James Acheson - DVD Picks

The Oscar-winning costume designer recalls a memorable screening of DOWN BY LAW in Rome and explains what makes the Italian classics BICYCLE THIEVES and THE LEOPARD so revelatory.

[lizclegg]

I'm so glad he actually talks about the films instead of just bagging them.

[zyrrhos]

The Leopard is one of my top 10 mind-blown films. Every frame a painting, one of the most wistful endings ever.

[sazzadbinjahid]

He described Bicycle Thieves so beautifully

[KenKen]

This is by far the best one yet. Both superb enthusiasm for film and superb stories to tell!

[willremmers]

Acheson, before working on great films like Brazil (remember his massive samurai in Brazil?), worked on Doctor Who and created many great costumes and monsters.

[Lokster]

He's a great costume designer for cinema but I'll always have a soft spot for Acheson for creating Tom Baker's iconic Doctor Who costume at the beginning of the Fourth Doctor's era.

[vanishing_girl]

In Order:
1. Down By Law
2. Bicycle Thieves
3. The Leopard

[Soundstage]

If Wes Anderson did one of these I would be so happy

[shaunthebrown]

Still have yet to see the Leopard, but Visonti is a master at what he does and "le Notti Bianche" and "Senso" are cinematic masterpieces. Truely works of art. Now, I must see Leopard.

[Theomite]

If I ever get in that closet, I'm bringing a wheelbarrow. And I shall ride it out the door cackling madly.

[DerekPower]

james acheson was the costume designer for *brazil* and *the last emperor* (amongst other films)

[JesusCristo]

Then these videos would be priceless. We still have Scorsese, Godard, Polanski, Coppola, Spielberg and Paul Thomas Anderson to name a few. Fingers crossed to get them in there.

[MrRazorblade]

Imagine if they could have had Kubrick in that room...or Orson Welles.

[JesusCristo]

It's the DVD I believe. I didn't see a blue sticker on the cellophane wrapping.

[markbujdos]

De Sica was not an aristocrat, he was probably mixing his bio up with Visconti.

[smalltown]

I've worked with this guy. What he doesn't know about the history of peanuts wouldn't fill a peanut.

[blablaidontcarewhour]

Because that's where they keep ALL their dvds and blu-rays...

[JoshBCamp]

what edition of the Leopard is that? and i like this guy you should see if he could do a few commentaries, i obviously have know idea how your commentary picking process goes but something to think about.

[antoniorodriguez-kccc]

He's confusing De Sica with Visconti

[Mikemantis]

I say we fucking storm that building, these films are really raping my But I can't stop buying them!