Hollywood Dolls

The most anticipated event in entertainment happens tomorrow here at exactly 9:30 a.m. I cannot of course deny that one of my favorite actresses happens to be the main subject of this blog. 

I repainted the "Travelling with Mother to Savannah". This is actually a repaint on a repaint -- now having better brushes  -- and better eyeglasses. 

It is also to forget the fact that I lost the Tonner Portrait doll I was ordering. Mislabeled package, courier not alerted to the arrival of the package are just  a few of the reasons my US courier gave me. That paid with lots of savings on my account, I have nothing to gain and all lost. 

But...I'll think about that tomorrow.

Meantime, I channelled all frustration on productivity. Saturday, having fixed all errands and having some chest pains from God knows what (definitely not the "large heart" the doctor says I have after an MRI), I decided to repaint using an older Vivien Leigh look as a peg. 

It somehow helped. I did a little photoshoot of what Vivien Leigh may have looked entering the Oscars -- perhaps for "Streetcar Named Desire" -- wonder if she did go up the stage to receive that Oscar. 

Vivien had only 2 Oscars in her film career. But those two were the most memorable performances in Hollywood history. One, the coveted role of Scarlett, and the other the fierce and fearless Blanche DuBois in "Streetcar Named Desire". 

Many of her colleague actors say that "Streetcar" was probably one of the most dangerous roles she ever accepted -- as it was so close to home. As Blanche she played the fallen Southern Belle who loses all hold on reality ("I want magic...yes, yes, magic! I don't tell the truth. I tell what ought to be the truth" - Blanche). Opposite the fiery Arian, Marlon Brando only a the fire and talent of a fiery Scorpio could survive: Vivien Leigh. Till today, I have seen several versions of Streetcar Named Desire and no Blanche has come close to the tension and fragile disposition that Vivien displayed on screen. She was on the verge of breakdown (in reel and real life). And of course, we all know that there could never ever be another Scarlett. 

So here finally are the what I purposely tried to do: magical portraits of dearest Vivien -- who need not be so talented because she was so beautiful, and need not be too beautiful because she was so talented (a favorite line from Vivien Leigh: Scarlett and Beyond). The gown is by Alana Bennett (an adaptation of a gown worn in Scarlett the Sequel to GWTW TV Series). Pearls are  from a Franklin Mint Gibson girl dress.

The Anne Harper head sculpt seems to show some promise as a Scarlett sculpt contender. When you look on that nose and the lips (that don't end up in half-smile), you wonder why didn't they use this mold instead. I'm no sculpt expert and since we yet have to see the new Vivien Leigh sculpt that Tonner released with the Mrs. Charles Hamilton doll, I have to conclude that the current Scarlett sculpt makes it hard to imagine Vivien Leigh in it -- unless repainted. 

This however, seems to show a little promise -- if not Vivien, at least a Scarlett that could make Rhett really come back.

So what if we merge both: Anne Harper sculpt with a Scarlett look. 

Well here she is. 

Arched brows, green eyes, heart-shaped hairline, and defiant pout.

What do you think?

There are times when a collector just has to get another doll outfit no matter what the cost. You can call it yielding to ones' inner craziness. I am one of them. When Franklin Mint released their new Final Farewell dress, another version, another interpretation worn by Scarlett in  the final sequence of Gone with the Wind, I was hesitant. Thought about it once, twice. There are times when fate leads you to have what you want. So when one member of the FranklinMintScarlettOHaraVinylDoll Group offered it to me (as she only wanted the doll), I couldn't resist. 

For one I knew the Franklin Mint Scarlett creations were consistently of top quality.  I also knew that the dress would have a different interpretation. I was not wrong. While this would perfectly fit the FM Scarlett done for this version (which has a splendid updo), it is picture perfect on the Tonner Scarlett. Snug and tight bodice, and just the right amount of length for the doll too -- enough to let those Tonner boots peep -- and as such, I felt, close to the length we see on film. 

First the jewelry is done with great attention to detail. The cameo/brooch that comes with the dress is so much in scale. When one zooms in, you would think that it is an actual brooch. The mold, the relief, depth and design is amazing!! The feel is almost metallic and it seems to have some substantial weight of that too. You just have to look at this photo (below) to see and believe. 

Franklin Mint's version has none of the trapunto detail. The sleeves simulate that look with a ruffled attachment to the sleeves. The bustle of this version however simulates the actual dress. 

And so, perhaps you'll understand how one can't just say farewell to Franklin Mint's Final Farewell. As another interpretation of the last dress worn in GWTW (at least the one we visually see), it does have its merits. The draping of the velvet is beautiful and in scale. I have to stress this as one of the best ways to judge a doll outfit.  And here for her final portraits, Franklin Mint's Final Farewell as worn by a repainted  Tonner Scarlett (hairstyle and face paint has been recreated to capture the "final farewell" look).   Both Franklin Mint and Tonner win in this creation.