Assiut in Film: “The Cat’s Meow”
Fun and flirty, this amusing cozy murder mystery stars Kirsten Dunst as Marion Davies, Cary Elwes as Thomas Ince, and Eddie Izzard as Charlie Chaplin. However, the glimpse of Elinor Glyn played by Joanna Lumley of “Absolutely Fabulous” fame wearing a vintage assiut shawl gave me a thrill.
Cat’s Meow: Is it True Story? Is it Fictional?
This is a stylish movie with an enjoyable plot and a beautiful cast in stunning clothes with a black-and-white color scheme. While it is true, that producer Thomas Ince, died under mysterious circumstances. The movie presents just one potential scenario of how this death might have happened.
Producer Carol Lewis commented:
In November of 1924, a mysterious Hollywood death occurred aboard media mogul William Randolph Hearst’s yacht. Among the famous guests that weekend were: film star Charlie Chaplin; starlet Marion Davies (who was also Hearst’s mistress at the time); silent-film producer Thomas H. Ince (known for creating the first Hollywood studio facility and for creating an “assembly line” system for filmmaking); and feared gossip columnist, Louella Parsons.
Source IMDB
Joanna Lumley’s Assiut Shawl
These people spend a lot of time in the dining room dressed in a glamorous and expensive array of black and white clothing. Joanna as Elenor Glyn wears her assiut shawl in the final dining room scene. The mood is somber and reflective as the revelers try to figure out who shot Ince.
This assiut shawl is the perfect design choice, fitting into the color palette and underscoring these Hollywood elites’ wealth, sophistication, and glamour.
In 1924, assiut shawls were all the rage through the well-traveled wealthy set. This was the era of Egyptomania, with King Tut’s tomb only discovered two years before. Tourists were loading up on these shawls during Nile cruises.
Styling Assiut Shawls
If you plan on wearing your assiut shawl for a fancy dinner, why not use this ensemble as a model? Note the use of a plain black dress with a deeply cut V-neckline. This angle echos the diamond patterns, and creates a space to showcase a stack of black and white themed beaded necklaces. The hair is swept up to allow a full view of the shawl.
Wanna See the whole film? You can watch “The Cat’s Meow” on Amazon Prime or via YouTube Premium and other places around the web.
Are you a film buff? Did you spot the assiut worn by Mia Farrow in “Death on the Nile?”
Now I’m off to record a history class for Patreon!
Thanks for visiting. Happy Dance and Costuming,
Dawn Devine ~ Davina
July 2024
ps: Screengrabs can be very tricky. Here’s a blurry long shot from scene. Notice how opulent and luscious Joanna’s shawl appears at a distance. 