Duchess is up with lots of photos and information. My favourite thing about it is that many of the costumes are presented with detailed photos and information, I also liked the “discover” section. I have mixed feelings about this movie but mostly I can’t wait to see it! Click the picture to go to the website.

Dangerous Liaisons
I love this movie. It’s based on a book published in 1782 and set about the same time, but (based on the fashions) the movie is set several decades earlier in the mid 1700s. I haven’t read the book, yet, but I’m planning to read it in the future and I’m guessing it’s good since it has inspired such a great movie. I’m also a fan of another film adaptation of the same book, Cruel Intentions.

The movie is set before my very favourite period fashion and style wise, but the costumes are absolutely amazing and the environments are incredibly lavish. The sets are very detailed, and we get to see many typical 18th century situations. The beginning where the main characters wake up and get ready is probably my favourite part of the entire movie. There are also some beautiful opera scenes that I wish they would have shown more of.

I noticed a few small anachronisms, like a portrait on the wall sporting a 1780s hairdo, and one of the operas appears to me to be set in the 1780s as well, but I certainly don’t mind since I love the 1780s :) All in all a great movie!

Lots of screenshots and some publicity stills after the cut.

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