Leah Rhodes(1902-1986)
- Costume Designer
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
Leah Rhodes started her working life rather modestly as a window
dresser in her home town and in San Antonio. After moving from Texas
to California in 1926 she gained on-the-job experience in the Warner
Brothers wardrobe department, eventually becoming apprenticed to the
legendary Orry-Kelly. By 1939, she was
officially signed under contract as a fully-fledged costume designer
and began to work on A-grade features, effectively replacing
Orry-Kelly who had been drafted for wartime military service. Rhodes
remained at Warners until 1950, then headed the costume department at
Universal, followed by a spell at Paramount. She also designed for
television and for specialty shows in Las Vegas. On Broadway, she
collaborated with Edith Head on the costumes
for "Edwin Booth" (1959), directed by
José Ferrer.
Many of her designs played an important part in creating screen history, as, for example, Lauren Bacall's gowns for The Big Sleep (1946) which set the standard for the Bacall 'look' in subsequent films. Leah's rich, colourful costumes also added immensely to the lavish Technicolor swashbuckler Adventures of Don Juan (1948), for which she, and co-designers Marjorie Best and Travilla, deservedly shared an Academy Award.
Many of her designs played an important part in creating screen history, as, for example, Lauren Bacall's gowns for The Big Sleep (1946) which set the standard for the Bacall 'look' in subsequent films. Leah's rich, colourful costumes also added immensely to the lavish Technicolor swashbuckler Adventures of Don Juan (1948), for which she, and co-designers Marjorie Best and Travilla, deservedly shared an Academy Award.