Monday, January 26, 2009

Quilts Seen in Movies

I get irritated when I see a quilt in a film and realize that the style, age, pattern etc. is out of sinc with the time period. Example: in Coal Miner's Daughter, Loretta Lynn's parents snuggle under a polyester doubleknit quilt--sheesh! Or in the TV movie Sarah, Plain and Tall, the quilt on the bed is a classic 1930s pastel Double Wedding Ring but the story takes place in 1913.

For me, that sort of ignorance means that the set/interior design consultants in Hollywood can't tell their quilts from a hole in the ground. Wouldn't antique car buffs rise in anger and disbelief if a Model T went whizzing by in the background of a western? Bet your bippy.
On the other hand, last week on the Turner movie channel, National Velvet played and lo and behold, there was a quilt featured on the bed of the eldest Brown daughter Edweena, played by an incredibly young Angela Lansbury. A sort of pink and brown Irish Chain variation, c.1880s, and actually right for the movie's time period and place (England). I asked about the quilt on a chat line for antique quilt lovers and Barbara Burnham watched the movie and sent these pictures. Thank you Barbara.

Now with the internet and people weighing in on everything, these visual bloopers can be pointed out and hopefully avoided in the future. However, there is an employment possibility here...and I am ready and willing to step into the breach. I declare here and now that I am available for consulting work as a 'quilt wrangler' on any film productions. Hollywood, I'm waiting.

9 comments:

sewprimitive karen said...

That just drives me crazy, too. Usually they grab any old depression era quilt and figure that's one size fits all.

Anonymous said...

I wish someone would start a list of quilts that are seen in movies! I thought for a while that it should be done. I don't blog so I cannot volunteer. Has anyone seen Crimes of the Heart with Diane Keaton, Sissy Spacek and Jessica Lange? There is a scene in the girls bedroom that includes great shots of a pink quilt that I like and cannot find the name of that pattern. It is bubblegum pink with browns, navy blues and creams. If anyone knowws the name, let me know!
Kathy B
kjb139@aol.com

Pepper Cory said...

kathy-That's a great idea! It could even be a blog! or 'Quilts we wish we could see in movies..."

Anonymous said...

I'm trying to figure out how to watch these movies, quilt, knit and read --- all at the same time. I usually catch a glimpse of a quilt and then, it is gone!

Maggie R said...

Speaking of quilts in movies, I love to watch Bill Murray in "Groundhog Day" There is a quilt in there that I love, Have you seen that one?
xoox
(((((hugs))))
Maggie
waving from cold,snowy, Southern Ontario, Canada

Pat said...

There was another quilt in National Velvet that was on Velvet's bed. It has an interesting back. I'm interested in a picture of that quilt. I believe it is set on point, but do not know the pattern.

Pat said...

I am also intrested in some quilts that showed up in Barbra Streisand's interveiw with Barbara Walters a few years ago... in Barbra S.'s guest house. There was one particular yellow and red one that was very pretty. Does anyone know about this? I tried to get a tape of the show back then and got no response. Also, I don't think it has ever been rerun.

Anonymous said...

I've been keeping track a little bit of quilts in movies I like or that stand out. Someday I would like to dopy some of them. Groundhog Day has a lovely Double Irish Chain on Bill Murrays bed at the bed and breakfast. The fabrics are ones used for watercolor quilts, I think.
In Harry Met Sally, Sally has a Wind Blown Tulips quilt in green and yellow and light orange.
Free Willy had a tie quilt of blue jean fabric in different shades and shapes of rectangles.
While You Were Sleeping has a Rail Fence in Christams Fabrics, the center rail always being a bright red, the others are red gteen beighe. It's not well made butr charming. It's on the couch where Sandara sleeps at Bill Pullman's parents' house.
Seems Like Old Times has a simple quilt of about 10" squares in various patterns in shades of light blue (or Lavender?).
That's it for now.

Unknown said...

I am so excited that someone else has noticed this as well about quilts in movies. I work at a Quilt Museum in England. Whenever I see a quilt in a movie, I shout 'Quilt!' much to my husband's dismay. The film 'Footloose' has a quilt in one of the scenes hanging on a wall and so does the film 'Beetle Juice' at the beginning when the couple are in bed.
Thanks for letting me know I'm not hte only one who notices! :)