Robert Kalloch(1893-1947)
- Costume Designer
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bespectacled, academic-looking costume designer, who did his best work
during the heyday of Columbia screwball comedy (1932-40). Particularly
memorable and evocative examples of his creative flair are
Claudette Colbert's outfits for
It Happened One Night (1934),
Irene Dunne's in
The Awful Truth (1937); and
Rosalind Russell's for
His Girl Friday (1940). Kalloch
began his career as a designer of high fashion gowns for royalty, the
social elite and revue stars, working for leading British couturiere
(and
'Titanic' survivor), 'Lucile', aka 'Lady Duff-Gordon'
(1863-1935).
At the height of his international fame, Columbia boss Harry Cohn brought Kalloch to Hollywood as his number one dress designer, in order to elevate the status of his company vis-a-vis the 'big five' studios. Kalloch served briefly at MGM (1941-43), then freelanced and died relatively early, aged just 54. Kalloch was known as an extremely timid personality, whose many phobias included being in an upright position, while riding in the back seat of a motorcar (he needed to lie down, covering his head with a blanket!). He was inducted into the Costume Designers Hall of Fame in 2004.
At the height of his international fame, Columbia boss Harry Cohn brought Kalloch to Hollywood as his number one dress designer, in order to elevate the status of his company vis-a-vis the 'big five' studios. Kalloch served briefly at MGM (1941-43), then freelanced and died relatively early, aged just 54. Kalloch was known as an extremely timid personality, whose many phobias included being in an upright position, while riding in the back seat of a motorcar (he needed to lie down, covering his head with a blanket!). He was inducted into the Costume Designers Hall of Fame in 2004.
