Aviators & Trench Coats: The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
Style wise, the Taking of Pelham One Two Three features a colorful cast of characters wearing outfits that range from conservative to the outlandish.
Robert Shaw as Blue
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three is a classic New York heist film, featuring a who's who of cinematic icons. This 1974 crime drama revolves around four mustachioed hijackers commandeering a downtown 6 train with the intention of holding the passengers for ransom. This gritty, riveting and comedic film has been reviewed thousands of times. So, in the interest of brevity, I will simply say that the accolades are warranted as this is a must-see flick.
Robert Shaw working the fedora, bow tie & trench
Hector Elizondo as Grey
Style wise, the Taking of Pelham One Two Three features a colorful cast of characters wearing outfits that range from conservative to the outlandish. However, the gang of robbers steals the show (no pun intended) with a range of classically understated accessories that can be used to finish off any look. With their tortoise-shell aviators, neckties, bow ties, trench coats and hats, these on-screen criminals rank among the best dressed in cinematic history.
Walter Matthau rocking the plaid shirt, yellow tie and tweed blazer
Starring Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Jerry Stiller and James Broderick, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three was directed by Joseph Sargent.
Rosemary's Baby
Pixie cuts, ruthlessness, the Dakota, and the Devil: Rosemary's Baby.
She may be freaking out, but she looks GREAT
Did Rosemary Woodhouse imagine it all? Was her husband so desperate to further his acting career that he let the devil possess him and rape his wife? Did the elderly neighbors secretly poison Mrs. Woodhouse? Or was life in the big city, filled with different types of people, cultures, and religions, too much to handle for a small town, Catholic girl? Whatever the case, Rosemary's Baby is a hell of a film that is part horror flick, psychological drama, and social commentary.
After seeing this film in my late teens, I couldn't shake the thought of the ominous apartment building Rosemary resided in. Now, nearly two decades later, I have become accustomed to seeing the Dakota during my weekly trek to Trader Joe's.
The exteriors of the Dakota were used in the film
The Dakota doesn't look quite as ominous in person; even so, it does have a great deal of presence. Located on Central Park West, its renaissance architecture, elegant gas lanterns, and wrought-iron gates are distinctive in an area where stunning buildings are commonplace. In addition to its exterior being used in Rosemary's Baby, the Dakota is etched in the global memory as the place where John Lennon met his tragic fate at the hands of a deranged former fan.
Today, however, the Dakota is a quintessential symbol of New York wealth. Apartments in the building routinely sell for over $10 million (Yoko Ono owns nearly a dozen). Longtime residents of the housing cooperative include Maury "You Are Not the Father" Povich and his wife, American Journalist, Connie Chung, as well as legendary recording artist, Roberta Flack.
But what of Rosemary Woodhouse? Regardless of what really happened to Rosemary and her baby, Mrs. Woodhouse's fashion was on point. The mod outfits and pixie hair cut are the stuff of legend. Which begs the question: how can a woman walk around dazed, scared, and confused, yet have the awareness to rock such gorgeous outfits? Mind boggling.
Directed by Roman Polanski, Rosemary's Baby stars Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, and Ruth Gordan.