Designs on Film: A Century of Hollywood Art Direction

by Cathy Whitlock

Who can forget the over-the-top, white-on-white, high-gloss interiors through which Fred Astaire danced in Top Hat? The modernist high-rise architecture, inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, in the adaptation of Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead? The lavish, opulent drawing rooms of Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence? Through the use of film design—called both art direction and production design in the film industry—movies can transport us to new worlds of luxury, highlight the ornament of the everyday, offer a vision of the future, or evoke the realities of a distant era. In Designs on Film, journalist and interior designer Cathy Whitlock illuminates the often undercelebrated role of the production designer in the creation of the most memorable moments in film history. Through a lush collection of rare archival photographs, Whitlock narrates the evolving story of art direction over the course of a century—from the massive Roman architecture of Ben-Hur to the infamous Dakota apartment in Rosemary's Baby to the digital CGI wonders of Avatar's Pandora.

Drawing on insights from the most prominent Hollywood production designers and the historical knowledge of the venerable Art Directors Guild, Whitlock delves into the detailed process of how sets are imagined, drawn, built, and decorated. Designs on Film is the must-have look book for film lovers, movie buffs, and anyone looking to draw interior design inspiration from the constructions and confections of Hollywood. Whitlock lifts the curtain on movie magic and celebrates the many ways in which art direction and set design allow us to lose ourselves in the diverse worlds showcased on the big screen.

Genres: Film, Design, Nonfiction, Art, History

499 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 30, 2010

About the author

am an author, magazine writer and designer specializing in articles on film, design, and personality profiles. My articles have appeared in Traditional Home (where I am a contributing writer), Veranda, Architectural Digest, Array, British Glamour, ASID Icon, American Airlines Celebrated Living, Flower, Capitol Files and Four Seasons hotel magazines. I am the author of Designs on Film: A Century of Hollywood Art Direction (Harper Colins/It Books!/2010) and re-de-sign: New Directions For Your Career in Interior Design (Fairchild Books, 2009). My past life found me as a frequent guest on the Fine LIving Channel and Home and Garden Televisions Decorating With Style along with corporate America stints at American Express and Universal Pictures."

Reviews

[Kieran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about production design in movies. I can’t think of a better introduction to the art of production design. It really made the field come alive in a very tangible way. I also loved how it walked us through the entire history of Hollywood production design. Great book for film lovers.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I wanted more information about the little details that went into creating some of the more unique film sets, I still enjoyed the peek into this world (especially of the older films). It is fascinating to see the level of creativity, effort, and ingenuity that goes into making a movie look good. It amazes me to see how many of the best films ever are not only classics because of the writing or the performances, but because of the style of the set.

The book even inspired me to take a look at some films I've never seen, such as Metropolis and The Thief of Baghdad, and also revisit some of my favorites to take a closer look at the art direction.

[Sandra Espinet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book caught my attention because it has hundreds of photographs of some of the most memorable films such as Gone with the Wind, Wizard of Oz, Dark Knight & Avatar. Designs on Film by Cathy Whitlock chronicles the evolving history of film design from silent movies to present day and introduces us to the behind the scenes people who create these beautiful scenes: the production designers. We may not know their names as we do actors, but we do remember their sets and this book celebrates their creations. If you have any appreciation for film, you will love this book.

[Jon Schafer · Rating 4 out of 5]

As far as art books go, this one is my cup of tea. Spellbinding imagery, historical context, and it’s related to filmmaking. The quality of the book itself is a work of art - which makes since, considering it was written by an Art Director. Production Design is one of the most important departments in filmmaking and Production Designers are unsung heroes. This book shows how bright they shine. The production design feats within are not just feats of filmmaking, but works of art in and of themselves. It’s in-depth but written in layman terms, so any audience - in and out of the industry - can enjoy.

[Carlos Filipe Bernardino · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a disappointment, I expected more from it. The theme is interesting and important for understanding the history of cinema. Unfortunately, simplifying it, we are faced more with a catalog of films, with some revelations than the history of art direction / producing design. The field is vast, the book may not succeed in covering the relationship with aesthetic movements, new technologies, consumption habits, or the relationship with different cinema audiences, but the reading leaves us with a sense of laziness both in writing and in editing. What saves this edition are the photos and illustrations that accompany it.

[Christine Sinclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book! Great research, good writing and gorgeous photographs; a movie-lover's dream. (And only one typo that I noticed; Ramon [not "Roman"] Novarro won't see it.) The book is obviously a labor of love by Cathy Whitlock, an interior designer and journalist, and the Art Directors Guild. Bravo!

[Gayab Gul · Rating 5 out of 5]

best book on art direction

[Shawn]

È un buon libro, ma non quello che stavo cercando.

It’s a good book, but not the one I was looking for.

[Linda Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The color plates are dazzling. The films covered are those considered "iconic" for the decade covered. Are the films the best representation of production design, art direction? Perhaps. I'm curious enough to check the Academy Awards winners for the movies/years featured. All those people listed in the minutes-long scroll of credits at the end of the movie are reporting to, and creating for, the production designer, who is the third corner of the triangle including director and cinematographer. Whitlock's writing is scholarly, yet palatable. This is a topnotch reference book, beautifully assembled, a feast for the movie production design/art direction obsessed. Lovely to view and touch. And it was designed by Renato Stanisic. Bravo!

[Steve Moudry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantastic photos but a little light on content, I wanted more details on what went in to some of the design decisions made on these classic films. The film choices get sort of questionable once you get to the nineties as well...Meet Joe Black...Somethings Gotta Give...

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

painstakingly deep look at the history of set design