American movie actress Grace Kelly (1929-1982) had an encounter with a “Bust Inspector” during the production of the 1954 film Rear Window. However, this “BI” was not a censor dispatched by the Motion Pictures Production Code crew (See “Elizabeth Taylor and the Bust Inspector.”) The person attempting to meddle with Grace’s bust was none other than the film’s director: Alfred Hitchcock. Grace recalled:
“At the rehearsal for the scene in Rear Window when I wore a sheer nightgown, Hitchcock called for [Paramount costume designer] Edith Head. He came over here and said, ‘Look, the bosom is not right, we’re going to have to put something in there.’ He was very sweet about it; he didn’t want to upset me, so he spoke quietly to Edith.
When we went into my dressing room and Edith said, ‘Mr. Hitchcock is worried because there’s a false pleat here. He wants me to put in falsies.’ Well, I said, ‘You can’t put falsies in this, it’s going to show and I’m not going to wear them.’ And she said, ‘What are we going to do?’
So we quickly took it up here, made some adjustments there, and I just did what I could and stood as straight as possible – without falsies. When I walked out onto the set Hitchcock looked at me and at Edith and said, ‘See what a difference they make?'”
Grace Kelly wears a silky negligee in a movie still from the 1954 murder-mystery, “Rear Window.” Costume designer Edith Head recalled Kelly giggling upon spotting her reflection in the mirror. “Why, I look like a peach parfait!” she said.
Readers: For more on Grace Kelly (Princess Grace of Monaco), click here.
Lisa's History Room 
Hi Lisa,
I am 76 yrs. old & have only had a computer for about a
year. Receiving your emails is one of the great pleasures
of my life. I have always had a great interest in history &
the people who lived it. My bookcase is bursting at the
seams with historical biographies of people who lived long
long ago & those that are still living today. I don’t read as
much as I used to since getting the computer because I
can google anybody I want & even print the report if it is
really long. Thank you so much.
Pat
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Hi, Pat, how happy your letter makes me. I have not been able to blog since July because I have been busy with another project. I was seriously considering abandoning the blog as it seems a guilty pleasure for me. I will keep writing – for you. Many, many thanks. Lisa Waller Rogers
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Ha, a reverse case. Hitch’s plan could have attracted attention of the Breen Office. Head’s little nips and tucks made the gown drape neatly without accomplishing any actual size increase. As a costumer, Head, no doubt, had experience dealing with the Breen Office guys.
Male actors underwent a type of Breen Office “bust” inspection too. There was a period in cinema when chest fur on the screen was verboten also. Go figure.
Re: your comment above. Yes, please keep writing this blog for Pat– and me, too. Reading it is our guilty pleasure!
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The Breen office – I must know more, Winston. Thank you for your encouragement. I appreciate your patronage beyond words. All my best, Lisa
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Hello Lisa,
Thanks so much for the blog!
Reading your reply to Pat’s email made me realize just how close to loosing it we all came!
I’m 16 years old and I adore history 🙂 Reading your blog gives me a supply of new interesting tidbits about the some of the greatest (and worst) people that have ever lived.
Never stop writing in it as long as your alive please!
Thanks again 🙂
Jessica
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Jessica, it thrills me that history of this sort brings you pleasure. You are a dear to say so. I will keep writing if you will keep reading. Much love,
Lisa.
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