'Women He's Undressed is a cinema length documentary that explores the life of Australia's most prolific costume designer. Until now Orry-Kelly has been unacknowledged in his country of birth and pretty well forgotten in the adopted country of his greatest success. During the boom years of Hollywood he was the costume designer on an astonishing 282 motion pictures. He designed for the stars like Marilyn Munroe, Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Rosalind Russell, Errol Flynn and many more of the immortals. His films included Some Like It Hot, Casablanca, An American in Paris and Now, Voyager. Orry-Kelly (Jack to his friends) won three Academy Awards and was nominated for a fourth. Orry-Kelly was Head of Warner Brothers Costume Department during the richest period of American film, the establishment of the dream factory and its effect on mass culture. He was outrageous, witty, outspoken, a drinker and uncompromising but he survived partially protected by his friendship with Jack and Ann ... Written by Damien Parer' (Publication summary)
Women I've Undressed
1964
(Manuscript version)6638800
6638802
1964
single work
autobiography
Found in a pillowcase, the fabulous long-lost memoirs of a legendary Hollywood designer – and a genuine Australian original.
Orry-Kelly created magic on screen, from Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon to Some Like It Hot.
He won three Oscars for costume design. He dressed all the biggest stars, from Bette Davis to Marilyn Monroe.
He was an Australian. Yet few know who Orry-Kelly really was – until now.
'Discovered in a pillowcase, Orry-Kelly's long-lost memoirs reveal a wildly talented and cheeky rascal who lived a big life, on and off the set.
'From his childhood in Kiama to revelling in Sydney's underworld nightlife as a naïve young artist and chasing his dreams of acting in New York, his early life is a wild and exciting ride.
'Sharing digs in New York with another aspiring actor, Cary Grant, and partying hard in between auditions, he ekes out a living painting murals for speakeasies before graduating to designing stage sets and costumes.
'When The Kid from Kiama finally arrives in Hollywood, it's clear his adventures have only just begun.
'Fearless, funny and outspoken, Orry-Kelly lived life to the full.
'In Women I've Undressed, he shares a wickedly delicious slice of it.' (Publication summary)
