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| Battlestar Galactica (1978) Captain Apollo (Richard Hatch) costume design by Jean-Pierre Dorléac |
Check out Battlestar Galactica (1978) costume designs by Jean-Pierre Dorléac!
Every Friday I try and feature artwork from a classic of science fiction cinema or television. This week's "Flashback Friday" post is on Battlestar Galactica (1978).
Jean-Pierre Dorléac is a professional costume designer who's worked on classic science fiction projects like Quantum Leap (1989), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979) and Somewhere in Time (1980). He was nominated for an Oscar, a Tony, several Drama Critics and Sci-fi awards and nine Emmys. In 1979 his costume designs won an "Outstanding Costume Design for a Series" Emmy for the Battlestar Galactica episode "Furlon" (also known as "The Man with Nine Lives"), that guest starred the great Fred Astaire as "Chameleon." His unique style of melding classical looks with modern sensibilities earned him an "Excellence in Period TV Design" from the Costume Designers Guild in 2002.
Read on to see the amazing designs he did for the show. Please note that the Cylon costumes are based on the original Cylon designs by Andrew Probert.
Update: Dorléac has contacted me to say that Probert did not do the design for the Cylon costumes.
Quotes from Mr. Dorleac's memoir, The Naked Truth:
“I don’t like the look of the Cylons especially,” Glen declared, standing up. “I want them to be far more majestic, not android-like as the storyboard guy [Ralph McQuarrie] drew them.”
“They should look like chrome fenders on a car,” Leslie commented. “Highly polished and cold.”
“And very tall!” Glen declared. “I want the tallest stunt men we can find to wear them, and I want their boots built up to make them appear even taller.”
“What about shooting them,” I asked. “Won’t that be difficult, and won’t they reflect the lights?”
“Good question,” Leslie said in his pleasing manner, smiling. “We’ll talk to the cinematographer. I’m sure it can be resolved. There’s always a way.”
“I’ll have a couple sketches for you tomorrow afternoon,” I avowed, gathering up my things to leave.
“Sounds great,” Glen said shaking my hand with a reassuring smile.
Together with Haleen Holt, a union assistant costume designer sketch artist, we did over a dozen pencil versions of the Cylon before Glen and Leslie approved several, then eventually three. After various meetings we had with special effects, I drew up a final sketch and Haleen colored it. Immediately after Glen saw it, all smiles broke loose.
Click on the images to enlarge.
Click on the links if you want to see more of Jean-Pierre Dorléac's work or Battlestar Galactica (1978) on my blog.
Images via the brilliant fan site Galactica.tv.
What do you think of the costume designs? If you've seen Battlestar Galactica (1978) what did you think of the clothes?
Official Battlestar Galactica Summary
In the deepest reaches of space, the fight to save all human life from extinction has begun in this science fiction adventure that launched the Battlestar Galactica phenomenon! Hopeful for lasting peace following centuries of intense warfare, the Twelve Colonies gather to sign a treaty with their dreaded enemies, The Cylons. But after an act of treachery on the eve of the ceremony, the Cylons launch a devastating surprise attack, destroying the Colonies' home planets and most of their military strength. A lone flagship battlestar, the Galactica, remains to aid the surviving colonists on their epic journey for a new home to a far-off legendary planet--Earth. They must survive the pursuing Cylons in a series of epic battles that will determine the fate of the human race in this non-stop action-packed classic filled with cutting-edge special effects by John Dykstra ("Star Wars," "Spider-Man").
Created by Glen A. Larson
Starring: Richard Hatch, Dirk Benedict, Lorne Greene, John Colicos, Maren Jensen, Noah Hathaway, Jane Seymour, Herb Jefferson, Jr., Jonathan Harris, Tony Swartz, Laurette Spang, Terry Carter, Ed Begley, Jr., Rick Springfield, Anne Lockhart, David Greenan, Sarah Rush
Air date: September 17, 1978
© Copyright 1978 Glen A. Larson Productions, MCA/Universal. All rights reserved
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Oh my God did I love Battlestar as a kid. This is some really gorgeous work. However do you find these awesome images? You are the concept art god if I do say so myself.
ReplyDeleteThanks Melissa! I loved the show too. It's all Google and after a while you figure out what to look for and how to dig through the results. I get a lot of dead ends, but every now and then I hit it! I've given up hope on finding "Automan" concept art. :)
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