TWIGGY

UK, 2024, 94 minutes, Colour.

Directed by Sadie Frost.

For older audiences, this is a very entertaining and interesting visit to the past.

20 was the nickname, popularised by the media and the fashion world, was a teenager, Leslie Hornby, from Nice dead, London. Thin, lively, some ambitions to being a model, she was the opposite of the model stereotype. However, the mid-60s saw a change, the emergence of Jean Shrimpton, the changing clothing designs by such designers as Mary Quant. And, somewhat by chance, a photographer with an eye to change an opportunity, publicising a photo of Leslie Hornby and it soon becoming popular in the UK, then in the US, an almost instant star-making experience for the young girl who is sometimes referred to as Stick, Twig, and the name that immediately appealed and has remained for almost 60 years, Twiggy.

Actress, Sadie Frost, made any entertaining documentary about fashion-designer, Mary Quant. Now, she has interviewed 20 in her mid-70s, still something of a live wire in her activities as well as the buzz in her conversations. Leslie Hornby/Twiggy is still an engaging character to meet. Her memories are interesting, her comment sometimes insightful, being with her very enjoyable.

This documentary takes us through 60 years in the world of fashion, cinema, television, theatre, the media.

It is amazing to think back, and for Twiggy herself, to realise that her fame was rather instant and unexpected. She was in the US, she was on the covers of fashion magazines. And, then she fascinated film director, Ken Russell, and starred in his 1971 musical, The Boyfriend. Interesting interviews with Russell himself, excerpts from the film, and Twiggy herself reflecting on her inexperience, singing and dancing, and winning Golden Globe awards.

She has appeared in other films, especially W where she met her future husband, Michael Whitney, father of her daughter, Carly. Carly is also interviewed throughout the film. Difficulties in marriage, Michael Whitney drinking, having a heart attack in a New York restaurant while dining with his five-year-old daughter.

Number of talking heads appear, some surprising, especially Dustin Hoffman. There is also Brooke shields and Robert Powell. Reminisces about the stage people performance of Pygmalion with Twiggy as Eliza Doolittle. But the marriage to Michael Whitney meant that Twiggy stayed in the United States (but not losing her accent). And there were many opportunities, a television show with her singing and dancing, a Broadway musical with her friend and mental, Tommy Tune. Specialties like singing Christmas songs with Bing Crosby for a television special, screened after he died.

He has led a very eventful life, so often in the public eye. But, she has had happiness in a marriage with actor, Lee Lawson, since 1988, being a mother to Carly and to his son.

By the end of the film, we realise that this is definitely not the end, there are several more chapters to come…