Versailles '73: American Runway Revolution

In November 1973 New York fashion promoter Eleanor Lambert brought acclaim to American design when her fashion show fundraiser for the restoration of Versailles became an important historical event akin to the debut of Dior's 'New Look' collection in 1947. The event pitted five of Paris' haute couturiers (Yves St. Laurent, Pierre Cardin, Marc Bohan for Dior, Hubert Givenchy, and Emmanuel Ungaro) against five of Seventh Avenue's brightest stars (Stephen Burrows, Bill Blass, Anne Klein, Halston, and Oscar de la Renta.)

Every moment of the story, from inception to after-party, is told through some very smooth edits of a huge cast of models, photographers, fashion historians and others - many of whom were there. Everything that could go wrong very nearly did, from a stereotypical icy Parisian reception of the American contingent to dramatic melt-downs and infighting that took place right up to curtain time.

The French 2 1/2 hour presentation was heavy and dull with stagey, overly-theatrical sets, long musical numbers, and formal fashion parades. This was followed by the American 35 minute presentation that used blank sets, placing all the emphasis onto the lively presentation of willowy models dancing across the stage in colourful, easy-fitting clothes. The American presentation won the unanimous acclaim of the guests who threw their programs in the air while jumping to their feet screaming Bravo.

American fashion had been gaining popularity and importance since the 1940s, but this event made Paris recognize the importance of American ready-to-wear and sportswear design. The show was also instrumental in opening doors to black models that only ten years earlier were just beginning to break into mainstream American fashion shows

The film is at its best when it lets the still stunningly beautiful models recall, almost with disbelief that they were actually there, the events of the evening. A few grainy clips and photos survive, which help to bring the recollected stories to life, but it is difficult to believe that no complete film of the show was made or survives.

The documentary slips a little by using too much footage of experts who weren't there but pontificate like they were. Also, the film drags towards the end as the message gets repetitive about how important the show was to black history. With a ten or fifteen minute edit, this documentary would be perfect.

I was hoping for more of a story/history of the American designers. Very little footage & pictures. Mostly models talking about the historic accomplishment of having more black models than the Europeans and that's what made them win this "battle" of the designers. Perhaps if that was somewhere in the tittle you would know what to expect. Just was looking for more substance on how it came to be, the players, designers & perhaps all of the models perspective. Didn't finish the last 15 minutes. Simply repeats this theme throughout.

I thought this would be interesting but I was wrong. The American designers highlighted for this event were mediocre at best compared to the French designers (who the hell is Stephen Burrows???) & how the Americans "won" that competition is beyond me. This was a progressive's dream - pushing unqualified & unattractive models into the spotlight because they're minorities to show off "people of color." I'm an American & proud of it but the French will always beat us when it comes to fashion. This movie is a joke!!!

I watched this documentary after seeing the 7.4 rating, and was surprised to see how boring it is. First of all, the documentary is entirely from the American point of view which says that Americans won the competition with French designers. It was an American Revolution primarily due to usage of African American models and a couple of AA designers. Unheard of American designers went up against the top French haute couture houses. At no point is the French clothing shown, not even in pics, and some, just a handful of American designs are shown which pale in comparison. Anne Klein was one designer who went, I mean, Anne Klein went against the top couture houses. In which world? The people in the film keep saying Americans won, but not a single French person is shown so who knows what really happened? This is about a time period from before I was born, given the elaborate designs of couture houses from 10+ years ago, I highly doubt that the unknown sportswear designers who went against them "won". It is a pointless boring documentary that doesn't even seem correct.