Alan Ladd as Cadette "Rocky" Gilman in 'Beyond Glory' Designed by Edith Head

Two piece blue/grey wool WEST POINT uniform, tail coat heavily ornamented with black piping, large brass ball buttons at chest, neck, sleeve and tails. The jacket has a Cadet Store West Point label inscribed [No. 279, 7-31-35, 19-40-33 2-42- 17-34-16, Otto] Paramount label inscribed [A. Ladd]; matching wool pants, black wool stripes at the sides (Cadet Store West Point) label reading [32-30.39, 10-10-46, inscribed [Ladd]).

Discovered in a senior class play, the handsome and rugged Alan Ladd was signed to a long-term contract at Universal, but was dropped six months later due to his 5’7” height. He had temporary stays as MGM and RKO before being signed to a contract by Paramount. Even though he was never very popular with the critics, the public loved him, becoming one of the top ten stars of the time. He is probably best known for his role in “Shane,” 1953. His short stature was often compensated with creative lighting and the use of ramps so that he could be eye to eye with his co-stars. When Hollywood moved on to using other younger stars, Ladd was terrified of losing it all and his life seemed to enter a downward spiral until his apparent suicide in 1964.

“Beyond Glory” was a 1948 drama concerning a young cadet at West Point who was tortured by his past.

Edith Head was able to design fun costume designs for the women in the film but for the majority of the men, they were dressed in actual West Point uniform, albeit tailored.