Dressed To Kill

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One of my favorite Sherlock Holmes film is "Dressed To Kill" (Universal, 1946) that featured Patricia Morison as the last villain encountered by Holmes (Basil Rathbone).  Because of her exotic looks, she was often cast as the femme fatale and sadly either starred in "B" movies or had smaller supporting roles.  However, she achieved her greatest success on the Broadway stage in Cole Porter's "Kiss Me, Kate" (1948).  The following photos of Patricia Morison are courtesy of FanPix.net.

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I just love this photo of Patricia and her mini me!   And that gets me to thinking, who is the greatest miniature femme fatale at Monolithic Studios?  Well, Miss Madra Lord, of course!



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 Ashton Drake's "Siren of the Night" Madra Lord (with a new hairstyle) is the ultimate femme fatale dressed to kill in "Le Petit Ensemble Noir" from Robert Tonner's Theatre de la Mode Collection.  The fabulous fur is borrowed from Greene and Lam's "A Woman of Means" Adrian-inspired suit.  OOAK hat, earrings, and cigarette holder are from The Couture Touch.

Weekend Noir

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This week's Femme Fatale is a seductive Lingerie Silkstone Barbie from Mattel's BFMC on loan to Monolithic Studios to star in "Bothwell Street".  For this scene, her black crepe sheath and fur stole are from the design studio of Dressmaker Details, hat borrowed from Mattel's Cruella de Vil's "Power in Pinstripes" ensemble, purse from Madame Alexander, and jewelry from Mattel. 

Weekend Noir

How to dress like a femme fatale.

Think old Hollywood glamour with a darkside.  Integrity's Shadow Song Gene Marshall looks sultry yet sophisticated in the impeccable cut, pinstriped, double-breasted suit from Tonner's Brenda Starr Collection.  Her fur wrap is borrowed from C'est Moi Madra Lord, and the dramatic hat from Ashton Drake's Fashion Plot (I added the feather accent).  Additional must-have accessories include "leather" gloves from Marceline by Integrity, purse from Ashton Drake's Star Wardrobe Black Accessory Set, and OOAK cigarette holder from The Couture Touch.  Table from CED.

Weekend Noir

It's Dangerous Curves ahead for the impetuous son of a prominent U.S. Senator, who is ensnared by a notorious gangster's floozy, gun-moll girlfriend.  This week's femme fatale is played to the hilt by "A Lady Knows" Gene Marshall from Ashton Drake.  Costume credits:  Dress from Integrity's "Dangerous Curves", fur borrowed from "Postcards from Cannes" Madra Lord by Integrity, hat from Greene & Lam's "A Woman of Means" suit ensemble, OOAK jewelry, gloves, and cig holder from The Couture Touch.



Publicity still for Gene Marshall in Dangerous Curves



Weekend Noir

Zita Charles is armed and dangerous and out to avenge her mother's murder.  This femme fatale (French for fatal or deadly woman) looks the part in the grey suit from Integrity's "Daily Threads Gift Set".  Her muff neatly conceals her gun (borrowed from Madame Alexander's Betrayal ensemble).  A must have for any femme fatale is a fabulous hat, this one borrowed from Ashton Drake's "Lucky Stripe".  Table from CED, telephone from Ashton Drake's "A Hot Day in Hollywood" accessory set, 1920's picture of Zita's look-alike mother from the Monolithic Press Archive Dossier Star File.  This week's femme fatale is City Sleeker Zita Charles from Integrity.




An old photo of Zita, circa 1940's



Dial N for Noir

What is Noir?  It's the French word for Black.  It's dark, mysterious, and moody with a distinctive visual style.  It's murder and mayhem, gangsters and detectives, and oh, yes......the femme fatale!

Publicity poster for "So Evil My Love" starring Rich Girl Madra Lord

Weekends in August are all about those 1940's femme fatales of Monolithic Studios with a special appearance from a sultry and Silkie Lingerie Model on loan from another studio.  Look for Weekend Noir every Saturday this month.