Edith Head was more than Golden Age Hollywood’s most famous, in-demand costume designer—she is one of the most important figures to ever work in the studio system. For Head, who designed the wardrobes for many of Hollywood’s greatest stars in their most iconic roles—Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Crawford, Grace Kelly, Bette Davis, Marlene Dietrich, Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, to name just a few—costuming was not about just style: Glamour was synonymous with practicality, and wardrobe spoke volumes about character. American film history is unthinkable without this diminutive powerhouse, who won eight Academy Awards, the most competitive Oscars ever won by a single person. (In total, she was nominated a staggering 35 times.) For this special See It Big! series, just in time for Oscar season, experience some of her most memorable looks in this series of some of the greatest films she designed for; each of these, featuring some of Hollywood’s greatest and boldest actresses, is a reminder that brilliant costume design is as essential an element of film grammar as cinematography, editing, performance, and music.

See It Big! is an ongoing series organized by Reverse Shot editors Michael Koresky and Jeff Reichert, and Curator of Film Eric Hynes.

Screening
The Uninvited
Saturday, February 2, 2:00 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image - Redstone Theater Screening
Double Indemnity
Saturday, February 2, 4:30 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image - Redstone Theater Screening
The Lady Eve
Saturday, February 2, 7:00 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image - Redstone Theater Screening
The Lady Eve
Sunday, February 3, 3:00 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image - Redstone Theater Screening
Double Indemnity
Saturday, February 9, 2:00 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image - Redstone Theater Screening
To Each His Own
Sunday, February 10, 2:00 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image - Redstone Theater Screening
The Heiress
Sunday, February 10, 4:30 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image - Redstone Theater Screening
Roman Holiday
Sunday, February 10, 6:30 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image - Bartos Screening Room Screening
Roman Holiday
Saturday, February 16, 2:00 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image - Redstone Theater Screening
Sunset Boulevard
Saturday, February 16, 4:30 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image - Redstone Theater Screening
Sunset Boulevard
Sunday, February 17, 2:00 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image - Redstone Theater Screening
I Married a Witch
Friday, February 22, 7:00 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image - Bartos Screening Room Screening
The Heiress
Saturday, February 23, 1:30 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image - Redstone Theater Screening
Funny Face
Saturday, February 23, 4:00 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image - Redstone Theater Screening
Sweet Charity
Saturday, February 23, 6:30 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image - Redstone Theater Screening
I Married a Witch
Sunday, February 24, 3:00 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image - Bartos Screening Room Screening
Funny Face
Sunday, February 24, 6:30 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image - Redstone Theater Screening
To Catch a Thief
Friday, March 8, 7:00 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image - Redstone Theater Screening
The Birds
Saturday, March 9, 3:00 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image - Redstone Theater Screening
Marnie
Saturday, March 9, 6:00 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image - Redstone Theater Screening
The Birds
Sunday, March 10, 3:00 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image - Redstone Theater Screening
Marnie
Sunday, March 10, 6:00 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image - Redstone Theater

Share