The extraordinary Hollywood story of Australia’s Orry-Kelly…the designer whose costumes created some of the most magical moments in cinema history will screen at The Toronto International Film Festival. Orry-Kelly was a Hollywood legend, his costume designs adored by cinema’s greatest leading ladies – but in his home country of Australia his achievements remained unknown. Now acclaimed director Gillian Armstrong is bringing the legend home and celebrating the life of this extraordinary Aussie in her new film, WOMEN HE’S UNDRESSED.
Oscar® winner ORRY-KELLY designed these amazing costumes for the film LES GIRLS –as featured in the new documentary WOMEN HE’S UNDRESSED – A FILM BY GILLIAN ARMSTRONG
During the boom years of Hollywood he was costume designer on an astonishing 282 motion pictures. He designed for the stars like Marilyn Munroe, Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Rosalind Russell, Errol Flynn and many more of the immortals. His films included Some Like It Hot, Casablanca, An American in Paris and Now, Voyager.
Orry was as big a legend behind the scenes as the on-screen legends he adoringly dressed. Talented, daring, brash, bold, the toast of Hollywood yet the thorn in the side of many a studio head and the first Australian to win three Academy Awards – But who was Orry-Kelly and how could he be so unknown in his homeland?
The creative ORRY-KELLY adjusts his costume for his muse Kay Francis in a scene from WOMEN HE’S UNDRESSED – A FILM BY GILLIAN ARMSTRONG
He was outrageous, witty, outspoken and uncompromising and he survived partially protected by his friendship with Jack and Ann Warner and gossip columnist Hedda Hopper, and ultimately by his extraordinary talent.
Natalie Wood starred in the classic GYPSY in a costume designed by ORRY-KELLY in a scene from the film WOMEN HE’S UNDRESSED – A FILM BY GILLIAN ARMSTRONG
Director Gillian Armstrong reunites with her Unfolding Florence co-conspirator, writer Katherine Thompson in crafting a revealing behind the scenes look at the extraordinary life of Orry-Kelly. Featuring interviews with screen and fashion icons Jane Fonda, Angela Lansbury, June Dally-Watkins , costume designers Catherine Martin, Ann Roth, Kym Barrett, Michael Wilkinson, Deborah Nadoolman Landis, Hollywood identities and historians including director/producer Eric Sherman, Hollywood fixer Scotty Bowers, Leonard Maltin, David Chierichetti, Marc Eliot, William J Mann, Jean Mathison, Larry McQueen and Barbara Warner Howard (daughter of Ann & Jack Warner).
Official Festival Screenings
Tuesday 9/15 9:30 PM Scotiabank 14
Thursday 9/17 7:00 PM Scotia bank 13
Friday 9/18 12:15 PM Scotiabank 2
