Anna Kendrick on The Women

2014 TCM Classic Film Festival, Disney's El Capitan Theatre

2014 TCM Classic Film Festival - "The Women" Screening

Photo by John Sciulli/WireImage) Courtesy of TCM

With all the golden age stars at the festival it was a surprise to have young Anna Kendrick introduce The Women (1939). Kendrick, whose grandmother probably wasn’t born yet in 1939 nonetheless proved a good choice. It’s a mystery why we connect with a particular movie. TCM Host Ben Mankiewicz tried to find out the reasons behind her fascination. “There aren’t enough young people let alone young Hollywood stars who appreciate classic Hollywood but you love this movie!”

2014 TCM Classic Film Festival - "The Women" Screening

Photo by John Sciulli/WireImage) Courtesy of TCM

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Young Anna on BroadWay, as she calls it.

At twelve, fellow cast members introduced her to the movie when she was doing a show on Broadway.  By fourteen, she was trying to entice her friends to watch The Women with limited success. It’s proved one of the classic films that have most influenced her. “I steal little tics and little gestures.” I’d never seen it myself and was just as glad to have waited for the rare opportunity to see a beautiful print on the El Capitan’s gigantic screen.

I won’t say a lot about it other than to watch for the costumes and gowns by Adrian and keep a particular eye out for the color fashion show sequence. the-women

For a more in-depth look at The Women, I’d highly recommend my friend and fashion mentor Kimberly Truhler’s GlamAmor webinar series. And Christian Esquevin who literally wrote the book on Adrian.