More Movies with Stunning Tablescapes and Art Direction to Inspire

I’m only covering the Victorian/Edwardian period here.

5. The Importance of Being Earnest

A Lovely version of Oscar Wilde’s stage play. The costumes are insane with very 60’s fabrics. The interiors on the other hand are gorgeous! Everyone seems to be having tea in every scene.

The muffin stand is impeccable with very realistic looking tea cakes and sandwiches. Given that sandwiches take up a good deal of the dialogue, it is understandable that they’d want to get it right.

I love a muffin stand. These were usually used next to a tea table, but I’ll forgive it because Algie is a bachelor.

Tea cup shapes are really important in conveying eras. That and the size of the flowers. These look good.

The tea set is lovely and just the over the top Victorian aesthetic we’re going for here. But where is her hat?

Goodness, that is an *ahem* shiny dress, but what an amazing silver tray!

4. Portrait of A Lady (1996)

This is an interesting film. As with Jane Campion’s other period pieces, such as Bright Star and The Piano, it can be polarizing. Unlike the other two, most of the negative reaction to this film I’ve heard is because of John Malkovitch’s casting, which is overwhelmingly found to be an *ahem* odd choice. As with Dangerous Liaisons, Malkovitch is cast as a man to seemingly attracts women with little effort and it strains credulity. Especially in this film, where his character comes off as creepy rather than sexy. Our lead is naive, but he sends up so many red flags that she would have to be brain dead to have married him. And she marries him while turning away her suitors Viggo Mortensen, Christian Bale, Richard E. Grant and Martin Donovan. Yeah, right.

That aside, the film is beautiful to look at. The costumes are heavenly, the art direction immaculate and the scenes of balls and picnics, while not perfect, are really well done. One non-tablewear thing I really appreciate in this film is the fashionable accessories. The fans are on point, the parasols stunning, the gloves heavenly… you will enjoy the attention to detail.

3. Out of Africa

You can’t really go wrong with a Meryl Streep movie. She’s always wonderful and the cast here is terrific. Now as times have changed and we’ve progressed to more enlightened ideas, there are many parts of this film that haven’t aged well. But I will say, this is based on the true life of Isak Dinesen so a lot of the patronizing attitudes are reflexive of the times she lived in. It is, on the whole, a fine film.

This is also one of the best films for costumes. I’m surprised people don’t talk about it more. It’s also masterfully art directed. The period china is very, very good. I especially like that more than just dinners are shown. We see a full outdoor buffet for a winter shooting party, a Kenyan outdoor wedding party as well as the usual dinners.

2. The Leopard, (1963)

The director of this film took the art direction so seriously, when an actor opened a drawer, he would find the correct contents for his character. Never mind that these would never be seen on camera or used, the director wanted the actors to be immersed in the time and place. With that bar set, the film is just insanely beautiful and the tableware is perfection.

Now that is a table! So accurate! The matching carafes, the insane number of candelabra, (necessary on a large table just to be seen) the glassware, plates, etc. Perfection!

I’m going to be honest, I’m not sure about that water pitcher, but because this is set in Italy and the director was so persnickety, I’m going to go with it.

Picnic. With servants. The Baskets are on point, as is the large cloth. Gorgeous. By the way, that parasol!

Topsy Turvy

I’m always amazed at which directors seem to value aesthetic accuracy. Given Mike Leigh’s normal process of improvisation, I might have thought he’d play more fast and loose with the minutia of Victorian life, though here he most certainly does not. Given his collaborative nature, perhaps he allowed the art director to have his way with the interiors. What ever the explanation, this is a period film with heady interiors, costumes and dishware. I cannot recommend this film more highly, it is a visual delight and is a wonderful film with terrific performances to boot!