Irene Lentz

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Irene Lentz (married Irene Gibbons ; born December 8, 1900 in Baker , Montana , USA; † November 15, 1962 in Los Angeles , California , USA) was an American costume designer whose credits were mostly Irene .

Life

Early years

Irene Lentz came to film in the silent film era. In 1921 she began working as an actress in slapstick comedies alongside Mack Sennett , Ben Turpin and Billy Bevan . She married the director of her first film, F. Richard Jones, in 1929. However, in December 1930 her husband died of complications from tuberculosis .

Film career

Irene, who had learned to sew at a young age, opened a small boutique with her own designs. Success led to a job in a respected fashion boutique whose clients included Hollywood stars. The film industry soon became aware of the young designer. Independent studios turned to her to design the costumes for some productions. From now on she only called herself Irene . In 1933 she worked for a film production company for the first time. 1937 found her work for the costumes of Ginger Rogers in the musical Tanz mit mir! great approval. This led to the fact that she was now increasingly working for large studios. Irene made the costumes for Marlene Dietrich , Jean Arthur , Carole Lombard , Merle Oberon and Deborah Kerr, among others .

Through her work she met the writer Eliot Gibbons and married him in 1936. Her husband was the brother of the award-winning filmmaker Cedric Gibbons . Irene was able to switch to MGM through the influence of the equipment supplier . Here she became head of the studio's costume department, with her avant-garde creations for Lana Turner receiving special praise. Consequently, she was nominated for an Oscar in 1949.

The work with her powerful and arrogant brother-in-law and the marriage to Eliot were not easy for Irene, despite all the successes. She left MGM in 1950 to open her own fashion house. She stayed away from the film industry for ten years. Only her friend Doris Day was able to persuade her to return to film again. The old success was promptly restored. Her work on Doris Day's costumes in the thriller Midnight Peaks earned her a second Oscar nomination. In 1962 she completely retired from the film business.

death

On November 15, 1962, Irene Gibbons, née Lentz, committed suicide at the Knickerbocker Hotel in Los Angeles . The now 62-year-old first tried to cut open her wrists. When that didn't work, she jumped out the bathroom window around 3 p.m. Her body, which hit the lobby porch, was only discovered that evening.

Filmography (selection)

Awards

  • 1949: Oscar nomination for the film BF's Daughter
  • 1961: Oscar nomination for the film Mitternachtsspitzen ( Midnight Lace )
  • 2005: Induction into the Anne Cole Hall of Fame

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Lentz, Irene
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Gibbons, Irene (married name); Irene
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American costume designer
DATE OF BIRTH December 8, 1900
PLACE OF BIRTH Baker, Montana , USA
DATE OF DEATH November 15, 1962
Place of death Los Angeles , California , USA