Halston (film)

Halston
Directed by	Frédéric Tcheng
Written by	Frédéric Tcheng
Based on	Halston
Produced by	Roland Ballester Stephanie Levy Michael Prall Frédéric Tcheng
Starring	Liza Minnelli Marisa Berenson Joel Schumacher Naeem Khan Pat Cleveland Karen Bjornson
Narrated by	Tavi Gevinson (Chloe)
Cinematography	Chris W. Johnson
Edited by	Èlia Gasull Balada Frédéric Tcheng
Music by	Stanley Clarke
Production companies	CNN Films Dogwoof Pictures TDog Productions
Distributed by	1091 Pictures (worldwide) The Orchard (USA)
Release date	January 26, 2019 (2019-01-26) (Sundance)
Running time	119 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$188,751[1]

Halston is a 2019 American biographical documentary film written and directed by Frédéric Tcheng. The film tells the story of the life and death of the American fashion designer, Roy Halston Frowick. The film features commentary by Liza Minnelli, Marisa Berenson, Joel Schumacher, Naeem Khan, Pat Cleveland, Karen Bjornson and other former models known as The Halstonettes. Appearing in archival footage are Halston, Jacqueline Kennedy, Brooke Shields, Andy Warhol and members of his family. The film premiered to generally positive reviews at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2019.^[2] It was selected as the spotlight documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival, and had a limited theatrical release in May 2019, before its international release in June.

Synopsis[]

The film tells the story of the man, the brand, and the downfall of the designer. It is presented in a narrative recreation, beginning with his early days as a milliner for the rich and famous. One of his most notable designs during that period was First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's iconic pillbox hat which she wore to her husband's presidential inauguration in 1961.^[a] Halston transitioned to women's wear, and in 1968 opened a Madison Avenue boutique. By 1973 his popularity increased and his products were well known, but his popularity decreases when people are offended by his mass-market approach. The conflict with big business ultimately pushed him to downfall.^[5]

The documentary also describes Halston's past and gives insight into his models, clients, and lovers. Members of his biological family are shown in archival footage provided by his niece. The film also highlights his battle with and eventual death from AIDS in 1990.

Cast[]

Appearing as themselves

Appearing in archive footage

• Halston
• Elsa Peretti
• Victor Hugo
• Jacqueline Kennedy
• Brooke Shields
• Andy Warhol

Production notes[]

In an interview given to The Creative Independent in 2019, Tcheng said he became interested in the project when he was approached by the producer, Roland Ballester, to become the director. Ballester told Tcheng that Lesley Frowick, Halston's niece, was going to serve as an executive producer for the documentary. At first glance, he politely declined, not wanting to do another fashion documentary. He did not know that much about Halston and thought of him as an exuberant Studio 54 partygoer. Tcheng conducted additional research and became interested in the designers life.^[6] Tcheng accepted the offer to become director of the film after researching how Halston was expelled from his own business in 1983. It resonated with Tcheng because of his own experiences with corporations.^[6][7]

Tcheng reported that the archival footage used in the film was courtesy of Lesley Frowick, who had 215 copies of his private recordings that were presumed to be lost. After she interviewed with the documentary team, and felt confident the film wouldn't portray her uncle in a biased or negative light, she gave them the contact information to Halston's inner circle. Tcheng said none of the models, or even Liza Minnelli, would have talked to them, if it hadn't been for Frowick talking to them first. Tcheng noted that people still protect Halston's reputation.^[6]

The project started in April 2017 with intensive research. Tcheng said the documentary team created a catalogue of Halston's life and significant life events. He rated the events on a scale of most important to least important and mapped his life on a big board. He had another board where people were listed he wanted to interview who could give information about specific life events.^[6] Since Halston never gave comprehensive interviews, Tcheng said it was difficult to research his early life.^[7] Tcheng also stated that there was a lot of gossip surrounding Halston and researchers struggled to identify factual information.^[6] It took a year to edit the film because of the large amount of archival footage, interviews, and research into the designer's life and company.^[6]

Release[]

The film premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2019, and screened as the spotlight documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival.^[2][8] The film had a limited theatrical release on May 24, 2019, and an international release June 7, 2019. The film suffered at the box office, garnering $11,643 for the opening weekend. Total domestic box office sales were $151,991, while international sales were $36,760, resulting in a worldwide total of $188,751.^[1] It was released on DVD on August 6, 2019^[1]

Critical reception[]

Vogue said Tcheng "refreshingly avoided" the sensationalism of Halston's reputation for "tantrums and cocaine-fueled excesses", but he also didn't "paint Halston as an angel". They also noted that even though Tcheng admits he is "pro-Halston", the film is fairly balanced, with various perspectives on his life.^[7] Rolling Stone magazine said Tcheng makes a "major misstep, in structuring his doc as a film noir", but if the film's framing device is ignored, "Halston emerges as a fascinating study of a fashion artist who allowed women to live an idealized vision of themselves". They concluded that the film captures "the exhilarating thrum...of Halston's ability to create clothes that defined an era and to do it with the kind of startling originality that leaves a lasting impact".^[9] The Los Angeles Times said the film places the designer "at the top of fashion’s most influential artists, but it avoids hagiography, showing his ego and addiction". They said the documentary was only an introduction of his life, "but it looks great doing it".^[10]

The Guardian complained about the structure of the documentary, saying "this profile has a pretentious – and pointless – framing device in which fashion writer Tavi Gevinson plays a fictional archivist who turns detective to investigate his life".^[11] Jeremy Blacklow of GLAAD said, "Tcheng expertly weaves rare archival footage and intimate interviews with Halston’s family, friends, and collaborators...and what results is a behind-the-headlines look into the thrilling struggle between Halston's artistic legacy and the pressures of big business".^[12] Tomris Laffly of RogerEbert.com was pleased with the framing device of the film, calling it "compelling", and said the film is "breathtaking for fashion enthusiasts, and anyone dwelling in the tricky intersection of art, history and commerce".^[13]

Variety wrote that the film is "thrilling stuff for fashion nerds, as well as a poignant character study of a misfit ultimately undone by an excessive hunger to prove himself".^[14] American review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes has the film rated with a score of 77%, which makes it certified fresh. The critic consensus reads, "It may not illuminate much of its subject's inner life, but Halston should still prove a comfortable fit for viewers in search of an entertaining fashion documentary."^[15]

Notes[]

References[]

External links[]

• Halston at IMDb
• Halston at Metacritic
• Halston at Sundance Institute