Halston (film)
A documentary on the rise and fall of fashion designer Halston.
Halston is a 2019 American biographical documentary film directed by Frédéric Tcheng and produced by CNN Films and Amazon Originals. It chronicles the career and personal decline of fashion designer Roy Halston Frowick, featuring commentary from Liza Minnelli, Marisa Berenson, and others. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2019, and later had a limited theatrical release.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Frédéric Tcheng
- Producer
- Roland Ballester
- Stephanie Levy
- Michael Prall
- Frédéric Tcheng
- James Paul Dallas
- Starring
- Liza Minnelli
- Marisa Berenson
- Joel Schumacher
- Naeem Khan
- Pat Cleveland
- Karen Bjornson
- Narrator
- Tavi Gevinson (Chloe)
- Cinematography
- Chris W. Johnson
- Editing
- Èlia Gasull Balada, Frédéric Tcheng
- Music
- Stanley Clarke
- Production companies
- CNN Films
- Dogwoof Pictures
- TDog Productions
Facts from the source article.
Synopsis
The film follows Roy Halston Frowick, known as Halston, from his early work as a milliner at Bergdorf Goodman, where he designed Jacqueline Kennedy's pillbox hat for the 1961 inauguration. He opened his own fashion house in 1968, gaining popularity for free-flowing clothes that appealed to liberated women. A 1973 deal with Norton Simon Inc. solidified his status and led to a successful fragrance. Halston became a household name, pioneering fashion as media. His empire expanded with many licenses, but his regular attendance at Studio 54 and drug use affected his output. In the early 1980s, a partnership with JCPenney drew criticism, and Bergdorf Goodman dropped him. A corporate takeover by Esmark and then Beatrice placed Halston under executive Carl Epstein, who cut costs. Within a year, Halston was ousted from his company. He was later diagnosed with HIV and died in 1990.
Production notes
Director Frédéric Tcheng initially declined the project when approached by producer Roland Ballester, but accepted after researching how Halston was expelled from his own business in 1983, which resonated with Tcheng's own corporate experiences. Halston's niece, Lesley Frowick, served as executive producer and provided 215 copies of private recordings thought to be lost. After she felt confident the film would not portray her uncle negatively, she gave the team contacts to his inner circle. Tcheng noted that without Frowick, models and Liza Minnelli would not have participated. The project began in April 2017 with intensive research, including cataloguing life events and listing potential interviewees. Editing took a year due to the volume of archival footage, interviews, and research.
Critical reception
Vogue noted that Tcheng avoided sensationalism regarding Halston's tantrums and cocaine-fueled excesses, but did not paint him as an angel, and called the film fairly balanced. Rolling Stone criticized the film noir framing device as a misstep, but said that ignoring it reveals a fascinating study of a fashion artist who allowed women to live idealized visions of themselves, capturing the exhilarating thrum of his originality. The Los Angeles Times stated the film places Halston at the top of fashion's most influential artists while avoiding hagiography, showing his ego and addiction, and called it an introduction that looks great. The Guardian complained about the framing device featuring Tavi Gevinson as a fictional archivist. GLAAD's Jeremy Blacklow praised the weaving of rare archival footage and intimate interviews. Tomris Laffly of RogerEbert.com found the framing device compelling and called the film breathtaking for fashion enthusiasts. Variety described it as thrilling for fashion nerds and a poignant character study.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in Halston (film)?
Halston stars Liza Minnelli, Marisa Berenson, Joel Schumacher, Naeem Khan, Pat Cleveland and Karen Bjornson.
Who composed the music for Halston (film)?
The music for Halston was composed by Stanley Clarke.
How long is Halston (film)?
Halston has a running time of 119 minutes.
Who distributed Halston (film)?
Halston was distributed by 1091 Pictures.
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