picture from BollyWHAT? (slightly cropped by me)
Sunny’s post, a few months ago, about the James Bond film Octupussy, got me thinking about the appearance of sarees in western films. In particular I seem to recall that sarees appeared quite often in films during the mid to late sixties. These appearances were mostly in the background (I suspect as a way of giving a scene an ‘international’ feel, airports, hotel foyers etc.) but not here.
This is a still from ‘The Pink Panther’, made in 1963. It stars Peter Sellers (in the middle with his back to us) and Claudia Cardinale as Princess Dahla. (Where she is a princess of is neatly side stepped in the film.) As much of the film is set in a ski resort the princess mostly wears warm western clothes but towards the end the action moves to Paris and Miss Cardinales wardrobe becomes more interesting. Only one saree I’m afraid but this striking pale pink number is reserved for a pivotal scene in the film.
Guess I’ll have to watch the Pink Panther again – it’s been more than two decades. I did rent Octopussy recently just to see the sarees and Indian locations. Hope you come up with more Firangi Friday film images for us!
Oh Clio, don’t get going on categories! I agonised over weather to put this post in Firangi Friday but my logic was that although Claudia Cardinale is Italian, she is playing a character who could, possibly, be Indian. Also, as Sunny put the Octopussy post in Miscelleneous I thought I should do the same with this one.
Am I over thinking this?!
Yes, a few more film images are in the pipeline.
Setting is interesting. But golden blouse with glowing pink saree???!! Who was the costume designer for this movie?
Well, it was the sixties so gold and pink, glowing and shiny, were a pretty trendy colour combination. And Trevor – you did post it on a Friday…!
Ah, the technicolour sixties! Love it!
Posting on Friday was just a coincidence, Clio.
Sari pleats to the side too-interesting.