shall we dance?

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Gertrude Lawrence by William Acton

because I love all the William Acton portraits of the Mitford sisters, I'm always hoping to see another-this one I had not seen and since Gertie is in the little augury lexicon-it is a must. To see the Mitford portraits go to Lucindaville here & to see the beautiful portrait of Diana here

love these rehearsal photographs of Graham Payn,Gertrude Lawrence,& Noël Coward
for the 1948 revival of Tonight at 8:30
 

Tonight at 8:30 was a series of  ten Noel Coward short plays. Three or four plays were selected to run each performance night. The 1948 run saw Graham Payn, Noel Coward's long time partner and love, in the lead role with Gertrude opposite him. Noel Coward's last appearance with Gertrude Lawrence was as a replacement for the ailing Graham Payn in Tonight at 8.30 on tour in the States.

Ben Solowey's drawing ,1936, of Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence

appeared in the Herald Tribune touting the original Broadway opening of Tonight at 8:30

links The Noel Coward Society

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Shall We?

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One of the stories I love best- or shall I say one of the musicals I love best is The King & I.
It fulfills all my fantasies. 

I am intrepid. 

I sing. 

I dance. 

I speak beautifully. 

 I conquer.

I win the hearts and minds of a country.

  I bring a King to his knees.

I wear hoop skirts.

Yohji Yamamoto hoop dress

I have watched time and again- enough is never enough with this movie, As you shall see. I have been equally intrigued by the story of Gertrude Lawrence's performance in the Broadway musical and her love affair with co-star, Yul Brenner. Lawrence collapsed after a performance and within a month had died of liver cancer. Lawrence was buried in the champagne-colored gown worn for the "Shall We Dance?" number in the second act of The King and I. She had made Yul Brenner a star and he would always credit her with his celebrity.

Rex Harrison and Irene Dunne starred in the 1946 movie Anna and the King of Siam-sans music- with much critical acclaim. Though Anna does not sing in this version her intrepid nature and great style captured the imagination of this little Anna-wanna-be.

Stories of the real Anna Leonowens are intriguing too- and still somewhat a mystery. She wrote about her experiences in three collections.The English Governess at the Siamese Court: Being Recollections of Six Years in the Royal Palace at Bangkok,The Romance of Siamese Harem Life and Life and Travel in India: Being Recollections of a Journey Before the Days of Railroads. The 1946 drama and the subsequent Broadway musical and movies were based on the 1946 book Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon. Her book expands on Anna Leonowens' own embellished accounts of her experiences.

You cannot shut the world out forever. Believe me, I've tried. 

-from the Anna Leonowens diaries 

How much do I love the movie? I have wondered about a sequel- Life after the King? Something betwixt fact and fiction-Shall We Say? 

She was a stranger when she came to live in Siam-Now returning to England- she would be a stranger there too. Anna Leonowens and her son Louis had lived in Bangkok, where she was contracted to teach English to the children of the royal household. She threatens to leave when the house she had been promised is not available, but fell in love with the children-and their father. After the King's death, she embarks on a return voyage to England. Her return to England, bringing with her- an exotic household, servants and furnishings- would create a sensation. Anna had changed. She no longer embraced the traditional dress of the Victorians and was determined not to return to corsets and billowing skirts. Her life would be different this time. Her school would be different. One thing she was sure of, her heart would remain in Siam forever.

Tatler magazine, from Hannah Teare fashion stylist here, Kyoto Bolofo photographer

there are 9 posts about Anna- unfortunately blogger has no way of publishing them any way but from last to first- be sure to read them all.

Books about Anna Leonowens, Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon, Anna Leonowens: A Life Beyond 'the King and I' by Leslie Smith Dow, Katya & the Prince of Siam by Eileen Hunter

shown throughout this post are photographs of the movie Anna and the King of Siam, Broadway Musical starring Gertrude Lawrence and Yul Brenner and the subsequent movie The King & I.

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Gertrude Reprise

Gertrude Lawrence
Private Lives
Molyneux

"Her manner and charm were such that
by the time anyone found out she was not a Beauty,
it was too late, they were bewitched."
-Madge Garland


Gertrude Lawrence originated the role of Amanda Prynne
opposite Noël Coward in'Private Lives' both in London and New York.

molyneux label

GL in White Satin Molyneux from Vanity Fair Conde Nast (here)

photograph by George Hoyningen-Huené

GL & NC

from Private Lives

Wardrobe by Molyneux

read more at the Fashion Spot Forum(here)

scene from Private Lives
photograph from AAL here

Molyneux in Vogue

Private Lives

Lee Creelman pen and ink illustration from the February 1, 1932, Vogue

Daywear looks of long jackets and midi skirts Edward Molyneux.

from Conde Nast




Model Smokers

The bare backless dress by Molyneux and V neck dress (figure seated)

Lee Creelman pen and ink illustration from the June 15, 1933,Vogue.

from Conde Nast

Read more about Molyneux from An Aesthete's Lament

Lady Gertrude Do! Do! Do!

Famed femme fatale, star of the London stage and musical theatre, lifetime friend of Noel Coward-

(applause, applause)

Gertrude Lawrence!

Her drawing room at Portland Place was decorated by Ronald Fleming. This-in the day of Syrie Maugham's all white drawing room- Lawrence opted for panache.

The stage set chic room sparkled with a mirrored wall along the bookcase and mantle. Comfortable upholstered club chairs covered in satin with small bullion fringes along the hems, a low slung rather glamorous sofa in a decidedly reptilian pattern, and a fireside bench with deep contrasting bullion fringe-Enter Noel Coward. Curtain up. A Stylish little Vogue Regency drum table probably held lighters, drinks as the white likely lacquered grand piano swayed while played by Noel Coward and Gertie sang.

I wonder what color that Satin was? Champagne- my guess.



A gorgeous photograph of the Lady GERTRUDE, Satin? Magnolia-my guess




Definitely a Satin Bed-Nude- my guess.



Cecil Beaton photographed the actress in bed swathed in chiffon, fur and satin in Vanity Fair 1934's-Celebrities in Bed. Yes dog lovers that is a dawlin' Yorkie in bed with Gertie.


What color is your Satin? silk satin rather? I know it might not be the thing these days, But baby it undeniably was back then.



Lawrence's drawing room foto from Style Traditions, by Stephen Calloway & Stephen Jones