Marianne McAndrew as Molly Malloy in 'Hello Dolly' Designed by Irene Sharaff

Description

Period gown, [C249-A] rust silk short-sleeve cropped jacket; [C249-B] fitted champagne silk shantung bodice, multi-layer sleeves trimmed with turquoise piping, attached dickey embroidered with turquoise thread; [C249-C] full-length silk taffeta skirt of champagne, rust, turquoise and pale yellow patchwork plaid with attached rust silk waist sash; [C249-D] detachable rust silk bow snaps to sash; [C249-E] partially re-constructed floor-length yellow petticoat with two-layer ruffle and attached bodice; [C249-F] matching silk taffeta plaid string hand bag.

Original costume sketch showing the gown of watercolor and gouache on paper board, measuring 10 3/4" x 14". Signed on front "Sharaff 68 "Hello Dolly."

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Additional Notes

Marianne McAndrew was an aspiring actress pounding the streets of New York when the opportunity came up to audition for her first film role of Irene Malloy in the “Hello Dolly.” She was 25 years old (the same age as Streisand) and was tall, slender and had a turn of the century aristocratic beauty. Not being a singer or dancer, it was a surprise when she was cast for the role beating out Ann-Margaret who was considered too sensual and contemporary for the role. She was coached on her dancing and she sang to a dubbed soundtrack. There was high anticipation for a bright film career, but it never really developed.

Hello Dolly was based on the 1938 Thornton Wilder’s farce “The Merchant of Yonkers” which he later renamed “The Matchmaker” in 1955. It opened on Broadway in 1964 and became one of Broadway’s most iconic musicals. Director Gene Kelly wanted Mc Andrews for the role of the charming owner of the hat shop who sparks a romance with Michael Crawford (Cornelius Hackl) and who would later become famous for Broadway’s “The Phantom of the Opera.”

Film and stage costume designer, Irene Sharaff, was a master at using bright colors and designs in the turn of the century based costumes. This costume is a beautifully crafted taffeta gown with ribbon work becoming the pattern for the skirt and the multi-tiered sleeves. She was nominated for an Oscar for Best Costume Design for her work on the film.


Collection

Citation

“Marianne McAndrew as Molly Malloy in 'Hello Dolly' Designed by Irene Sharaff,” Film Costume Collection, accessed March 29, 2024, https://filmcostumecollection.omeka.net/items/show/1315.

Item Relations

Item: Images of Marianne McAndrew in 'Hello Dolly' Still images from film This Item