I have a history of not loving documentaries.  The largest contributing factor has been a lack of comprehension of how dressing up like a historical figure to sit in front of a camera and read letters added anything to their actual content. ^[1]  But I’ve had to rethink that.  What if fashion was really important for the subject of a biographical documentary?  Wouldn’t elaborate costume design make perfect sense?

As you know from my recent Nonfiction Monday roundup, Dolley Madison is one of my favorite first ladies, so I was really excited to find out that WGBH’s American Experience is all about Mrs. Madison tomorrow, March 1st, to kick off Women’s History Month.

Among her many merits, Dolley was a fashionable lady (turbans? why not?), and getting to see dresses like she might have worn is a treat.  There is a behind the scenes look at costume design which is absolutely fascinating.  I’m starting to think that I’ve been waiting all my life for the right documentary to win me over, and that this will be the one.

There are a few preview clips available, and my favorite is about the courtship of Mr. and Mrs. Madison:

[Watch it on YouTube]

The others are about how Dolley invented the role of the first lady and the extremes of partisan politics of the day (with a “head up your ass” background comment that reminds me of my grandfather).

That’s March 1st at 9:00 PM.  Well, it is here.  Maybe you should check your local listings.  Thanks to Jen Holmes from American Experience for the heads up.

^[1] What I considered worse—and I still don’t quite get this one—is when a non-English speaking person is translated by someone who sounds like he’s speaking with a fake accent.  The person doesn’t speak English.  We don’t need to hear his lines read as if he did.  That’s what overdubbing is for.  But that’s another story.

[ Posted in » TV + Movies Channel ]