We review the ninth and tenth episodes of this darkly comedic take on 18th century Russian Empress Catherine the Great starring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult. We have mixed opinions about the finale, make some hopefully interesting digressions, and give season one a solid B grade for absurdist history.

The Great, Episodes 9 and 10

We review the seventh and eighth episodes of this darkly comedic take on 18th century Russian Empress Catherine the Great starring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult. Beautiful textiles and excellent fitting abound, but we are getting bored of all the repeats and want more from the court dress.

The Great, Episodes 7 and 8

We review the third and fourth episodes of this darkly comedic take on 18th century Russian Empress Catherine the Great starring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult. Not much new happens in the costume department but we discuss it nonetheless.

The Great, Episodes 5 and 6

We review the third and fourth episodes of this darkly comedic take on 18th century Russian Empress Catherine the Great starring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult. The designer's departures from historical accuracy work well with the show's comic tone and only loose relationship to history.

The Great, Episodes 3 and 4

We review the first two episodes of this darkly comedic take on 18th century Russian Empress Catherine the Great starring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult. The series is similar in tone to show runner's Tony McNamara's The Favourite. Costume designer Emma Fryer's work is close enough to Catherine's era, and most importantly, it is well-made and well-fitted.

The Great, Episodes 1 and 2

Celine Sciamma

We review this late 18th century-set French, female-focused film. We agree it is a beautiful movie, with well-done, if non-specific, costumes. We also discuss what we are watching during quarantine.

Celine Sciamma's Portrait of a Lady on Fire

We review the Crawley clan's jump from TV to the big screen. Fans of this historical soap opera will delight in seeing the aristocratic family and their servants again. While we adored the glorious 1920s costumes by Anna Robbins, we have some issues with the predictable plotting.

Downton Abbey - The Movie

Josie Rourke

Mary Queen of Scots

We review this attempt at a biopic about the famous 16th-century Scottish queen. This movie weirdly wastes time on a reductionist view of Elizabeth I of England at the expense of Mary's story. With costumes designed by Alexandra Byrne, whose designs feature denim, saddlebags, and a whole lot of WTF, we end up asking WHY a lot.

Josie Rourke's Mary Queen of Scots

Yorgos Lanthimos

We review this tale of court intrigue set in the early 18th century. Two women (Sarah Duchess of Marlborough, played by Rachel Weisz, and Abigail Masham, played by Emma Stone) vie for the attention of English Queen Anne (Olivia Coleman). With costumes designed by Sandy Powell and a historically accurate view of female power and sexuality, we find a lot to praise!

Yorgos Lanthimos's The Favorite

We discuss the Association of Dress Historians conference in London and give you an inside peek at what's coming up with costume movies and TV as well as what's in the works for the blog. Next, we do in-depth reviews of the TV series Jamestown, which has aired in the UK, as well as Gunpowder, which stars Kit Harrington and is coming soon to HBO. Get your snark on for a monthly or twice monthly romp through historical costume movies and TV.

Jamestown, Gunpowder, London

Ever watch a historical movie and thought "what the heck are they wearing?" We've studied real historical clothing, and we love to pick apart Hollywood's idea of period costume. But it's not just about history, it's also about symbolism, style, and more. Grab a cocktail and join us to bitch about crazy costume movies and TV series, fabulous historical costumes, and what it all means.

If they like a movie, they excuse all the historical inaccuracies. If they don’t, they rip it apart. I’d like to see a podcast that breaks things down objectively and historically instead of based on whether or not the reviewers enjoyed the film’s script or acting.

Not exactly objective.

We get it, you’re feminists who like to bash men from time to time. We don’t need to be reminded.

What’s with the political correctness?

Frock Flicks - Costume Movie Reviews

Amma Asante

This fascinating story of a mixed-race aristocratic woman living in 18th-century England is highly entertaining, even if it's not totally faithful to the historical record. Our discussion ranges from the movie itself, to the representation of non-white ethnicities in history and in historical costume films. We also analyze the costumes themselves, which are highly accurate but about 20 years too early.

Amma Asante's Belle

Peter Kosminsky

Wolf Hall purports to tell the story of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn through Thomas Cromwell's eyes. Based on the award-winning book by Hilary Mantel, this miniseries portrays a sympathetic look at Cromwell and a new perspective of the history you have probably heard before. It's an incredibly well done production, with amazing costumes (OK, we have a very few quibbles) and sets. We rave about the costumes (and nitpick a few elements), and debate the story and production.

Peter Kosminsky's Wolf Hall

We kickoff our new podcast format with bits of news from the costume drama world, a behind-the-scenes look at Frock Flicks HQ, and a review of the first episodes of Versailles season two. Get your snark on for a monthly or twice monthly romp through historical costume movies and TV.

Versailles S2, Search Terms, Patreon

Get a taste of our subscription-only Patreon podcasts with this preview where we discuss what we've been watching recently, including Victoria and Six Wives with Lucy Worsley. Plus we look at how criticism fits in an academic and journalistic context.

Patreon Preview

Mel Gibson

For Snark Week, we take on that clunker of medieval Scotland' Braveheart. Oh yes, shitty kilts, stretch panne velvet, and patriarchy abounds. Listen to us get progressively drunker and shoutier as we decry all the crappy costumes and history in this classic film. We're joined by Scottish dress historian Brenna Barks.

Mel Gibson's Braveheart

We look at this gothic-horror story chock full of elaborate late Victorian costumes. Director Guillermo del Toro and costume designer Kate Hawley combine powers for a dark and spooky visual treat (with a few tricks).

Guillermo del Toro's Crimson Peak

We're joined by Brenna Barks, historian of 18th century Scotland and its dress. We discuss the finale, but spend even more time on the second season as a whole, getting into the real history behind the Jacobite Rising of 1745, the historical accuracy of the costumes, and reflect on how well the season's costumes worked.

Outlander Season 2, Episodes 12 and 13

There's lots to love in this episode. Claire rocks a beautiful gown and riding habit, secondary characters get frilly, and Jamie finally gets something shiny of his own. But, there are problems in Jamie and Claire's marriage.

Outlander Season 2, Episode 3

We're not in Scotland anymore, Dorothy. Jamie and Claire have finally made it to Paris, and they're living the high Jacobite life in some gorgeous 1740s costumes... with a few quibbles. We discuss character costume decisions, The Red Dress, The Bar Suit, and all that mash-up of 1740s and 1940s. Along the way, we talk about nipple piercing, pubic hair depilation, oh and wigs and hair - as one does.

Outlander Season 2, Episode 2

Outlander is back for season 2, and we're finally in France to see all the shiny! This episode actually spends half of its time in the 1940s, so we discuss those clothes and how Claire's 18th century wardrobe is used as a plot device. Then, we're finally back in 1740s France, where there's some lovely men's clothes and wigs, and some back-lacing women's dresses to analyze.

Outlander Season 2, Episode 1

Stephen Frears

We take on the modern classic of 18th-century historical costume film, Dangerous Liaisons, starring the wickedly good Glenn Close as a marquise out for retribution and a disturbingly sexy John Malkovich as a vicomte who's happy to help in her amoral escapades. James Acheson won a well-deserved Best Costume Oscar for this film, even though he made these exquisite 18th-century costumes on a tight budget.

Stephen Frears's Dangerous Liaisons

We discuss the costumes worn in the ninth episode of Downton Abbey's final season. Edith gets a wedding dress, Rose is back with New York style, and everything gets wrapped up with a big shiny bow.

Downton Abbey Season 6 Episode 9 Costume Recap

We discuss the costumes worn in the eighth episode of Downton Abbey's final season. Mary screws over Edith and we are pissed. Meanwhile, we admire Mary, Rosamund, and Edith's wardrobes - minus Mary's wedding dress.

Downton Abbey Season 6 Episode 8 Costume Recap

We discuss the costumes worn in the seventh episode of Downton Abbey's final season. Everyone is off to the races in smashing daywear and Edith makes some progress, but Mary and Henry hit a serious roadblock.

Downton Abbey Season 6 Episode 7 Costume Recap

We discuss the costumes worn in the sixth episode of Downton Abbey's final season. Mary wears yet another stunning evening dress while Edith has her beat at daywear, both sisters make serious relationship progress, and we find out that the Crawleys know nothing about their house!

Downton Abbey Season 6 Episode 6 Costume Recap

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