Top 10 Hollywood Classics That Inspired Barbie
#10: “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968)
Imagine it. You exist in a highly cultivated, artificial, and aesthetically specific environment. And an all-powerful third party is in control of it all. It’s the life of a doll. It’s also pretty similar to Stanley Kubrick's seminal film “2001: A Space Odyssey.” A triumph of cinematography that has influenced countless film makers, it has also generated no end of debate about its themes, including possible meditations on the nature of humanity itself. The Teaser trailer of “Barbie,” is almost a shot for shot remake of “2001: A Space Odyssey”’s opening scene, creating a thematic link from the start. And while it could purely be played for humor, it’s not a stretch to see where the two films might touch on some similar ideas.
#9: “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” (1964)
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You can’t think of Barbie without thinking of the color pink. Indeed, when it came time to create the world of the movie, Gerwig and her team washed the sets in so much pink that it caused a global paint shortage. Jacques Demy’s “Umbrellas of Cherbourg” is a romantic musical that is similarly noted for its vivid, colorful presentation. And when it came time to roll cameras on “Barbie,” Greta Gerwig and cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto turned to the French New Wave masterpiece for guidance. “Umbrellas of Cherbourg”’s stylistic influence was also seen in one of Margot Robbie’s hairstyles, an intentional nod to star Catherine Deneuve. But Gerwig confesses to pulling from a number of Demy films in making “Barbie,” including “The Young Girls of Rochefort,” and “Model Shop.”
#8: “The Wizard of Oz” (1939)
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There might be no movie musical that is more famous than “The Wizard of Oz.” Not only has it been a mainstay all around the globe for decades, but it seems that it’s a beloved classic in the Barbie world as well. However, it also had a very active role in creating that world. Some aspects might not hit as a reference right away, like the fact that Barbie world is paved in pink brick. However, it’s the overall aesthetics of Oz that are most evident in Gerwig’s movie. In that vein, the director emphasizes how “Barbie” often used the practical execution of the classic Hollywood era over modern CGI. And she hints at how “The Wizard of Oz” may have also shaped the ending of “Barbie.”
#7: “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” (1985)
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We’re sure there’s an alternate timeline where some director came along and gave Barbie the grim and gritty treatment. But thankfully we do not live in that reality. All evidence suggests that Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” is going to show up with whimsy to spare, and tongue firmly in cheek. The director cited Tim Burton’s absurdist comedy, “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” as a film that helped color “Barbie”’s humor. Often compared to a live action cartoon, the movie is eccentric, silly, and ironic, often presenting as childlike while winking at the adults in the room. The “Barbie” trailers have already shown us glimpses of these same qualities. And considering the comedic bonafides of so many cast members, we’ll be ready for more laughs when the movie rolls.
#6: “Saturday Night Fever” (1977)
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Still instantly recognizable more than forty years later, this movie took disco from the clubs to the mainstream, and launched John Travolta to superstardom. But the most lasting aspect of the film was its iconic Bee-Gees soundtrack. Those infamous grooves are what hooked Greta Gerwig. More than just good jams though, she was attracted to the interplay of the soundtrack with the story. When the “Barbie” movie revealed its soundtrack listing, it generated plenty of buzz for its big name artists and fun collaborations. But hearing about the “Saturday Night Fever” connection has us even more interested to see how those songs will be used within the film. And of course we already know from the trailer that Barbie herself is a big fan of disco.
#5: “Singin’ in the Rain” (1952)
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Who hasn’t had a crush on Gene Kelly? Okay, maybe not everyone has…but we do, and so does Greta Gerwig by her own admission. So it’s not surprising that shades of his two most renowned movies would appear in “Barbie.” In one case literally. Given what we’ve already discussed, the artistic, painterly qualities of “An American in Paris,” seem like a lock for the aesthetic direction of “Barbie.” But it was the layering in a certain “Singin’ the Rain” scene that really got Gerwig’s creative juices going. As beautiful as it is otherworldly, we were already excited to see how the ethereal romance of this scene would translate into the “Barbie” movie. But then Gerwig dropped a hint. And, yeah, we need that ASAP.
#4: “The Red Shoes” (1948)
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Keeping us on our toes in the truest sense, Greta Gerwig pulled from another essential dance movie in crafting elements of “Barbie.” And, in fact, 1948’s “The Red Shoes” seems to have a pretty wide-ranging influence. The backstage drama about a ballerina and her competing passions is often regarded as one of the best films ever made, and is a treasure trove of riches in every department. However, once again, it’s the famous ballet at the center of the story when Gerwig really dug in. She would also draw inspiration from the look of Anton Walbrook’s Boris Lemotov. His androgynous style choice has been funneled into pure Ken-ergy, and we love to see it.
#3: “All That Jazz” (1979)
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As you may have noticed by this point, the “Barbie” movie seems to engage a lot with the interaction of realism and surrealism, which will likely play a big role as our hero ventures out of her world to ours. Gerwig points to Bob Fosse’s semi-autobiographical film “All That Jazz” as another movie that masterfully strikes that tonal balance. In following the self-destructive Joe Gideon on his collision course with mortality, we are constantly jumping back and forth between his grounded reality and his heighted dream sequences. Yet the movie never feels like it has gone off the rails or lost its emotional footing in the process. In fact, “All that Jazz”’s existentialism is so well executed, that even Gerwig was surprised by how it may have worked into her subconscious.
#2: “The Philadelphia Story” (1940)
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As comedically gifted as he was good looking, we would totally watch Cary Grant play Ken. Gerwig referenced his film “His Girl Friday,” for its snappy dialogue, and we can also see real Barbie energy in Rosalind Russell’ s independent and self-assured Hildy Johnson. But for thematic importance, we look to “The Philadelphia Story” and Katharine Hepburn to get under Barbie’s plastic. Apparently Margot Robbie was on the same wavelength; as a fan of the film she came into the role already thinking of Hepburn’s Tracy Lord. Barbie’s image has always been tied up in concepts of ideal femininity, so it’s a character who seems ripe for the kind of complicated personal journey Tracy took in the 1940s. We look forward to seeing those ideas translated for a modern audience. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“The Earring of Madame De…” (1953)
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“20th Century” (1934)
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“Gold Digger of 1935” (1935)
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“Modern Times” (1936)
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“Grease” (1978)
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We Can See Where Both the Energy of This Musical and The Suspension of Disbelief it Requires Might Have Made Its Way Into “Barbie”
#1: “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977)
She’s a Barbie girl in her perfect Barbie world, until one day things inexplicably change. Similarly, the characters in Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi classic, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” find their lives upended by a series of eerie events. Just from what little we know of Barbie’s plot we can see where plenty of parallels might arise between these two movies. Different as “Close Encounters” and “Barbie” may be, both do seem to engage with the disruption that comes from contact with a previously unknown civilization. One thing’s for sure, Gerwig’s enticing comment on the film has us dying to know more. Color us pink with anticipation, and very intrigued.
