Stan & Ollie (2018) is a biopic about Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, starring Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly as the iconic comedy duo at the twilight of their career. There isn’t a lot of our typical sort of costume content in the film because the story is very centered on Laurel and Hardy, but their wives, played by Nina Arianda and Shirley Henderson, respectively, have really good late-1950s costumes. You will recognize Nina Arianda as Vivian Vance from Being the Ricardos (2022), btw, and she’s fantastic as Stan Laurel’s Russian wife, Ida. Shirley Henderson is, as always, simply wonderful.
Honestly, all of the casting in this film is top notch. Apparently the director, Jon S. Baird, had both Coogan and Reilly in mind for the roles of Laurel & Hardy. The costumes were designed by Guy Speranza, who doesn’t have a whole lot of historical flicks to his credit, but who absolutely nailed the mid-1950s in this film.
If you’re looking for an easy going, light-hearted period film that has a nice, uncomplicated storyline, definitely check out Stan & Ollie.
Have you seen Stan & Ollie (2018)? Tell us what you thought in the comments!
This is an absolutely lovely film. Thanks for highlighting it.
Wasn’t this supposed to be late 1953-early 1954? (That’s when the actual tour was, and Hardy– whose illness stopped the tour– died in 1957.) The women’s costumes are definitely good for early ’50s, and Reilly and Coogan really nail the characters.
Sorry to bring up another movie but I hope you all have seen the latest images from “The Pale Blue eye”! I know 1830s isn’t a popular decade but the costumes look very lush https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/ydzho3/new_images_from_scott_coopers_the_pale_blue_eye
It’s a little charmer, this film. Impressive when the actors can inhabit star performers with such accuracy. (And that self-appliqued blouse of Arianda’s! It has to be a find from a vintage boutique.)
A Smithsonian exhibition I worked on took me to the Warner Bros. costume department, where I saw that EXACT Errol Flynn as Robin Hood Jerkin. Alas, the custom of the day was to rent out such costumes for locals’ fancy dress, so it wasn’t in the best of shape. Also no pictures allowed. Alas.
This was a “watch for the casting choices” show for me. I really did enjoy this film too. Great choice for review!