![]() ![]() Also, since the movie is based generally on the middle ages and not a specific time frame from that era, the fact that the costumes were also generic and taken from a few different times added to the atmosphere. I thought the overall effect was very enchanting and did add to the humor and nostalgic feeling emanating from this movie. The movie was definitely a parody/overplayed/extremely romanticized version of the middle ages, so of course the costumes fed this nicely. Although the costumes were very much exaggerated, they went together with the style of the film perfectly. ![]() Despite some inaccuracies, the general idea of the costumes was more or less correct and there were some details that were surprisingly accurate, including the girdles, coronets with veils, and cloaks lined with fur. The king also managed to always be clothed in the royal colors of red, purple, and gold, (along with plenty of fur) which may seem stereotypical but was actually very appropriate in the period. The male costumes were actually a lot more accurate the extravagance of some of the male costumes (especially the jester’s) matched the styles of the period. Hair was usually contained in elaborate headdresses (which were surprisingly missing and I think they should have added more of), and if exposed was usually plaited or bound up. These things were not uncommon in the 1400s, but off-the-shoulder dresses were made in a different style than those shown in the film. There was also bountiful amounts of bare shoulders and uncovered hair. In this movie, however, they usually always matched in color the gowns worn with them. Historically, women’s wimples and veils were almost always white or gray. The colors are one aspect that show this view not only are they much brighter and plentiful than they would be realistically (especially the pink), but they pervade almost every article of clothing. They stem from a much more romanticized view of medieval times, castles, knights, and princesses. The costumes in the film are not the most accurate. Although there is no specific century or year assigned, it is most likely modeled after the late 14th/early 15th century.Īccuracy: 3.5 stars. It includes singing, plots, a character resembling Robin Hood, wooing, bewitching, and plenty of tongue twisters. The Court Jester (1956): This is a very fun comedy set generically in medieval times. ![]() However, the small details that are not completely accurate allow the movie to retain the romantic ideal of the Middle Ages portrayed by Sir Walter Scott in his novel. It gives the entire plot a more genuine feel, taking the mystical and almost fairy-tale aspects out of the medieval legends. I think for the purpose of this film accurate costumes aided in the portrayal of the story. They should be worn straight on top of the head so that they cross the forehead, but in the film they wore them tilted so that they centered on the back of the head. I also noticed that the crowns and coronets worn by both the men and women were worn incorrectly. The one fault is that the women’s gowns are very tight-fitting, whereas during that time they were much more loose, intending to accentuate the vertical. The colors used are also very accurate, with abundant blues, grays, burgundys, and earth tones. These included vertical tunics with fitted sleeves, girdles worn at the hips, cloaks, and veils worn around the neck and hair and topped with coronets. The women wear the fashions brought into style by Eleanor of Aquitaine in the latter part of the twelfth century, fashions that were also common a century before. The men characters wear the tunics with looser sleeves and fur-edged mantles commonly worn during the period. Overall it is a fun watch, combining medieval legends with historical facts.Īccuracy: 4 stars. It is set in the 1190s during the reign of Richard I, more commonly known as Richard the Lionheart, and includes the character of Robin Hood. Ivanhoe (1952): This movie is based on Sir Walter Scott’s fictional novel. Therefore, I shall examine and give two ratings per movie: accuracy (based on clothing actually worn during the era portrayed) and relevancy (based on how well the costumes enhance the purpose and style of the movie). However, I do not think it is completely fair to critique a film’s costumes on historical accuracy alone, for many designers choose to make costumes UN-historically correct for the purpose of the film. ![]() So, as something fun, that is what I shall do. Someone suggested to me that for one of my posts I should examine the historical accuracy of costumes from movies set in the medieval era. ![]()
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