| A five button other ranks frock used in the filming of the 2002 adaptation of A.E.W. Mason's The Four Feathers. Made from a heavy velour type material that looks like wool serge on screen this costume is a relatively accurate rendition of a 1881 pattern other ranks frock. The regiment featured in the film is the fictitious Royal Cumbrian Regiment and the costume designer correctly chose dark blue cuff and collar facings as where specified in army regulations for all royal regiments. The frock's five large buttons are solid cast brass replicas of Queen Victoria Crown general service buttons while the two shoulder strap buttons or genuine King's Crown general service buttons. This specific example is heavily distressed by the costume shop for use in the battle scenes of the film. The body of the frock has been faded to a reddish orange and the dark blue cuffs and collar to a purplish blue. If as much attention to overall historical accuracy had been applied to the rest of the film - namely script - then perhaps this the most recent version of The Four Feathers might have turned out to be perhaps not a classic like Korda's 1939 version but certainly a much better film than it ended up being. Movie/Film Costume Ruth Myers - Costume Designer Produced by Angels, The Costumiers for The Four Feathers (2002) Paramount Pictures/Miramax Pictures Great Britain 2002 |
