20 thoughts on “TBT: Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story (1987)

  1. I think the Woolworth fortune was cursed. Barbara wasn’t the only heir to lead a colorful and totally dysfunctional life.

  2. Is there a scene where she cuts her throat with a razor (I mean, it’s implied)? I think I may have seen parts of this movie as a kid.

  3. The outfits are lackluster and show the budget. While I’m not a fan of “The Makioka Sisters” movie, they did fabulous period outfits on a budget way better.

    As for biopics, I enjoyed “Heavenly Creatures” and “Leonie.”

  4. Traditional Moroccan dress seems to be a long sleeved kaftan, often gorgeously embelished but Barbara could wear what she liked. Gorgeous clothes, favulouf jewls and even Cary Grant weren’t enough. Sad.
    Farah Fawcett looks amazing, and not at all like her Charlie’s Angels character.

  5. I vaguely remember watching it. Wasn’t one of the husbands a Nazi?

    Biopic suggestion: upcoming Harriet Tubman movie entitled – what else- Harriet? I saw the trailer and was impressed.

  6. I always appreciate a reminder of how lovely 30s fashion could be. I feel like I forget it between the 20s glam and the 40s vintage/wartime/postwar vibe.

    For biopics, my favorite is probably Amazing Grace. I liked Belle, about the mixed race woman raised by her English judge great uncle, but I didn’t like some of the historical changes. I think you guys may have done short reviews of both of these. I don’t have TV so I haven’t watched a TV movie in years.

  7. I have mixed feelings about the costumes. But I loved that navy blue and white suit from the 1930s.

    [“Miriam Margolyes (The Age of Innocence, the 1998 Vanity Fair, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Call the Midwife) shows up briefly as an American living in the south of France:”]

    I believe the actress was portraying Elsa Maxwell, but I’m not sure.

    [“JAMES READ (George Hazard from North and South) plays Cary Grant and is shockingly convincing”]

    Was his grasp of Grant’s accent convincing? That would be a surprise. Although I’ve always regarded Read as a very good actor.

    1. We might need a Miriam Margolyes WCW. She was the Spanish Infanta in The Black Adder and Queen Victoria in Blackadder’s Christmas Carol.

  8. Love your articles but how can you mention Brenda Blethyn without including the fantastic PBS series “Vera”?

    1. Because “Vera” is a [wonderful]
      detective series set in Newcastle GB in the present day…not a FrockFlick period.

  9. I vaguely remember watching this and while many of the clothes do show that they were made from a limited budget, others are fabulous and captures the period well.

  10. I think Winfield Hall is supposed to be on Long Island, although they probably filmed it in England. Barbara named her home in London in Regent’s Park Winfield House, which is now the American Ambassador’s residence.

  11. Two points –

    1) Might I suggest as the third peice of these 80’s telepic costume extravaganzas to be reviewed The Two Mrs. Grenvilles, starring Ann-Margret and the estimable Claudette Colbert? I remember being dazzled by the costuming.

    2) The skeevy Georgian Count husband i8s Nicholas C lay, the oh-so-hunky lover of Lady Chatterley and also Queen Guinevere!

  12. I’m living for that white dress with the black buttons down the side. It’s beyond gorgeous. 😍

  13. Hi! I accidentally chanced upon your blog and loved the review n pics, i think all the costumes worn by Farah Fawcett are so beautiful n classy. The scene with Farah wearing a typical loose version of the Chinese Qi pao dress , didnt see that scene in the mini series or did I miss it.. but seriously please do more reviews of the costumes from dramas, mini series from the 80s n 90s… or even from movies…

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