Puffy Director Pants?
Your Pal Brian
newsboy's wool cap, megaphone, knee-high leather boots, and of
course enormous trousers.
What is the official name for these mighty pants? Jodhpurs?
Puttees? We can't just call them puffy director pants, because
that's childish and contemptible.
And do you think I'd look good in them? And to what functions
may they be worn? Weddings? State dinners? Did any real
directors ever wear such outrageous things? And for god's sake
why?
(Fritz Lang seems the type. Bill Wellman maybe.)
Is there anthropological evidence that the volume of one's
trousers correlates with the scope of one's authority? Would
giant pants help my career?
Brian
Dave in Toronto
Your Pal Brian wrote:
> We all know what a proper film director oughta look like:
> newsboy's wool cap, megaphone, knee-high leather boots, and of
> course enormous trousers.
>
> What is the official name for these mighty pants? Jodhpurs?
> Puttees? We can't just call them puffy director pants, because
> that's childish and contemptible.
>
Jodhpurs. Erich von Stroheim used to wear them all the time - even to
parties but that's another story.
Dave in Toronto
Bob Lipton
Jodhpurs. I think the reason for the outfit is mentioned in THE
PARADE'S GONE BY. Very useful for striding around the hills of southern
California. Don't forget to carry your gun for deal with snakes.
Bob
Neil Midkiff
> We all know what a proper film director oughta look like:
> newsboy's wool cap, megaphone, knee-high leather boots, and of
> course enormous trousers.
>
> What is the official name for these mighty pants? Jodhpurs?
> Puttees? We can't just call them puffy director pants, because
> that's childish and contemptible.
They're jodhpurs. And classic jodhpurs are enormous above the knee and
close-fitting around the calves. (Modern riding trousers especially for
women are stretchy and close-fitting all the way up to the waist, and
sometimes called by the old name of jodhpurs, but this doesn't fit the
image we're discussing.)
Puttees are spiral cloth wrappings for the lower leg, as in World War I
uniforms. Puttees are pictured near the bottom of the page at
http://hometown.aol.com/rtoartilleryfo/private/leggings.html
You can wear either puttees or high leather boots with jodhpurs, but
both would be redundant.
> Did any real
> directors ever wear such outrageous things?
Most famously, Cecil B. DeMille adopted the costume you mention; the
jacket photo of Bob Birchard's book on DeMille shows him in jodhpurs and
high boots.
http://www.kentuckypress.com/viewpic.cfm?id=1113&group=111
> And for god's sake why?
They're practical when horseback riding to a Western location in
snake-infested areas, so presumably DeMille adopted them when directing
_The Squaw Man_, liked the authoritarian look that resulted, and kept
the style. And since DeMille was one of the first directors to become
famous, I think he's the source of the "proper" image you have in mind.
-Neil Midkiff
J. Theakston
Jodhpurs, however, are a form of tights. What Brian is referring to is
a sort of vulgarity of the English "hunting uniform" style of dress.
The actual pants they are wearing (depending on the director, of
course) are loose Khakis-- probably because of the durability of the
fabric and the heat of California. And since they are not skin-tight,
like Jodhpurs are, they hang out of the boots somewhat, giving that
"poofy" look.
This style was particularly popular in general in the teens and
twenties, not just with directors, but with pilots and sportsmen alike
because of the same reasons.
J. Theakston
Dave in Toronto
> They're jodhpurs. And classic jodhpurs are enormous above the knee and
> close-fitting around the calves. (Modern riding trousers especially for
> women are stretchy and close-fitting all the way up to the waist, and
> sometimes called by the old name of jodhpurs, but this doesn't fit the
> image we're discussing.)
>
Yes - and I think women look very sexy in them especially if they're
carring a riding crop but perhaps I'm a little strange.
Dave in Toronto
Mr. Anderson
@iFreedom.com:
> We all know what a proper film director oughta look like:
> newsboy's wool cap, megaphone, knee-high leather boots, and of
> course enormous trousers.
>
> What is the official name for these mighty pants? Jodhpurs?
> Puttees? We can't just call them puffy director pants, because
> that's childish and contemptible.
>
> And do you think I'd look good in them? And to what functions
> may they be worn? Weddings? State dinners? Did any real
> directors ever wear such outrageous things? And for god's sake
> why?
They're called riding pants, and they're only appropriate for jungle
adventures and other Doc Savage escapdes.
how...@brazee.net
On 23-Sep-2005, Neil Midkiff <nmid...@earthlink.net> wrote:
> They're jodhpurs. And classic jodhpurs are enormous above the knee and
> close-fitting around the calves. (Modern riding trousers especially for
> women are stretchy and close-fitting all the way up to the waist, and
> sometimes called by the old name of jodhpurs, but this doesn't fit the
> image we're discussing.)
The classic golf look had jodhpurs and shoes with the laces covered -
designed for people who have to walk through native grass looking for stray
balls.
Neil Midkiff
There's a difference between jodhpurs and plus fours, which is the
classic golf outfit:
http://www.hobbsgolfcollection.com/popups/page8/photos/plus_fours_b.jpg
Plus fours are loose knickerbocker golfing trousers, four inches longer
than regular knickers, and they end just below the knee, to be worn with
long socks. They're also in soft materials, usually wool tweed. Often
they were loudly checked or patterned, proclaiming themselves as
informal wear. Some of the great humorous golf stories of P. G.
Wodehouse feature outlandishly-colored plus fours as part of the plot.
Jodhpurs of the period were made in heavy stiff khaki or drab twill, and
they are loose-fitting at the hips and thighs for horseback riding, but
below the knees they're close-fitting to the ankle. They have a
"uniform" or "military" appearance, not casual sportswear like plus fours.
http://www.rustyzipper.com/shop.cfm?viewpartnum=60996-M25268
-Neil Midkiff
Frank R.A.J. Maloney
news:s00Ze.3046$0m6....@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...
I think your confusing jodhpurs with plus-fours (a fuller version of
knickerbockers), which were introduced to American in 1924 by the Prince of
Wales. The late Payne Stewart wore a version as his trademark golfing togs.
For a jpeg of plus-fours go to: www.harlequincostumes.co.uk/
20sGentlemen.html.
For Payne Stewart's plus-fours, go to: news.bbc.co.uk/.../
photo_galleries/1430317.stm .
For classic jodhpurs think of Gen. Patton standing in front of that gigantic
American flag at the beginning of the George C. Scott film.
--
Frank in Seattle
____
Frank Richard Aloysius Jude Maloney
"Millennium hand and shrimp."
Howard Brazee
<fr...@blarg.net> wrote:
>I think your confusing jodhpurs with plus-fours
I was.
Frank R.A.J. Maloney
Frank R.A.J. Maloney
news:7m69j199qu8dukvja...@4ax.com...
And I see I was confusing "your" and "you're". Too close to dinner for me --
the old blood sugar's running down.
Dave in Toronto
> Plus fours are loose knickerbocker golfing trousers, four inches longer
> than regular knickers, and they end just below the knee, to be worn with
> long socks. They're also in soft materials, usually wool tweed. Often
> they were loudly checked or patterned, proclaiming themselves as
> informal wear. Some of the great humorous golf stories of P. G.
> Wodehouse feature outlandishly-colored plus fours as part of the plot.
> >
.....and talking of knickerbockers makes me think of the illustrations
in Booth Tarkington's "Penrod" books.
Dave in Toronto
Your Pal Brian
> > (Modern riding trousers especially for
> > women are stretchy and close-fitting all the way up to the waist, and
> > sometimes called by the old name of jodhpurs, but this doesn't fit the
> > image we're discussing.)
>
> Yes - and I think women look very sexy in them especially if they're
> carring a riding crop but perhaps I'm a little strange.
Here you go:
http://www.rush2travel.co.uk/entertainment/cate_blanchett_01.jpg
Brian
Your Pal Brian
> They're jodhpurs.
Ah ha!
> And classic jodhpurs are enormous above the knee and
> close-fitting around the calves. (Modern riding trousers especially for
> women are stretchy and close-fitting all the way up to the waist, and
> sometimes called by the old name of jodhpurs, but this doesn't fit the
> image we're discussing.)
This is part of what confused me. I knew jodhpurs as the stretchy things,
not the blowzy things.
> Puttees are spiral cloth wrappings for the lower leg, as in World War I
> uniforms. Puttees are pictured near the bottom of the page at
>
> http://hometown.aol.com/rtoartilleryfo/private/leggings.html
>
> You can wear either puttees or high leather boots with jodhpurs, but
> both would be redundant.
There was a Bob & Ray sketch where a guy inherited a puttee factory and
didn't know what to do with it.
> They're practical when horseback riding to a Western location in
> snake-infested areas, so presumably DeMille adopted them when directing
> _The Squaw Man_, liked the authoritarian look that resulted, and kept
> the style. And since DeMille was one of the first directors to become
> famous, I think he's the source of the "proper" image you have in mind.
It's always interesting to find out where this kind of pop culture shorthand
comes from. Film directors in cartoons, on the Muppet Show, even Dom
Deluise in Blazing Saddles, all wearing the outfit that DeMille made famous.
I bet if you put one of today's directors in jodhpurs they'd look like
dorks.
Brian
Lloyd Fonvielle
> Jodhpurs of the period were made in heavy stiff khaki or drab twill, and
> they are loose-fitting at the hips and thighs for horseback riding, but
> below the knees they're close-fitting to the ankle. They have a
> "uniform" or "military" appearance, not casual sportswear like plus fours.
Jodhpurs also used to be worn by motorcycle cops.
=================
Nowhere Confidential:
Lloyd Fonvielle
> It's always interesting to find out where this kind of pop culture shorthand
> comes from. Film directors in cartoons, on the Muppet Show, even Dom
> Deluise in Blazing Saddles, all wearing the outfit that DeMille made famous.
>
> I bet if you put one of today's directors in jodhpurs they'd look like
> dorks.
The jodhpurs, riding boots and crop were all meant to suggest the
mastery of an expert horseman and the upper-class status associated with
the skill, or at least with that version of a riding costume. Patton
was going after the same effect. It wouldn't work today because just
imagining most modern directors riding a horse would provoke giggles.
Dave in Toronto
Oh! Wow! Thanks and with a cigarette yet!!
Dave in Toronto
Zed
Except for George Lucas.
-Z
Neil Midkiff
> I bet if you put one of today's directors in jodhpurs they'd look like
> dorks.
Why not? Most of today's movies seem to be made by, about, or for dorks.
-Neil Midkiff
vmac...@yahoo.com
monacle and a cigarette holder. And work on a shrill germanic accent.
VMacek
Loretty
"Bob Lipton" <bobl...@nyc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:I5_Ye.47$wf6....@twister.nyc.rr.com...
Well, Aunt Cathy going around in circles, the Hound Cat sick
Well, Aunt Cathy going around in circles, the Hound Cat sick
Well, Aunt Cathy going around in circles, the Hound Cat sick
Well, Aunt Cathy going around in circles, the Hound Cat sick
Well, Aunt Cathy going around in circles, the Hound Cat sick
Well, Aunt Cathy going around in circles, the Hound Cat sick
Well, Aunt Cathy going around in circles, the Hound Cat sick
Well, Aunt Cathy going around in circles, the Hound Cat sick
Well, Aunt Cathy going around in circles, the Hound Cat sick
R H Draney
>
>I bet if you put one of today's directors in jodhpurs they'd look like
>dorks.
As the makers of THE FIRST NUDIE MUSICAL well realized...best scene in the movie
is Bruce Kimmel, playing an utter virgin with respect to both film-directing and
any sort of sex, addressing his actors in an attempt to appear expert in both
subjects....r
Stephen Cooke
On Sat, 24 Sep 2005, Neill Massello wrote:
> Your Pal Brian <brian...@iFreedom.com> wrote:
>
> > There was a Bob & Ray sketch where a guy inherited a puttee factory and
> > didn't know what to do with it.
>
> So he retooled it for making spats?
Was it anywhere near that other Bob and Ray factory, the paperclip plant
where each paperclip is lovingly bent by hand?
swac
Now that's craftsmanship.
forge
vmac...@yahoo.com wrote:
> Mind you, you won't be taken seriously unless you accessorize with a
> monacle and a cigarette holder. And work on a shrill germanic accent.
Must also have flight jacket and white silk scarf.
Your Pal Brian
Ah yes, the Great Lakes Paperclip Factory of Napoleon, Ohio. Ten cents a box.
BALLOU: And you can afford to operate a big plant like this when your weekly
sales amount to only twelve dollars?
MR. PIERCE: Yeah. You see, we have a very low wage structure. Our average
worker makes about fourteen cents a week.
BALLOU: Well how in the world can anybody live on that?
MR. PIERCE: We don't pry into the personal lives of our employees, Mr.
Ballou. But I understand most of our people live in caves out at the edge of
town, and they forage for food.
BALLOU: I noticed all of the fellows working here that I saw on my way in are
dressed in rags. They seem to have strips of cloth tied around their feet.
MR. PIERCE: Well, you can't wear shoes when you make fourteen cents a week.
That should be fairly obvious to anybody.
Brian
Dave in Toronto
> There was a Bob & Ray sketch where a guy inherited a puttee factory and
> didn't know what to do with it.
>
I remember there was a shop in a ritzy arcade in Mayfair, London that
sold nothing but polo sticks. For some reason that always amused me and
I often wondered how the hell they survived. It was there for ages -
might still be there for all I know. (It would have made a good subject
for a Monty Python sketch I think).
Dave in Toronto
Dave in Toronto
> > > There was a Bob & Ray sketch where a guy inherited a puttee factory and
> > > didn't know what to do with it.
> >
> > So he retooled it for making spats?
>
> Was it anywhere near that other Bob and Ray factory, the paperclip plant
> where each paperclip is lovingly bent by hand?
>
> swac
> Now that's craftsmanship.
I always their "House of Toast" franchises. All the restaurants were
built in the shape of giant toasters.
Dave in Toronto
Paul B. Thompson
on Cecil B. DeMille?
Paul Thompson
"Your Pal Brian" <brian...@iFreedom.com> wrote in message
news:43346BBD...@iFreedom.com...
Lloyd Fonvielle
And you could get your toast buttered on the near side or the far side.
Dave in Toronto
....and as I am doing too often these days I left out a word. The
opening sentence should read "I always liked their "House of Toast"
franchises"
R H Draney
>
>> There was a Bob & Ray sketch where a guy inherited a puttee factory and
>> didn't know what to do with it.
>
>sold nothing but polo sticks. For some reason that always amused me and
>I often wondered how the hell they survived. It was there for ages -
>might still be there for all I know. (It would have made a good subject
>for a Monty Python sketch I think).
Some years ago, David Letterman's staff sent a camera crew into a Manhattan
business called "Just Bulbs"...the store sold nothing but light bulbs of every
description, and the woman leading the tour made of point of carefully
separating the words in her store's name every time she said "--Just--Bulbs",
which was often...Dave then asked her if she'd considered branching out and also
selling lampshades...her answer:
"No, this is --Just--Bulbs...if you want shades, you would have to go to a place
called --Just--Shades"....
Cut to another storefront, with the plainly displayed name "Just Shades"....
(For specialization though, neither is a patch on The One Book Book Store in
Bisbee, Arizona, which sold--wait for it--one book: "Me and Henry", the
autobiography of store owner Walter Swann)....r
Stott
Some years ago, David Letterman's staff sent a camera crew into a Manhattan business called "Just Bulbs"...the store sold nothing but light bulbs of every description
Stott
FredT
Manhattan
> business called "Just Bulbs"...the store sold nothing but light bulbs of
every
> description, and the woman leading the tour made of point of carefully
> separating the words in her store's name every time she said
"--Just--Bulbs",
> which was often...Dave then asked her if she'd considered branching out
and also
> selling lampshades...her answer:
>
> "No, this is --Just--Bulbs...if you want shades, you would have to go to a
place
> called --Just--Shades"....
>
> Cut to another storefront, with the plainly displayed name "Just
Shades"....
I remember that one very well; very funny. I know those stores too. If I
recall (though it's been almost 20 years) Just Bulbs is on Broadway.
Fred
Bob Lipton
East side of Broadway between 21st and 22nd.
Bob
FredT
I
> > recall (though it's been almost 20 years) Just Bulbs is on Broadway.
>
>
> East side of Broadway between 21st and 22nd.
>
> Bob
Ah, that's right, the block below the Flatiron.
Bob Lipton
Indeed. I went in once to buy a lightbulb. They didn't have it.
Bob
mikeg...@gmail.com
on Cecil B. DeMille?
Partly, but obviously the German accent part isn't. I think Stroheim,
and maybe to a certain extent von Sternberg, are responsible for that.
(Though the one in Stand-In is clearly inspired by Lang, since Walter
Wanger had just produced You Only Live Once.)
Frank R.A.J. Maloney
news:1127693497.3...@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
And the director in _Singin' in the Rain_, the much put-upon Roscoe Dexter
(played by Douglas Fowley), is he based on any real director or directors?
His togs combined the riding boots/jodhpurs ensemble with a rather natty
tattersal vest and ascot, if memory serves.
--
Frank in Seattle
____
Frank Richard Aloysius Jude Maloney
"Millennium hand and shrimp."
Stephen Cooke
I just found a VHS copy of Stand-In in a giant clamshell case, released by
"Monterey Home Video", probably in the early '80s. Was there ever another
official release of this film on home video?
swac