5/21/11: Inspiration in Film -- Bonita Granville

Oh my goodness! Haven't I done this yet? Are you kidding me? Here I am, a humongous movie fan, and I haven't yet posted about the immeasurable amount of inspiration that can be reaped from this source. Not only sewists, who can take so much from Hollywood's fashion, but anyone who enjoys DIY will, or have already, find that movies offer much more than a plot, actors, and climax. Oh, much more.

So this post here is the beginning of many that will be discussing some movie inspired DIY projects that I've been daydreaming about. And I tell you, there has been a lot of that daydreaming happening lately. :)

The first bit of film inspiration I will be sharing is Bonita Granville. For most of you, you can spend a solid 24 hours thinking of that name and nothing will come to mind. Yeah, she is one of those Hollywood stars of old (1930s-40s to be exact), that has gone under the radar. Nonetheless, she has always played a significant "role" in my movie watching.

Let me briefly explain my association with Miss Granville. My eldest sister has collected for many, many years the Nancy Drew collection of books. (She has almost every book published for the original collection, btw). And that is how Bonita Granville got her real start: starring Nancy Drew, the famous girl sleuth who seems to always find herself in the middle of a mystery.

Bonita Granville, who played in 73 films total, began with Nancy Drew: Detective in 1938 and went on to make three other. And of course my family watched every one of them and so Bonita Granville has been a household name, you can say, since the time I was seven.

{ Bonita as Nancy Drew }

I've been thinking about her lately because I am in the middle of watching Gallant Sons, a 1940's mystery co-starring vivacious and impish Bonita Granville as Kate Pendleton. A very fun and well scripted movie, by the way!

What really caught my eye with Bonita is her ensemble from Nancy Drew: Reporter. Don't you love the plaid skirt, cropped jacket, and peter pan collar with tie she is wearing?

I have a few sewing patterns that might actually make something very close to Nancy's. Take for instance Butterick 4235. 

Both skirts are cut on the bias so I think it is a real contender.

And what about the black version from McCall 5006? Wouldn't that make the perfect cropped jacket replica?

And the Peter Pan collar and tie? How about using Gretchen's tutorial?

What do you think of my choices? What movie or actor inspires you?