This spring, I wanted to see something beautiful. Something that felt like coming out of the winter, flowers blooming, color where once there was gray and dark. Something that felt like daydreams. Something like, springtime in Paris.
I have however, never been to Paris, not in spring or in any season. But movies, like books, can take us anywhere. So this spring, Lisa and I are inviting all of you to join us on our film journey to Paris.
Our first movie: Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris
This was movie was the perfect choice to kick off our film event. A movie about following your dreams, about beauty, about luxury, about feeling alive.
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris is described by IMDB as “In 1950s London, a widowed cleaning lady falls madly in love with a couture Dior dress, deciding she must have one. She embarks on an adventure to Paris that will change not only her own outlook — but the very future of the House of Dior.”
I am no fashion girlie, but I am a woman. I can get breathless at the sight of a beautiful gown, or become enchanted by a fabulous pair of shoes. I now even can get a little excited over picking out lipstick colors. But these gowns go beyond, don’t they? Vintage Dior. I think Mrs. Harris describes it perfectly when visiting the atelier, a room entirely in white just like the actual Dior, as visiting heaven. I think anyone would feel that way.
But I am getting ahead of myself. First, Mrs. Harris has to make it to Paris! And after a few nicely timed turns of luck, she manages to not only get there but to arrive with a purse full of cash, enough to purchase her very own Dior. But it is not as easy as stepping inside and picking out a gown, is it? Dior is not pret a porter, or at least it wasn’t. It was exclusive, for women with husbands who had deep pockets, titles, who were “somebody“. These gowns were ordered, then fitted to the lucky woman, like unique works of art.
Mrs. Harris, Ada, encounters a few obstacles to her dream, but due to her kindly nature, which also hides a bit of steel, her fairy tale story begins. Her fairy tale does have bumps along the way, but thanks to the friends she has made, and her own personality, that includes maybe even a bit of rebellion, there is a happy ending.
Most women would see these exquisite creations, and sigh, and say to themselves, “Oh, where would I even wear this anyway,” knowing that such dreams are probably out of reach. Well, Mrs. Harris saw the dress and thought to herself, I don’t care where I wear it. I am going to have it. Because why shouldn’t she have it, if she could afford it? Even if her life was spent scrubbing floors and her ballroom was the local Legion hall, why not? And why not indeed?
This movie was perfectly perfect. Charming. Delightful. Heartwarming and lighthearted, and just what I needed on this gloomy stormy Michigan day. A movie to remind me that dreams can come true, that we need not explain them to anyone, that we can dream big.
Plus, the dresses! This movie’s wardrobe and costume department had a huge job when they had to recreate vintage Dior, his tenth anniversary collection no less! And of course, I had a favorite, and it was not one of Mrs. Harris’ favorites. I absolutely loved the dress called Vaudeville. It is not the most showy or magnificent of the dresses that were in that collection, but to me it is just perfect. At the time that these gowns were being designed and made, these women had just gone through a war. A war that required a great deal of sacrifice, on all fronts, and where things like this would have been just a dream. I can only imagine coming out of such a time and seeing dresses like this in the newspaper. I can imagine all too well Mrs. Harris’ instant love. Mrs. Harris is all of us.
This movie was well acted, and was just a very lighthearted and easy movie to watch. Today’s world is also pretty tough, honestly, and this movie is one to lift the spirits. I highly recommend it!
I wanted to add as well, that this movie is based off the Paul Gallico book, Mrs. ‘Arris Goes to Paris.
Did you watch? What do you think of this movie? Feel free to comment and link up with us!
And please feel free to watch and join us for all of our movies over the next few weeks! Next up is How to Steal a Million, starring Audrey Hepburn!
Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs.. 