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Orry Kelly: Miss Weston’s Protégé –

a biography by CATHS Sydney member Robert Parkinson

rry Kelly was born in Kiama, NSW, on Moving to Hollywood in 1931 to work in
O31 December 1897. On completing moving pictures Orry joined Warner Brothers’
school in Kiama and Wollongong, he moved studio and soon became Head Designer
to Sydney where he auditioned for the stage responsible for dressing well known stars such
but without success. Encouraged by family as Loretta Young, Bette Davis and Merle
friend and mentor Eleanor Weston he travelled Oberon. He won three Academy Awards (An
to New York in 1922 and again auditioned for American in Paris 1952; Les Girls, 1958; Some
the theatre but finally realised that he did not Like It Hot, 1960) and a fourth nomination
have the necessary talent. (Gypsy, 1962). Throughout his life he
continued to paint portraits and street scenes,
Yet, having been brought up by a tailor father and examples of his art may still be located on
and learning to paint from an early age, he the Internet for sale.
knew how to select and cut materials, as well
as choose and match colours. With such a Orry travelled back to Australia on several
background Orry transferred his attention to occasions to visit his family and theatrical
painting scenery and designing costumes. In friends he had made in Sydney – such as
December 1928 he was sufficiently actress Rita Pauncefort (star of radio show Ada
experienced and well known for impresario and Elsie) and musical-comedy star Gladys
Schubert Brothers to engage him to design Moncrieff. In Hollywood Orry socialised with and, after his mother’s death in 1949, he came
costumes for the great Ethel Barrymore. From directors, stars, other designers, composers, back to Australia only once more in 1952 to
then on Orry never looked back. visiting celebrities and gossip columnists. He finalise her affairs. After that he was virtually
maintained friendships with Australian forgotten in the land of his birth with not even
Below: Orry, with Australian musical-comedy star expatriates Errol Flynn and Dame Judith his death in February 1964 reported in any
Gladys Moncrieff. (Australian Women’s Weekly,
25 September 1948). Anderson. In 1943 Orry became a US citizen Australian newspaper.
Things began to change when an article on
Orry was published in Vogue Australia
(January 1994), and eight years later director
Gillian Armstrong announced the making of a
documentary film. In 2013 a copy of Orry's
own memoir was unearthed by a distant
Sydney relative. The film was released in 2015
as was the memoir, and an exhibition about
Orry was mounted at the Australian Centre for
the Moving Image (ACMI) in Melbourne from
August 2015 to January 2016.

Since 2013 an annual Orry Kelly International
Award, currently sponsored by Virgin,
recognises Australians who have contributed
to the success of fellow Australians in the
industry. In 2015 the award was bestowed on
producer Bruna Papandrea (Better Than Sex,
Smart People, Gone Girl, etc).

Robert Parkinson’s biography on Orry Kelly
can be obtained from the author
(bobjpark@optusnet.com.au or phone
(02) 80681762) for $25 plus postage or from
most bookshops, including that at ACMI. If a
store does not hold stocks, please quote ISBN
9781925183498 and the name of distributor
Woodslane to assist with ordering.ê

CINEMARECORD # 88 15