Funny Face (1957)

Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire

Directed by Stanley Donen

Available to stream on Amazon Prime

Fashion photographer Fred Astaire goes to Paris on a job with his newest discovery, model Audrey Hepburn.

Ad from Photoplay, 1957

Why we love it: Filmed on location in Paris and with the visual styling of famed photographer, Richard Avedon, this film is a treat for the eyes. Audrey is elegant and classic in her Givenchy fashions, Astaire is charming as ever, and songs by George and Ira Gershwin add to the fun.

Fun Facts:

• Fred Astaire's character, Dick Avery, was based on real life photographer Richard Avedon. Avedon is credited as the visual consultant for the film, and all of the photography in the film was Avedon's work. More on Richard Avedon in this profile from The New Yorker in 1958.

Article from Screenland 1957

Article from Screenland 1957 (cont.).

• Kay Thompson (author of the Eloise books) plays fashion magazine editor Maggie Prescott, a character loosely based on Diana Vreeland, fashion editor of Harper's Bazaar at the time.

Kay Thompson in Funny Face

• Filmed on location in and around Paris. The weather posed some problems, especially in the filming of the final scene where Audrey wears a wedding gown and dances outside with Astaire -- it had rained so much that they kept slipping on the wet grass and sinking into the mud.

Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face

For more reviews and articles from the time, go to the Fan Magazine Reviews page.

Featured Cocktail:

Cosmopolitan

This is a classic drink from the 1990's, but we think it pairs well with the fashion-themed world of Funny Face and, of course, the famous "Think pink!" musical scene from the movie.

1½ oz (45 ml) citrus vodka

1 Tbsp (15 ml) Cointreau

1 oz (30 ml) cranberry juice

1 Tbsp (15 ml) fresh lime juice

Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into chilled cocktail glass.

Cheers to the Classics!