Collection by Eujin Rhee
Interior Design in 8 Classic Films
Cinema is having a little moment right now—the annual Sundance Film Festival is just about to wrap up and awards season is currently in full swing. We take a look at eight classic films, each lauded for their visually striking set designs. From the dramatic minimalism of Bernardo Bertolucci's Il conformista to the technicolored world of Michael Gordon's Pillow Talk, click on through to see some classic film design inspiration.
Il conformista (1970), Bernardo Bertolucci's adaptation of Alberto Moravia's 1951 novel, was the second collaboration with renowned cinematographer Vittorio Storaro and his first with set designer Ferdinando Scarfiotti.
The 1930s art and decor along with the use of moody lighting and rich color palette even inspired the Fall 2008 ads of Italian fashion brand Missoni.
Louis Malle's lighthearted 1960 comedy, Zazie dans le métro, tells the story of a rebellious little girl who is forced to travel to Paris with her mother. Theatrical set designs were magically constructed by set designer Bernard Evein, but it was Zazie's distinctive red-orange turtleneck that lit up the screen.
Michelangelo Antonioni's first color film, Il deserto rosso (1964), is a stunning portrayal of a woman trying to survive the modern world in 1960s Italy. Soft, muted colors contrast against the bleak grey industrial landscapes. It was known that Antonini and his crew would even paint a street to achieve the desired grey tone. Piero Poletto, the film's Art Director, used Tintal coloring to paint the sets.
Considered his first serious drama, Interiors (1978), directed by Woody Allen, is an intriguing portrait of human behavior. Set at the family's idyllic beach-side cottage, the interior set designs are anything but. Wide shots of empty spaces, muted colors and minimalist furniture compliment the somber mood of the film.
La Chinoise (1967) is a French political film directed by Jean-Luc Godard about a band of young Parisian revolutionaries. France's national colors—blue, white, and red—are omnipresent. Political messages are methodically spelled out in black ink on classic French white plastered walls, and endless rows of red books fill the shelves. Red, after all, is thought to be a symbol of passion and danger.
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