If clothes make the man in real life, then it’s only more so in the movies. That’s when an audience is maximally focused and alert, and processing quick information about characters. I found myself repeatedly distracted, in an awesome way, by the stunning men’s wear in THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO (2024), which I recently viewed and absolutely loved. In dressing leading man, Pierre Niney, as Edmond Dantès, costume designer Thierry Delettre added bulk and an intimidating silhouette as the movie proceeded. Near the end, Niney, who is a pretty skinny guy, hearkened a big dark storm cloud, a hulking mass of revenge-seeking. Pictured as well wearing one of the movie’s immaculate stovepipe hats is actor Laurent Lafitte, who plays second lead, Dante’s former best friend and his nemisis, Gérard de Villefort.
This brought to mind a recent conversation with Academy Award winning actor George Chakiris, who reminisced about how he was dressed in WEST SIDE STORY (1961) by the brilliant costume designer of stage (primarily) and screen, Irene Sharaff.
Chakiris shared a distinct memory of leaving his dressing room decked in his black sharkskin suit, purple shirt, and skinny tie, and that, in the course of his walk to the sound stage, he felt himself transformed into a powerful figure by that costume.
