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Thursday, February 5, 2009

Did you know.... The Curtain Dress... Part 1

Did you know who the designer of Scarlett O'Hara's Curtain Dress was... Walter Plunkett. Ever heard of him... me neither... but there's more... much more...



Designed by Walter Plunkett, the Curtain Dress, symbol of Scarlett's will to survive, was worn in three scenes: the jail scene in which Scarlett asks Rhett for financial assistance, the scene in which Scarlett walks through the Atlanta streets with Mammy, and the scene in which Scarlett meets Frank Kennedy.

The dress had to suit the color of Vivien Leigh's eyes and it had to conform to Technicolor specifications. It also had to look as if it were made from the draperies at Tara. So the dress was aged as if the sun had faded the material.

This is Walter Plunkett with Vivian Leigh... nope... don't know him... now fast forward to the 1970's... ready?

Carol Burnett's parody of "Gone with the Wind" titled, "Went with the Wind"... in which she too had a curtain dress... curtain rod included. Now, who do you suppose designed Carol's curtain dress?

Yep... Bob Mackie... the Bob Mackie... We've heard of him now haven't we...

and now you know.... the rest of the story...

Just surfing oddities on the net... down here in French Lique...

12 comments:

Nancy said...

I think Vivian Leigh was about the most gorgeous creature ever and sadly she lived such a tragic existance. BTW...do you live in Rio Lindo? Are there some Deterings there if you do or a B&B?
:) Nancy

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Great information and so interesting. I don't know why I've heard the name Walter Plunkett, but somewhere I have. Hummm I do love Gone With the Wind, and I also love all of Bob Mackie's things. Hugs, Marty

RoeH said...

I can still laugh at that Carol Burnett skit just thinking of it. Too bad Vivian Leigh wasn't alive to see it.

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Well, fiddle dee dee!! I do love a dress that includes its own curtian rod! At one point in time I did know that Bob Mackie had designed that dress...but that info, along with a bunch more, seems to have leaked out of my brain!! Or maybe a bunch more got piled in on top of it!! Thanks for reminding me!! I always loved that scene from Carol Burnett...my favorite, in fact! Have a great weekend...
Debbie

Anonymous said...

DIXIE,
THAT IS BOTH INTERESTING AND FUNNY. I LOVE GONE WITH THE WIND...I LOVE VIVIAN AND CAROL IS A RIOT...KINDA LIKE YOU. BOTH BEAUTIFUL AND FUNNY....WHY DO SOME OF THE GALS GET ALL THE TALENT....LOL..LOL
THANK YOU FOR THAT POST
HUGS
debbie

Candy said...

Oh, Miss Dixie, thanks for the stroll down memory lane! Beautiful Scarlet and hilarious Carol...we rolled in the floor when she descended the stairs in her window dress.
Happy Friday, Candy

cottage farm villa said...

Dixie.... Of course we all remember the skit Carol did....it was hysterical (Harvey Corman could hardly contain himself)....but what I didn't know was the reason behind the curtain dress. How interesting. I have seen Gone with the Wind only once and I didn't remember that she was supposed to have made her gown from the drapery. Was that actually said in the movie???

And Bob Mackie....we all know him from Cher....he designed all of her gowns on Sonny & Cher and I believe afterward for Oscars and stage performances. I think he sells Bob Mackie on HSN or QVC these days.

Love learning...thanks! hugs, Cheryl

The Raggedy Girl said...

When I got to the first photo my first thought was Carol Burnett and the curtain rod. Too funny post with great into too!
Roberta Anne

Dixie said...

Cheryl... just for you so you'll believe... the video of Miss Scarlett and the curtain dress... and just for fun... Miss Burnett too! hugs.. Dixie

Mary said...

Such a fun post Dixie - loved it and learned a lot about what to do with my old drapes. ha! ha!

Busy with the painting and the painter has gone - pleased with the results, especially the daring almost black!!

Today - playing with paints, mixing colors in readiness to attack the furniture - that's my part!

Anonymous said...

HOW dot you think up all this stuff?great info too...Ann

Kat said...

What a great post. Of course Gone with the Wind is one of my all time favorites, but I'll never forget the first time I saw the Carol Burnett skit, thought I was going to die laughing when she came down those stairs! Thanks for the giggles. Kathy