Holiday Inn

Adapted for the screen from the Broadway hit, which was inspired by Gregory Maguire’s beloved twist on L. Frank Baum’s classic characters, Wicked bewitched audiences and was nominated for 10 Oscars at the 97th Academy Awards. Costume designer Paul Tazewell updated looks from The Wizard of Oz (1939)—the Wicked Witch’s black cape and hat and Glinda’s pink gown—for his winning designs, both on view in the museum’s Stories of Cinema: Identity gallery. Dark clothing with details inspired by plant roots and fungi reflects Elphaba’s seriousness and connection to nature. Pink garments decorated with frills and spirals underscore Galinda’s bubbly personality and status as the popular sweetheart of Shiz Academy.

Adapted for the screen from the Broadway hit, which was inspired by Gregory Maguire’s beloved twist on L. Frank Baum’s classic characters, Wicked bewitched audiences and was nominated for 10 Oscars at the 97th Academy Awards. Costume designer Paul Tazewell updated looks from The Wizard of Oz (1939)—the Wicked Witch’s black cape and hat and Glinda’s pink gown—for his winning designs, both on view in the museum’s Stories of Cinema: Identity gallery. Dark clothing with details inspired by plant roots and fungi reflects Elphaba’s seriousness and connection to nature. Pink garments decorated with frills and spirals underscore Galinda’s bubbly personality and status as the popular sweetheart of Shiz Academy.

Adapted for the screen from the Broadway hit, which was inspired by Gregory Maguire’s beloved twist on L. Frank Baum’s classic characters, Wicked bewitched audiences and was nominated for 10 Oscars at the 97th Academy Awards. Costume designer Paul Tazewell updated looks from The Wizard of Oz (1939)—the Wicked Witch’s black cape and hat and Glinda’s pink gown—for his winning designs, both on view in the museum’s Stories of Cinema: Identity gallery. Dark clothing with details inspired by plant roots and fungi reflects Elphaba’s seriousness and connection to nature. Pink garments decorated with frills and spirals underscore Galinda’s bubbly personality and status as the popular sweetheart of Shiz Academy.

A precursor of sorts to the beloved Technicolor classic White Christmas (1954), Holiday Inn marks the first on-screen pairing of crooner Bing Crosby and hoofer Fred Astaire. The two play versions of themselves and compete for the affections of a young singer at a winter resort. On view in the museum’s exhibition Stories of Cinema: Identity is a lavish satin costume with gold embellishments designed by Edith Head for Astaire’s character to wear in a number celebrating George Washington’s birthday, one of many holiday-themed musical performances. The film earned Oscar nominations for Scoring of a Musical Picture and for Story, and won for Original Song for “White Christmas” by Irving Berlin.

Content warning: This film contains a scene with a blackface performance.

A precursor of sorts to the beloved Technicolor classic White Christmas (1954), Holiday Inn marks the first on-screen pairing of crooner Bing Crosby and hoofer Fred Astaire. The two play versions of themselves and compete for the affections of a young singer at a winter resort. On view in the museum’s exhibition Stories of Cinema: Identity is a lavish satin costume with gold embellishments designed by Edith Head for Astaire’s character to wear in a number celebrating George Washington’s birthday, one of many holiday-themed musical performances. The film earned Oscar nominations for Scoring of a Musical Picture and for Story, and won for Original Song for “White Christmas” by Irving Berlin.

Content warning: This film contains a scene with a blackface performance.

Nearly retired tap dancer Bill “Corky” Williamson (stage and screen legend Bill “Bojangles” Robinson) recounts the welcome he and his 15th New York Regiment band received when they returned from Europe after World War I in this star-studded studio musical. Brimming with more than 20 songs, Stormy Weather features performances from Cab Calloway; the Nicholas Brothers (Fayard and Harold), who dazzle with a mind-boggling staircase dance routine; Fats Waller; and Lena Horne, who plays the young Corky’s girlfriend in a star-making performance. Visit Stories of Cinema: Identity to see a gorgeous silk, lamé, sequin, and glass bead costume worn by Horne during one of her nightclub performances in the film.

Nearly retired tap dancer Bill “Corky” Williamson (stage and screen legend Bill “Bojangles” Robinson) recounts the welcome he and his 15th New York Regiment band received when they returned from Europe after World War I in this star-studded studio musical. Brimming with more than 20 songs, Stormy Weather features performances from Cab Calloway; the Nicholas Brothers (Fayard and Harold), who dazzle with a mind-boggling staircase dance routine; Fats Waller; and Lena Horne, who plays the young Corky’s girlfriend in a star-making performance. Visit Stories of Cinema: Identity to see a gorgeous silk, lamé, sequin, and glass bead costume worn by Horne during one of her nightclub performances in the film.

Nearly retired tap dancer Bill “Corky” Williamson (stage and screen legend Bill “Bojangles” Robinson) recounts the welcome he and his 15th New York Regiment band received when they returned from Europe after World War I in this star-studded studio musical. Brimming with more than 20 songs, Stormy Weather features performances from Cab Calloway; the Nicholas Brothers (Fayard and Harold), who dazzle with a mind-boggling staircase dance routine; Fats Waller; and Lena Horne, who plays the young Corky’s girlfriend in a star-making performance. Visit Stories of Cinema: Identity to see a gorgeous silk, lamé, sequin, and glass bead costume worn by Horne during one of her nightclub performances in the film.

Based on the smash Broadway production, itself inspired by the memoirs of burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee, this earthy, dazzling musical features Natalie Wood as Louise Hovick, a timid, aspiring actress shoved into the spotlight and transformed into “Gypsy” by her brash stage mother, Rose (Rosalind Russell). Orry-Kelly designed elegant gowns for Wood’s shy character as she enters the world of burlesque under the stage name Gypsy Rose Lee. Long silhouettes and removable accessories emphasize her coy, ladylike presence. Like Lee’s performances in real life, striptease in the film involved relatively modest costumes, capitalizing on the power of suggestion. See one of Orry-Kelly’s creations in Stories of Cinema: Identity before seeing the film on the big screen.

Based on the smash Broadway production, itself inspired by the memoirs of burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee, this earthy, dazzling musical features Natalie Wood as Louise Hovick, a timid, aspiring actress shoved into the spotlight and transformed into “Gypsy” by her brash stage mother, Rose (Rosalind Russell). Orry-Kelly designed elegant gowns for Wood’s shy character as she enters the world of burlesque under the stage name Gypsy Rose Lee. Long silhouettes and removable accessories emphasize her coy, ladylike presence. Like Lee’s performances in real life, striptease in the film involved relatively modest costumes, capitalizing on the power of suggestion. See one of Orry-Kelly’s creations in Stories of Cinema: Identity before seeing the film on the big screen.

Based on the smash Broadway production, itself inspired by the memoirs of burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee, this earthy, dazzling musical features Natalie Wood as Louise Hovick, a timid, aspiring actress shoved into the spotlight and transformed into “Gypsy” by her brash stage mother, Rose (Rosalind Russell). Orry-Kelly designed elegant gowns for Wood’s shy character as she enters the world of burlesque under the stage name Gypsy Rose Lee. Long silhouettes and removable accessories emphasize her coy, ladylike presence. Like Lee’s performances in real life, striptease in the film involved relatively modest costumes, capitalizing on the power of suggestion. See one of Orry-Kelly’s creations in Stories of Cinema: Identity before seeing the film on the big screen.

In John Cameron Mitchell’s screen adaptation of his stage musical, drag helps East German immigrant Hedwig Robinson craft a new identity after her gender reassignment surgery goes wrong. When her husband abandons her in a Kansas trailer park, she cheers herself up by trying on wigs. She embraces her star power in a costume made of platinum blonde hair decorated with rhinestones, with matching gloves and stiletto boots, currently on view in Stories of Cinema: Identity. Inspired by David Bowie and 1970s glam rock, the film found its audience once it was released on home video, inspiring a massive cult following that lives on today.

In John Cameron Mitchell’s screen adaptation of his stage musical, drag helps East German immigrant Hedwig Robinson craft a new identity after her gender reassignment surgery goes wrong. When her husband abandons her in a Kansas trailer park, she cheers herself up by trying on wigs. She embraces her star power in a costume made of platinum blonde hair decorated with rhinestones, with matching gloves and stiletto boots, currently on view in Stories of Cinema: Identity. Inspired by David Bowie and 1970s glam rock, the film found its audience once it was released on home video, inspiring a massive cult following that lives on today.

In John Cameron Mitchell’s screen adaptation of his stage musical, drag helps East German immigrant Hedwig Robinson craft a new identity after her gender reassignment surgery goes wrong. When her husband abandons her in a Kansas trailer park, she cheers herself up by trying on wigs. She embraces her star power in a costume made of platinum blonde hair decorated with rhinestones, with matching gloves and stiletto boots, currently on view in Stories of Cinema: Identity. Inspired by David Bowie and 1970s glam rock, the film found its audience once it was released on home video, inspiring a massive cult following that lives on today.

The magical world created by author L. Frank Baum is brought to the screen in Technicolor and with all the lavish resources of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in this gorgeous musical fantasy from MGM. Judy Garland is farm girl Dorothy, who finds herself transported to the magical land of Oz, where she confronts unimaginable dangers with the help of her unexpected new friends. The film received five Oscar nominations including Best Picture and won for Herbert Stothart’s orchestral score and the immortal ballad “Over the Rainbow” by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg. The current rotation of the gallery Stories of Cinema: Identity features the ruby slippers worn by Garland; the slippers are part of the museum’s collection.

The magical world created by author L. Frank Baum is brought to the screen in Technicolor and with all the lavish resources of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in this gorgeous musical fantasy from MGM. Judy Garland is farm girl Dorothy, who finds herself transported to the magical land of Oz, where she confronts unimaginable dangers with the help of her unexpected new friends. The film received five Oscar nominations including Best Picture and won for Herbert Stothart’s orchestral score and the immortal ballad “Over the Rainbow” by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg. The current rotation of the gallery Stories of Cinema: Identity features the ruby slippers worn by Garland; the slippers are part of the museum’s collection.

The magical world created by author L. Frank Baum is brought to the screen in Technicolor and with all the lavish resources of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in this gorgeous musical fantasy from MGM. Judy Garland is farm girl Dorothy, who finds herself transported to the magical land of Oz, where she confronts unimaginable dangers with the help of her unexpected new friends. The film received five Oscar nominations including Best Picture and won for Herbert Stothart’s orchestral score and the immortal ballad “Over the Rainbow” by Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg. The current rotation of the gallery Stories of Cinema: Identity features the ruby slippers worn by Garland; the slippers are part of the museum’s collection.

Director Tim Burton reimagines Stephen Sondheim’s 1979 musical about a vengeful barber. Costume designer Colleen Atwood and makeup artist Ve Neill—frequent Burton collaborators—created a striking look for Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd. On display in the museum’s Stories of Cinema: Identity is one of Atwood's stunning leather coats designed for Depp’s character, as well as Neill's makeups and hair designs for Todd, with a deathly pale face, dark eyeshadow, and a white streak glued into the actor’s real hair. 

Director Tim Burton reimagines Stephen Sondheim’s 1979 musical about a vengeful barber. Costume designer Colleen Atwood and makeup artist Ve Neill—frequent Burton collaborators—created a striking look for Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd. On display in the museum’s Stories of Cinema: Identity is one of Atwood's stunning leather coats designed for Depp’s character, as well as Neill's makeups and hair designs for Todd, with a deathly pale face, dark eyeshadow, and a white streak glued into the actor’s real hair. 

Nominated in eight Oscar categories including Best Picture, Baz Luhrmann’s extravagant, romantic jukebox musical won Production Design (then called Art Direction) and Costume Design at the 74th Academy Awards in 2002. To match Luhrmann’s visual concept, Catherine Martin and Angus Strathie designed costumes that combine late-Victorian styles with references to 20th-century popular culture. On display in Stories of Cinema: Identity is a costume for Nicole Kidman’s character, Satine. The creation recalls showgirl looks worn by classic Hollywood stars such as Marilyn Monroe. A tailcoat worn by Ewan McGregor as Christian was made in both plain and sparkling versions to magically transform during a romantic musical number.

Nominated in eight Oscar categories including Best Picture, Baz Luhrmann’s extravagant, romantic jukebox musical won Production Design (then called Art Direction) and Costume Design at the 74th Academy Awards in 2002. To match Luhrmann’s visual concept, Catherine Martin and Angus Strathie designed costumes that combine late-Victorian styles with references to 20th-century popular culture. On display in Stories of Cinema: Identity is a costume for Nicole Kidman’s character, Satine. The creation recalls showgirl looks worn by classic Hollywood stars such as Marilyn Monroe. A tailcoat worn by Ewan McGregor as Christian was made in both plain and sparkling versions to magically transform during a romantic musical number.