18/06/2011, PROFILES IN HISTORY: Debbie Reynolds The Auction - Lots

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Enchères Profiles In History
"Debbie Reynolds The Auction"
18 juin 2011
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- 7 lots avec Marilyn Monroe -
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18/06/2011, PROFILES IN HISTORY: Debbie Reynolds The Auction - Vente et Catalogue
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Lot 282: Marilyn Monroe gown w/ hat for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Marilyn Monroe "Lorelei Lee" signature red-sequined "Two Little Girls from Little Rock" showgirl gown with feathered hat by Travilla for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. (TCF, 1953) This iconic costume was worn by Marilyn Monroe as "Lorelei Lee" in the number "Two Little Girls from Little Rock." Made of a heavy silk crepe with thousands of hand-sewn sequins spiraling in every direction starting small at the top and finishing in large singular sequins around the bottom to allow them to catch the light from all angles. A deep split to high above the thigh caught by a diamond brooch added to the drama of this dress. The slightly risqué bust area once again fooled the censors by including a shear body-toned fabric from the neck right down to the waist giving the impression of nudity without showing a thing. Dress has handwritten label "1-25-1-4286 A698-67 Marilyn Monroe." Hat has handwritten label "1-25-1-4286 A698-67 M. Monroe." Acquired by Debbie Reynolds directly from Twentieth Century-Fox during the "pre-sale" when she bought all of the Marilyn Monroe wardrobe from the studio prior to the auction in 1971.

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Lot 286: 1952 red MG TD used in Monkey Business
1952 red MG TD used by Marilyn Monroe and Cary Grant in Monkey Business. (TCF, 1952) This car was acquired by Debbie Reynolds directly from Twentieth Century-Fox during the "pre-sale" when she bought all of the Marilyn Monroe wardrobe from the studio prior to the auction in 1971. It was bought in running condition and was placed in storage until Debbie's daughter, Carrie Fisher, took a shining to it when she started to drive (ca. 1974). Unfortunately, Carrie never really mastered the manual transmission and Debbie took the keys away to avert impending disaster, and the car was placed back in storage where it has remained ever since. In 2011 the engine and transmission were rebuilt and the car has been rejuvenated with new chrome and remains in nice running condition. The car has its original paint which exhibits light scratches in areas. The dent in the radiator, occurring from Cary Grant crashing in the fence in the film, was kept in its original condition. The car comes with the original folding convertible top and frame, but it was not installed during filming so it has been kept aside for the future owner. This is the only known film-used Marilyn Monroe car!!

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Lot 313: Marilyn Monroe saloon-girl gown from River of No Return
Marilyn Monroe "Kay Weston" gold charmeuse saloon-girl gown by Travilla for River of No Return. (TCF, 1954) Gold charmeuse gown covered with bugle beading, red fringe accents, and gold velvet train with red netting. Handwritten label "38733 Grable" and stamped "1 25 1 1748 1900." Created by Helen Rose for Betty Grable as "Kate Farley" in the "Cuddle Up a Little Closer" number in Coney Island (TCF, 1943). Travilla added the red beading and train for Marilyn Monroe as "Kay Weston" in the final scene of the film singing "The River of No Return" in River of No Return. Acquired by Debbie Reynolds directly from Twentieth Century-Fox during the "pre-sale" when she bought all of the Marilyn Monroe wardrobe from the studio prior to the auction in 1971. Marilyn wore this dress to sing the title song in The River of No Return. The gold silk is covered in tiny gold bugle beads. Inside is yards and yards of red tulle edged in gold and sewn into layers. At the back, fabrics of pale gold velvet and a stiff lame' are pulled and pleated together to make a rough bustle, both fabrics falling into a train. The dress is trimmed in swirled patterns of red beaded tassels attached to netting then sewn onto the dress. The left shoulder has handmade silk flowers.

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Lot 314: M.Monroe costume There's No Business Like Show Business
 Marilyn Monroe "Vicky" tropical print pink, black and white skirt, black halter top and hat from "Heat Wave" number by Travilla for There's No Business Like Show Business. (TCF, 1954) The design started with a hat. A skull cap in black with a huge plated straw hat, the ends left raw to give the hat movement, and silk flowers attached. It was only after the hat was completed that Travilla took it to another level and added the flowers that hung around her face. The top is a sheath of black raw silk, tied in the middle by a vivid pink and black chiffon scarf that crosses the chest and drapes down the back and large black sequins attached. Handwritten label "1-25-1-4693 A729-48 M. Monroe." The skirt starts with an extremely tight band of black raw silk that gathers around the bottom at the back and pulls round to the front in a deep sexy "V" with black sequins sewn to it; the undergarment is attached to this. From the front "V" travelling round to below her bottom is a voluminous skirt of hand printed white raw silk with huge black flowers. Attached to these flowers are hundreds of large sequins scattered randomly. The interior of the skirt is the same fabric as the scarf, a plain pink chiffon. Gathered and attached in many layers travelling from top to bottom. These layers also have hundreds of scattered sequins but this time in opaque. Handwritten label "1-25-1-4693 A729-48 M. Monroe." Acquired by Debbie Reynolds directly from Twentieth Century-Fox during the "pre-sale" when she bought all of the Marilyn Monroe wardrobe from the studio prior to the auction in 1971.

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Lot 316: There's No Business Like Show Business original poster
There's No Business Like Show Business original 14" x 36" insert poster for Marilyn Monroe film. (TCF, 1953) Linen-backed Fine to Very Fine U.S. insert-sized poster depicting Marilyn Monroe two times. Appears to have had normal light folds prior to backing, and shows only modest background retouching.

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Lot 354: Marilyn Monroe "Subway" dress, from The Seven Year Itch
Marilyn Monroe "The Girl" ivory pleated "Subway" dress by Travilla, the most recognized costume in film history, from The Seven Year Itch. (TCF, 1955) Ivory rayon-acetate halter dress with pleated skirt. Handwritten label "1-27-1-8171 M. Monroe A-734-12." Worn by Marilyn Monroe as "The Girl" in one of the most iconic images of film history in The Seven Year Itch, when she stood above the subway grate and uttered that famous line, "OOOH isn't it delicious?" The Seven Year Itch storyline, unlike some of Monroe's earlier films, held no promise as a costume showcase. It was not a period piece and had no dance routines. Yet this was to become the vehicle for Travilla's most famous dress design, in bias-cut crepe with a halter top and sunburst pleats. "So I wondered what could I do with this most beautiful girl that Marilyn was to play to make her look clean, talcum-powdered, and adorable," Travilla mused. "What would I give her to wear that would blow in the breeze and be fun and pretty? I knew there would be a wind blowing so that would require a skirt." [Hollywood Costume Design by Travilla, Maureen Reilly]. The fabric Travilla chose was an ivory colored rayon-acetate crepe, heavy enough to flow beautifully as Marilyn walked but still light enough to blow up in an interesting way. A fabric very hard if not impossible to get now, the closest is georgette. Travilla never normally used man-made fabric but this posed a challenge with pleating as 100% natural fabric would not hold such stiff pleats, so for all his pleated creations a special fabric had to be made with just a small amount of man-made fiber in it to maintain the structure. Acquired by Debbie Reynolds directly from Twentieth Century-Fox during the "pre-sale" when she bought all of the Marilyn Monroe wardrobe from the studio prior to the auction in 1971.

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Lot 355: The Seven Year Itch poster for Marilyn Monroe film
The Seven Year Itch original 14" x 36" insert poster for Marilyn Monroe film. (TCF, 1955) Linen-backed Very Fine to Near Mint U.S. insert-sized poster depicting Marilyn Monroe's famous subway skirt-blowing scene. Appears to have had only one very light center fold prior to backing, and shows only minimal border retouching.

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