22 thoughts on “Top 5 Frock Flicks Set in Venice

  1. Today I just read about the heavy blow to tourism in Venice because of the coronavirus,and now read this.Somebody should ask nature to just…chill?Anyways it’s a great thing you wrapped up with your Venice Carnival in time before corona struck Italy.
    My favourite of these is The Merchant of Venice.We had that play in high school(two years ago)and I was shocked that I really came to sympathise with Jermy Irons’ Antonio,a charater that made me wish to slap him left and right and stab in the gut!I never understood his obsessive dedication to Bassanio.Heck,if there was really some same sex love between them,Antonio still did not have to indulge in toxic one sided love for that spendthrift manipulative Bassanio.But Irons is a powerhouse of histrionics.Shylock,no words for him in MOV.Perhaps Shakespeare’s best villain.

  2. That photo of the couple walking at night, is that an actual Fortuny dress or a replica?

  3. Wings of the Dove followed by Merchant and Dangerous Beauty. Rufus Sewel is gorgeous and there’s all that Venice
    And you know how I adore him. Sigh. Swoon. Yum.

    Wings of the Dove is one of my all time favourite movies.

      1. He has only gotten better with age. And he is extremely talented. He is equally at home in period films, etc as modern.

  4. I’m glad I went to Venice when I did. It was so dreamlike and gorgeous. I love every picture of the two of you there.

  5. That yellow Fortuny knock off is beautiful. It’s also totally transparent with the sun behind her.

  6. Kendra anymore pics of the 16th century costumes in La Serenissima? They’re gorgeous

  7. I adore Shakespeare, but The Merchant of Venice is his worst play in my opinion, together with The Taming of the Shrew, since both are full of hate toward Jews or women (and as I happen to be both). This play is so full of anti-Semitism that no beautiful portrayal of Venice can hide it’s ugliness.

  8. I love Wings of the Dove and also the dresses…though I think she would have worn something under that yellow one, in real life…

  9. Wings of the Dove, definitely! I craved every single frock those women wore–can I please have just one of them? I don’t even care which one!
    That MOV film had so much wrong with it–and Lynn Collins, get your hair off your face!
    Haven’t seen Dangerous Beauty in ages, but remember enjoying it despite all of the soapiness.
    What about Senso, a Visconti film from the 1950s, with Alida Valli as a seriously obsessive countess who falls for the utterly worthless Farley Granger (dubbed into Italian)? Lots of recognizable locations in Venice and Rome, and wow 1950s-does-Risorgimento-Italy costumes.
    Other than Don’t Look Now (definitely not a frock flick), Death in Venice must be the only film that makes Venice look sickly and sketchy. Dirk Bogarde deserves a Man Candy Monday (if you haven’t already done on for him–not only a fabulous actor, but also an excellent writer!), but even the gorgeous Tosi costumes can’t redeem the utter gloom of this film. My husband and I went the Lido in Venice a few years ago to visit the hotel where much of the action is set; it was surrounded by chain-link fence and slated for demolition!! It would probably have survived if it had been facing Venice, but as it is, the best rooms faced out into the Adriatic. While a lovely view, people don’t want to feel that removed from Venice if they’ve spent all that money to get there.
    We’re all living vicariously through you all belle signorine, by the way–hope you had a rockin’ time at Carneval, and thanks for the photos!

  10. Wings of the Dove, definitely! And I remember seeing Dangerous Beauty in theaters, just to see Rufus Sewell and Venice! I’ve since visited Venice and now I’ll have to go back and watch these films just so I can see it again, at least vicariously.

    And though not a period film, Don’t Look Now with Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland has great shots of Venice.

  11. Merchant of Venice and Dangerous Beauty has me scandalized with the lack of camicas. Those gowns must have gotten grotty.

  12. Is Venice the kind of city you can roam around in 16th century dress without attracting undue notice? You’d certainly blend in well with the architecture!

  13. Thank you for the photos of your recent trip, I’ve been enjoying them on FB too Kendra. Thank you for the recap of your top five – delicious!

    I see a mini-Venice film festival in my future…..I adored visiting there in 2018, but alas I was alone and a very short trip so I really missed out. I’m looking forward to viewing some of these; most especially Wings of a Dove and Dangerous Beauty, the frocks look amazing.

    And one of these days I WILL go back!

  14. You ladies are so beautiful – and it’s not just your outfits, which you totally rocked!

Comments are closed.